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Analysis of "Oranges" by Gary Soto

This poem describes a young boy's first date with a girl when he was 12 years old. On their walk together on a cold December day, he carries two oranges in his jacket to share with her. When they stop at a drugstore, he can only afford an orange or a nickel for her chocolate, so he quietly sets both down for her to choose. The orange represents the warmth and brightness of his feelings for the girl on an otherwise gray and cold winter day.

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Barry Hinton
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2K views4 pages

Analysis of "Oranges" by Gary Soto

This poem describes a young boy's first date with a girl when he was 12 years old. On their walk together on a cold December day, he carries two oranges in his jacket to share with her. When they stop at a drugstore, he can only afford an orange or a nickel for her chocolate, so he quietly sets both down for her to choose. The orange represents the warmth and brightness of his feelings for the girl on an otherwise gray and cold winter day.

Uploaded by

Barry Hinton
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

“Oranges” by Gary Soto

The first time I walked


With a girl, I was twelve,
Cold, and weighted down
With two oranges in my jacket.
December. Frost cracking
Beneath my steps, my breath
Before me, then gone,
As I walked toward
Her house, the one whose
Porch light burned yellow
Night and day, in any weather.
A dog barked at me, until
She came out pulling
At her gloves, face bright
With rouge. I smiled,
Touched her shoulder, and led
Her down the street, across
A used car lot and a line
Of newly planted trees,
Until we were breathing
Before a drugstore. We
Entered, the tiny bell
Bringing a saleslady
Down a narrow aisle of goods.
I turned to the candies
Tiered like bleachers,
And asked what she wanted –
Light in her eyes, a smile
Starting at the corners
Of her mouth. I fingered
A nickel in my pocket,
And when she lifted a chocolate
That cost a dime,
I didn’t say anything.
I took the nickel from
My pocket, then an orange,
And set them quietly on
The counter. When I looked up,
The lady’s eyes met mine,
And held them, knowing
Very well what it was all
About.
Outside,
A few cars hissing past,
Fog hanging like old
Coats between the trees.
I took my girl’s hand
In mine for two blocks,
Then released it to let
Her unwrap the chocolate.
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.
“Oranges” Gary Soto

1. What is this poem about, both on the surface (plot) and at a deeper level (theme)?

This poem is about the author going on a date with a girl and buying a chocolate with an orange
and a nickel. On a deeper level, this poem is about the author wanting to share his love with the
girl.

2. What is the single best word in the poem? Explain its importance

I think that the best word of the poem is fire because it shows that when he is with her he feels
warm and comfortable. I also noticed that the orange is a symbol for love, love and fire both
make you feel warm.

3. Choose what you believe to be the 3 strongest sensory images. In your opinion, why are
they powerful? How do they contribute to the meaning of the poem?

1)Someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands. 2)Her house, the one whose
porch light burned yellow. 3)And asked what she wanted- Light in her eye, a smile. All three of
these images are a contrast to the dark and cold December, they are powerful because all of
the images are something that the author cares about or brightens his day.

4. What can you infer about the narrator, both as a young man and as an adult? Are the
narrator and the poet the same person?

Readers can infer that the narrator is a very compassionate person. He cares about the girl he
is with when he lets her choose what kind of candy she wants. And wanted to share his love
with her through the orange.

5. What did you like or not like about the poem?

I did not like the poem very much because I don’t really enjoy these types of storylines. Soto’s
use of symbolism and figurative language is pretty interesting in this poem.

“Oranges” by Gary Soto The first time I walked With a girl, I was twelve, Cold, and weighted down With two oranges in my jack
“Oranges” Gary Soto 1. What is this poem about, both on the surface (plot) and at a deeper level (theme)? This poem is about

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