Oranges

1. Oranges By: Gary Soto

2. Learning Objectives As we study this poem you will learn: • The story of the poem • Be reminded of the following terminologies: • Metaphor, Simile, Symbolism, Climax • The themes that it explores is Love • Explore the significance and meaning of the orange • Read out the poem to the class in a group • You will also complete some mini tasks and a test and an assignment on the poem

3. Starter • Write about a time when you have had a strange encounter with a female who is either in or outside your family. What was strange about it? How did the both of you react? How did it eventually manage to end? • Have you or do you of anyone who has purchased an item and paid for it in a different form other than money? If so, describe what has happened that has allowed this to happen. How did the salesperson conducting the transaction react throughout the whole situation?

4. 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 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. (Stanza continues into the top of the next column)

5. Mini-Task One: Your View? Most poems have an idea or ‘story’ that the poet wants to tell his reader. Mini Task 1 Task: In 100-150 words write down what you think is the story of Oranges Hint: Look at the 2nd column of the poem to sum up what happens. Stanza: It is a series of lines in a poem that are grouped together.

6. Story of The Poem • The speaker in the poem recounts about the time when he first walked with a girl that he liked • He remembers carrying two oranges in his jacket. When he arrives, the girl then comes out, pulling on her gloves • The boy reacts by: A) Smiling and B) Touching her shoulder • The two couples then walk together and enter a local drugstore • At the request of the speaker, the girl decides that she would like to have a chocolate • She reacts to his question by: A) Smiling and B) Eyes lighting up • The speaker pays for the ¢ 10 chocolateusing: • Nickel (¢ 5) • 1 of the Oranges he holds • The saleslady reacts to the unusual payment of an orange by: • Just looking at the speaker • Understanding the situation that he speaker fancies the girl • The two couple then go out in the cold weather and the boy holds the girl’s hand • Significance: He assumes that he has ‘won’ her heart at this point • As the girl unwraps the chocolate, the speaker peels the other orange • The orange is compared to the fire, symbolizing the passion he has for her

7. Structure of the Poem • This is a, ‘free Verse Poem’ as there is no clear rhyming pattern • Free verse poems do not follow a particular pattern, rhyme scheme, or stanza pattern • It is NOT written in verses • Is made up of 2 stanzas, with 1 long and 1 short stanza • This shows that it is written with intention to highlight the climax within the poem • "The lady’s eyes met mine,/ And held them, knowing/ Very well what it was all/ About”  Climax • The salesperson was originally struck when presented with an orange as a form of payment. Nevertheless, after seeing the speaker and the girlhe was standing next to, she realized he was trying to impress her • In essence, she followed through with the boy’s silent request for help and saved him the devastation of rejecting the orange in exchange for the chocolate

8. Significance of The Orange • The speaker may have brought oranges to share it with the girl • The oranges can be used as a form of payment, to make up for anything that might cost more than the ¢5 that he had • This is what actually happened • For the speaker, it represents both: • Wealth • Love • Contrast Object: The orange was bright in his hands and the day was gray and grim • At first, the orange seems to be a burden, but by the end of the poem, it symbolizes hope between the 2 characters

9. Important Points/Lines to Note • The speaker is meticulous and brave • Meticulous: Taking or showing extreme care about details and how things are planned (Definition) • He knows he might not have enough money, so he brought the oranges just in case • He is a risk taker, since they possibility of being denied the chocolate the girl has requested was quite high • Line: “Cold, and weighted down” • Meaning: It is winter, the oranges were heavy – perhaps a burden because he realizes he does not have any money • One can interpret the girl’s reaction in various ways: • She genuinely loves the boy and wants to be spoiled by him • She might have been shy, but was not intimidated for the kind of candy she wanted • Like him, she may have been poor and wanted to be treated to a snack • She is naïve and does not really know what is going on

10. Theme: Love • Speaker: It is obvious that speaker has great love for the girl he fancies since: • He picks her up from the house • Walks with her to the drugstore • Buys her the item that she requests • He took chance at possible humiliation by paying for the other half of the chocolate using an orange • To his luck, this worked • He sacrificed the little money he had and rather than eating the same thing, he instead chose to eat the other orange • Girl: The girl in return shows interest by: • Having him taking her out • Allowing him to touch her should and later holding her hands • Smiling and showing various facial expressions of approval • Eats the chocolate with him • Examples of love references: • “Face bright With rouge. I smiled, touched her shoulder, and led Her down the street” • “And asked what she wanted - light in her eyes, a smile starting at the corners Of her mouth” • “I took my girl’s hand In mine for two blocks, then released it to let Her unwrap the chocolate“ • “From some distance, someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands”

11. Literary Devices • Symbolism – Orange • Meaning: It is a symbol of love, passion and fury for the speaker. It has great value and is seen as just as important as money • Imagery: “We are breathing before a drugstore” • Meaning: It is so cold they can see their breath as they stand in front of the store • Onomatopoeia - “A few cars hissingpast” • Meaning: The speaker emphasize that the cars are making a hissing-like sound • Personification/Simile – “Foghanging like old Coats between the trees” • Meaning: The fog is being given the human attribute that it is around. The fog is also compared to a coat that hangs out from a tree to dry • Symbolism – “I was making a fire in my hands” • Meaning: This symbolizes the spark of the flame of a new relationship beginning • Metaphor – The orange’s indirect comparison to sun • Meaning: The orange seems to lighten the mood and the love between the two, during a cold and gloomy day

12. ‘Oranges’ Assignment • Task: Explain the strange actions of both the speaker and the girl in Gary Soto’s “Orange”. In addition, you need to discuss: • How the actions of the 2 characters relate to the theme of love • Its structure as well as its meaning • What you enjoyed about it • What you did not like about it • Words: 300-500 words • Due Date: February/March ________. • Warning: Please avoid plagiarizing, otherwise you risk getting a zero Task: Rough Work _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. Academic Assignments – Broad Marking Rubric Work awarded marks in the bands below will display most of the accompanying criteria Comments: _____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________