Student Question
What message does the author convey in the poem "Oranges"?
Quick answer:
Gary Soto's poem "Oranges" conveys the experience of young love and sacrifice as a bright spot amid life's hardships. It tells the story of a first date to a candy store from the perspective of an adult reflecting on youth. The poem contrasts old and new, bright and dull, symbolizing the transition from youth to adulthood. The protagonist's exchange of an orange for chocolate illustrates the changes and maturity that come with growing up.
The author Gary Soto attempts to convey the experience of young love and sacrifice as a bright spot in a long life, despite its hardships, in "Oranges." The poem is the story of a first date to the candy store at a very young age, told from the perspective of an adult looking back on his life.
Soto contrasts old and new, bright and dull throughout the poem as metaphors for a young versus an old life. The trading of his orange for candy for his girlfriend also conveys how life is beginning to change as he becomes an adult. His own bright, colorful orange is sacrificed for dark, sweet chocolate for someone else, his girlfriend. This conveys how life changes as you grow up and mature.
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