TP-CASTT Poetry Analysis

Use this graphic organizer to analyze the poem, “Oranges” by Gary Soto.
Title: Before reading the poem, make a prediction about what the poem is about based on the title.

T I predict the poem will be about eating oranges.

Paraphrase: Translate the poem line by line into your own words. Look for complete thoughts and look up
unfamiliar words.
The narrator recalls a times when he was 12 that he went on a walk with a girl during the cold, wintery month
of December. He carried two oranges in his pocket (lines 1-5). In the cold he walks toward her house. As he
walks, he hears a dog barking and sees her porch light on (lines 6-12). The girl comes out of the house, and he
walks her down the street past a car lot and a group of trees (lines 13-19). They enter a drugstore and walk to

P the candy isle. The young boy then asks the girl which candy she wanted (lines 20-27). He reached in his
pocket and pulled out a nickel, but she grabbed a piece of chocolate that costs a dime (line 28-33). He places
the nickel along with an orange on the counter to pay for the candy (lines 34-38). The lady behind the counter
and he began to stare at one another. The lady nods in acceptance of the coin and orange as payment (lines
39—41) It was foggy outside as they began to hold hands and walk down the street (lines 42-47). He lets go
of her hand so that she could eat her chocolate (lines 48-50). He begins to peel his brightly colored orange
(line 50).

Connotation: What words or phrases stick out to you? Look for patterns and figurative language, imagery,
and sound elements.

● Line 3: “Cold and weighted down” – nothing is weighing him down except the nervousness he
feels as he prepares to meet the young girl
● Line 5: “Frost crackling beneath my feet, my breath before me” imagery / onomatopoeia/
alliteration
● Lines 10-11: “Porch light burned yellow, night and day, in any weather” – imagery

C ● Lines 14-15: “Face bright/ With rouge” - imagery

● Lines 26: “I turned to the candies, tiered like bleachers.” – simile
● Line 28: “Light in her eyes” – metaphor demonstrating her enjoyment
● “A few cars hissing past” - onomatopoeia
● Lines 44-45: “Fog hanging like old coats between the trees” – simile showing about the amount of
time the fog may linger but also foreshadowing a long relationship
● Line 50-55: I peeled my orange that was gray against the gray of December…I was making a fire in
my hands.” - imagery demonstrates the feeling of love that is growing and the brightness of the
orange contradicts the dreariness of winter

Grade 7: Memoir
 Attitude/Tone: Notice the speaker’s attitude toward the subject of the poem. This is the author’s tone.
The author has a reflective and gentle tone as he gives a first person point of view of the apprehension

A
associated with first date.

Shifts: As you look for patterns, also look for contrasts or shifts/changes in poem. Look for changes in
language, attitude, setting/imagery, mood, punctuation, other literary devices.
There is a contrast between the warmth and excitement of the young boy feels and the cold external
environment of the December day. There are also various images that demonstrate a contrast between light

S
and dark (lines 10-11). Secondly, the poem begins with a young boy feeling anxious and apprehensive about
his date with the young girl. In line 2 he refers to her as “a girl” and his feeling for her are weighting him
down (line 2). However, in lines 16-17 he refers to her as “my girl.” He also demonstrates confidence as it
says that he “led her down the street.”

Title: Examine the title again. What does it mean now that you’ve read the poem? Did the meaning of the
title change?
Orange symbolizes the love that is blooming between the two of them while everything else around them is
dying. The orange seems also to symbolize simplicity and innocence. It is what allows the boy to make the

T girl happy by buying the candy. Furthermore, young love is very simple – walking together, holding hands,
eating an orange.

Theme: State what the poem is about (subject) and what the poet is trying to say about subject (theme).
The last line of the poem reflects the theme in a couple different ways. Like fire, young love produces

T
a wonderful glow and warms the heart. Both leave a lasting reminder one the person or thing that it
touches.

Grade 7: Memoir