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 nickle in my pocket, And when she lifted a chocolate That cost a dime, I didn’t say anything. I took the nickle 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.
Multiple Choice 1. How much money does the speaker have to spend on his date? a-ten cents
b-five cents
c-fifteen cents
2. What does the speaker do to impress his girlfriend? a-He buys her chocolate.
b-He takes her out to dinner.
c-He takes her to a candy shop.
3. How does the speaker compensate the lady for his purchase? a-He gives her two oranges.
b-He gives her two nickels.
c-He gives her a nickel and an orange.
4. How might readers determine that this poem's setting is from another era in time? a-The woman in the shop accepts an orange as payment.
b-A boy bought candy for a girl.
c-The price of the chocolate was ten cents.
Short Answer Questions 5. In what way is does the speaker illustrate a proactive approach to a form of external conflict?
Poetic Techniques Short Answer Questions 8. A simile is a comparison between two things using the words "like" or "as". List an example of a simile used in the poem.
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.
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 nickle in my pocket,
And when she lifted a chocolate
That cost a dime,
I didn’t say anything.
I took the nickle 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.
Multiple Choice
1. How much money does the speaker have to spend on his date?
a-ten cents
b-five cents
c-fifteen cents
2. What does the speaker do to impress his girlfriend?
a-He buys her chocolate.
b-He takes her out to dinner.
c-He takes her to a candy shop.
3. How does the speaker compensate the lady for his purchase?
a-He gives her two oranges.
b-He gives her two nickels.
c-He gives her a nickel and an orange.
4. How might readers determine that this poem's setting is from another era in time?
a-The woman in the shop accepts an orange as payment.
b-A boy bought candy for a girl.
c-The price of the chocolate was ten cents.
Short Answer Questions
5. In what way is does the speaker illustrate a proactive approach to a form of external conflict?
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6. How does the lady in the shop help the speaker?
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7. Why doesn't the speaker just tell his date that he has a spending limit?
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Poetic Techniques Short Answer Questions
8. A simile is a comparison between two things using the words "like" or "as". List an example of a simile used in the poem.
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9. Imagery is the use of language to appeal to the senses. List two examples of imagery used in the poem regarding the weather.
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10. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. List an example of alliteration used in the poem.
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11. A symbol is a concrete object that represents an abstract feeling, idea, or belief. What do the oranges and chocolate symbolize in the poem?
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12. Form refers to how the words of a poem are laid out on the page. Discuss the form of this poem.
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