Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Why did Soto break this poem into just two stanzas? Would it have been better as one long stanza? Can you think of another way it could have been broken up? Why would your way work?
- "Oranges" explores, primarily, the power of young love. Is there anything else happening in the poem thematically? If so, what? If not, why?
- Soto uses a lot of striking imagery and sensory details (sound, scent, touch). Why? How would the poem be different without these descriptions?
- "Oranges" is a very narrative poem. It tells a story. Do you think narrative makes it easier or harder to talk about big, universal themes like love? Why?
- All the lines in "Oranges" are pretty short. Why do you imagine Soto decided to use short lines to tell this story? Would longer lines change the way we experience the tale? Why or why not?