What figurative language is oranges by Gary Soto? In “Oranges”, Gary Soto uses
metaphorical language
to make comparisons in this poem about the theme of love. Sofo uses metaphors towards the end of the poem when he compares the boys orange to a fire in his hands “I peeled my orange, That was bright […] Someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands”.
What type of figurative language is?
Figurative language is a form of expression that uses nonliteral meanings to convey a more abstract meaning or message. There are many types, including:
similes, metaphors, idioms, hyperboles, and personification
.
What is the imagery in Oranges by Gary Soto?
Gary Soto’s poem “Oranges” uses contrasts between
brightness and dullness, warmth and cold, and young and old
, to convey a romantic experience between the narrator and his girlfriend. The poet reminds us that the recollection of an innocent first love can warm the heart and burn bright in one’s memory.
What are two examples of a metaphor?
- “Bill is an early bird.”
- “Life is a highway.”
- “Her eyes were diamonds.”
Is apples and oranges a metaphor?
Meaning of Idiom ‘Comparing Apples to Oranges’
Apples and oranges
metaphorically refer to objects or persons that are not alike
; things that are quite different even though they may fall into the same category.
Gary Soto’s poem “Oranges”
describes the feelings and thoughts of a young boy as he ventures out on a first date with a girl in the grayness of a December afternoon
. Challenged at first when he finds he does not have enough money to pay for a chocolate, he finds the warmth of human understanding saves the day.
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way using the word “like” or “as.” The purpose of a simile is to spark an interesting connection in a reader’s or listener’s mind.
A simile is one of the most common forms of figurative language
.
Definition of metaphor
1 :
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them
(as in drowning in money) broadly : figurative language — compare simile.
Soto uses a simile to describe
the candy aisle
: “tiered like bleachers.” The image of the colorful packages lined up in orderly rows, one behind the other, like the bleachers at a sports arena certainly makes sense visually, but the simile works on another level as well.
Those who hear or read the hyperbole should understand that it is an exaggeration. You’ve probably heard common hyperboles in everyday conversations such as
“I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse,” “I’ve seen this movie a hundred times,” or “It cost an arm and a leg.”
Definition of compare apples and/to/with oranges
:
to compare things that are very different
To compare large trucks with compact cars is to compare apples with oranges.
Instructions: Circle the letter that correctly answers the question. What is the climax of the poem Oranges? A.
The girl picks a chocolate candy and the boy pays with an orange.
Any time your writing goes beyond the actual meanings of your words, you’re using figurative language. This allows the reader to gain new insights into your work. While there are 12 common types, the five main branches of the figurative tree include
metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, and symbolism
.
These are figures of speech that add colour when speaking or writing.
Similes and metaphors are used for comparison between two different objects
. Personification is giving human attributes to non-living or non-human things, and hyperbole is an exaggeration of something.
- Lightning danced across the sky.
- The wind howled in the night.
- The car complained as the key was roughly turned in its ignition.
- Rita heard the last piece of pie calling her name.
- My alarm clock yells at me to get out of bed every morning.
The word hyperbole, from a Greek word meaning “excess,” is
a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show emphasis
. It is the opposite of understatement.
Personification is
a literary device that uses the non-literal use of language to convey concepts in a relatable way
. Writers use personification to give human characteristics, such as emotions and behaviors, to non-human things, animals, and ideas.
Imagery: Imagery is used
to make readers perceive things involving their five senses
. Oscar Wilde has used imagery in this poem such as “Crawls like a yellow butterfly”, “And at my feet the pale green Thames” and “Are moored against the shadowy wharf.
