Oranges are Not the Only Fruit. The title of the novel Oranges are Not the Only Fruit demands an explanation that can only offered through analyzing the many appearance of oranges in the story. On the broadest level, these oranges represent the dominant ideology that pervades the world in which Jeanette lives.
Full Answer
Why should you not eat oranges?
You're probably already wondering why you should banish oranges from your life, and according to the University of Rochester Medical Center, it's because oranges are so acidic that they can do some serious damage to your teeth. Oranges — and orange juice — have been linked to not just decreasing the hardness of tooth enamel, but of eroding ...
Are Oranges Your Favorite Fruit?
Oranges are one of my favorite fruits – and they go well with everything. Most of us probably enjoy them, but do you know the health benefits and risks of eating oranges? If your answer is no, then I will inform you about some of the pros and cons of having oranges as a staple in your diet.
Are too many oranges bad?
Most people are growing either summer crookneck or zucchinis. Your plants may be being ruined by squash vine borers or squash bugs, or if only the fruit is dying, it could even be something as simple as failure to be pollinated due to lack of bees.
Do oranges make you fat?
They also provide essential nutrients including fiber, vitamin C and folate. As with any food, oranges do contain calories and could cause weight gain if you consume them in large amounts; but this isn't very likely due to the high amount of fiber they contain and their low energy density.
What is the meaning of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit?
The title of the novel Oranges are Not the Only Fruit demands an explanation that can only offered through analyzing the many appearance of oranges in the story. On the broadest level, these oranges represent the dominant ideology that pervades the world in which Jeanette lives.
Who said Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit?
Jeanette WintersonOranges Are Not the Only FruitFirst editionAuthorJeanette WintersonMedia typePrint (Paperback)ISBN0-8021-3516-1OCLC157923286 more rows
How does Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit end?
At the end of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Jeanette returns to visit her mother, but is now liberated to be an amused spectator of her eccentric religious devotion.
Why did Winterson write Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit?
Writing in the introduction to the published script, Winterson said she wanted to challenge "the virtues of the home, the power of the church and the supposed normality of heterosexuality." Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit still stands as a powerful coming of age drama.
When was oranges are the only fruit written?
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit is a novel by Jeanette Winterson that was first published in 1985.
Why be happy when u could be normal?
"Why be happy when you could be normal?" is the real-life question of her adopted mother, as Winterson is evicted, at 16, for taking up with a second girlfriend (the attempts to exorcise her sexuality after the first having been unsuccessful).
How many pages is Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit?
178 pagesThis book is short, personal, intensely readable and beautifully written - not unexpected since Jeanette Winterson is Professor of Creative Writing at Manchester University. In 178 pages she explores the conflict between Christian fundamentalism and same sex relationships.
How many pages does Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit have?
192 pagesProduct InformationPublisherGrove Press; 0 edition (20 August 1997)Paperback192 pagesISBN-100802135161ISBN-13978-0802135162Dimensions15.24 x 1.27 x 20.96 cm5 more rows
Is Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit postmodern?
The novel has been analysed variously as a female and lesbian Bildungsroman (Onega, Andermahr), as a feminist appropriation of the fantastic (Armitt), as an example of the lesbian postmodern (Doan), as biblical reworking (Cosslett), as quest narrative (Onega, Pykett), and as working class text (O'Rourke).
Is Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit a feminist novel?
This was February's choice for my Facebook Reading Challenge. The theme was a feminist novel, in part to mark the 100th anniversary of the extension of the vote to a section of the female population in Britain.
What is Jeanette's mother's Favourite novel?
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit.
What is the book Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit about?
It is a coming-of-age story about a lesbian girl who grows up in an English Pentecostal community. Key themes of the book include transition from youth to adulthood, complex family relationships, ...
When was Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson published?
Followed by. Boating for Beginners. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a novel by Jeanette Winterson published in 1985 by Pandora Press. It is a coming-of-age story about a lesbian girl who grows up in an English Pentecostal community.
What fairy tale does Jeanette read?
At her local library, Jeanette reads a version of the French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.
Is Oranges based on a true story?
The book is semi-autobiographical and is based on Winterson's life growing up in Accrington, Lancashire. "I wrote about some of these things in Oranges, and when it was published, my mother sent me a furious note". A parallel non-fictional account of her life at this time is given in her 2011 memoir, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? Although the protagonist of Oranges bears the author's first name, John Mullan has argued that it is neither an autobiography nor a memoir, but a Künstlerroman.
What is the orange in the book?
Oranges are the biggest symbolizing factor in the book, as seen by the title. Without reading the book, one could assume that, by the title , the author is trying to say that the main character is not the only one of something, and that is in fact correct. In the story, Jeanette does not adhere to societal standards, making her stand out from everyone else. In this case, heterosexuality would be the orange, and Jeanette, being a Lesbian, would be "the other fruit".
What does the pink raincoat represent in the novel?
Another symbol in the novel is the raincoat that Jeanette's mother gives her. She buys Jeanette a new, large, pink raincoat after hers is ripped, but she despises it. The bright pink representing the femininity that Jeanette's mother wants her to uphold, Jeanette is ultimately defiant and will not wear the coat. She wants to get as far away as possible from her mother's ideas, and this raincoat is just the first step.
What is the relationship between Jeanette and her mother?
In the novel, plenty of content focuses on Jeanette’s relationship with her mother. Her mother is blindly devoted to her church and strictly follows her rituals. When Jeanette goes deaf, she tells her mother that ‘’the world is very quiet’’. Instead of immediately taking her to the doctor and helping her, she is proud, as she believes her daughter is ‘’in a state of rapture’’ and is in touch with God. When Janette finally gets the medical attention she needs, provided to her by Miss Jewsbury, a member of the church, her mother does not even make the time to visit her in the hospital at first, as she is too busy ‘‘waiting for the plumber’’ and because it was ‘‘the busy season at the church’’.
What does the stone in Jeanette's book mean?
The stone symbolizes the way Jeanette's writing has helped her in multiple ways - both as a weapon and a way to get back home. She has been able to keep her strength when others have gone against her, and still she manages to find her true self.
Why does Jeanette's mother give her oranges?
When Jeanette is in the hospital, after having had everyone around her ignore her deafness (brought on by adenoid trouble but believed to be a divine experience), her mother offers her oranges to pacify her while she lies in her hospital bed, afraid and alone.
What does Jeanette's mother eat?
In moments of sickness and sadness, Jeanette’s mother roots through her purse or goes to the cupboard to retrieve an orange, which Jeanette peels and eats with focus and delight. Jeanette’s mother, though physically present ...
Who wrote "Oranges are not the only fruit"?
A concise biography of Jeanette Winterson plus historical and literary context for Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.
Is the dog woman in Oranges a Jeanette?
Stranger Than Fiction. In addition to using fictionalized versions of herself, her mother, and her childhood friends and teenage lovers in Oranges, Winterson has created versions of herself that have appeared in later novels. The orphan Silver, in 2004’s Lighthousekeeping, can be read as a Jeanette-figure, while her 1989 magical-realism novel Sexing the Cherry, set in 17th-century London, follows the metaphysical adventures of a domineering mother known as The Dog Woman and her adopted son Jordan.
Summary
Read our full plot summary and analysis of Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, scene by scene break-downs, and more.
Characters
See a complete list of the characters in Oranges are Not the Only Fruit and in-depth analyses of Jeanette, Jeanette's mother, and Elsie Norris.
Literary Devices
Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.
Quotes
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Quick Quizzes
Test your knowledge of Oranges are Not the Only Fruit with quizzes about every section, major characters, themes, symbols, and more.
Essays
Get ready to ace your Oranges are Not the Only Fruit paper with our suggested essay topics, helpful essays about historical and literary context, a sample A+ student essay, and more.
Further Study
Go further in your study of Oranges are Not the Only Fruit with background information, movie adaptations, and links to the best resources around the web.
What does the pink raincoat symbolize?
This raincoat symbolizes a final attempt by Jeanette's mother to force her into something that she is not. Its pink color suggests the femininity or girliness that Jeanette's mother wants Jeanette to maintain. When Jeanette's mother forces it over Jeanette's head, Jeanette thinks of The Man in the Iron Mask. The main character in that story is ...
Where did the names of the three men come from?
The names come from the biblical book of Daniel. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego worked for King Nebuccanezzar during the period that the Jews were in exile. One day, the King ordered them to pay homage to a golden religious idol, but the three men refused because they were devout Jews.
Overview
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a novel by Jeanette Winterson published in 1985 by Pandora Press. It is a coming-of-age story about a lesbian girl who grows up in an English Pentecostal community. Key themes of the book include transition from youth to adulthood, complex family relationships, same-sex relationships, organised religion and the concept of faith.
Background
The book is semi-autobiographical and is based on Winterson's life growing up in Accrington, Lancashire. "I wrote about some of these things in Oranges, and when it was published, my mother sent me a furious note". A parallel non-fictional account of her life at this time is given in her 2011 memoir, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? Although the protagonist of Oranges bears the author's first name, John Mullan has argued that it is neither an autobiograph…
Premise
The main character is a young girl named Jeanette, who is adopted by evangelists from the Elim Pentecostal Church. She believes she is destined to become a missionary. The book depicts religious enthusiasm as an exploration of the power of love. As an adolescent, Jeanette finds herself attracted to another girl, and her mother's group of religious friends subject her and her partner to exorcisms.
Allusions to other works
The novel is divided into eight sections, each of which is named after one of the first eight books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges and Ruth.) As a result, each chapter often contains references and allusions to their corresponding book in the Bible.
The novel also contains references to numerous other literary works, historical figures and aspe…
Reception
The novel won Winterson the Whitbread Award for a First Novel in 1985.
Although it is sometimes referred to as a "lesbian novel", Winterson has objected to this label, arguing, "I've never understood why straight fiction is supposed to be for everyone, but anything with a gay character or that includes gay experience is only for queers".
Adaptations
A television adaptation of the book was made and aired by the BBC in 1990, starring Charlotte Coleman and Geraldine McEwan, which won the Prix Italia in 1991.
The book was released on cassette by BBC Audiobooks in 1990, also read by Coleman.
A two-part dramatisation, adapted by Winterson and starring Lesley Sharp, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2016.
Legacy
The novel has been included on both GCSE and A-Level reading lists for education in England and Wales, including the OCR English Literature A-Level module "Literature Post-1900".
Further reading
• Bentley, Nick. "Jeanette Winterson, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit". In Contemporary British Fiction (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008), 108–117. ISBN 978-0-7486-2420-1.