Essay Questions

Why might the narrator of “After the Lunch” try so hard to convince herself that she is not in love with the man she just had lunch with?

Though it is never fully explained why the narrator does not want to admit that she is in love with the person she shared her lunch with, there are several possible reasons for her stubborn refusal to accept the feelings of her heart. It may be that the narrator realizes that loving someone else is a tremendous responsibility—both physically and emotionally. To love someone wholly and unabashedly requires energy and dedication. It is possible that the narrator feels such is not ready to bear such a responsibility and is therefore trying to un-convince herself of her feelings. Perhaps she understands that love is tremendous commitment and does not feel ready to engage in such a relationship. Or maybe she fears that the other person will not reflect her interests, in which case, she may be deeply disappointed. It is even possible that the narrator is frightened of having her heart broken and therefore attempts to avoid a relationship, so as to avoid any potential heartache. Whatever the reason, it is clear that the narrator concludes that logic simply cannot win a battle over the heart.

How does the narrator of “The New Regime” justify her claim that one cannot be simultaneously healthful and happy?

The narrator of this poem describes the process of switching from a sedentary to a healthful lifestyle with her partner. During this transition, she explains that they will eat less, drink more water, and engage in more physical exercise activities. Though the narrator can see the effects of this new, healthier regime, she suggests that her success with the regime does not necessarily lead to a happier life. Instead, she suggests that she and her partner have become so dedicated to this lifestyle—quite literally a regime to be followed and obeyed—that they have forgotten how to indulge in the simple pleasures of life. In this way, the narrator suggests that begin thin, fit, and even wealthy cannot compensate for the loss of the simple pleasures in life, which therefore makes it difficult for one to be healthful and happy at the same time.

Why does the narrator of “The Orange” share that he is recently love at the conclusion of the poem?

The narrator spends much of this poem describing the odd sense of joy she found in a particularly large orange that she has recently purchased. From this, she begins to realize that she has, in fact, been finding a great deal of joy in other simple objects and tasks. She has come to realize that there is beauty and joy in simplicity. This, she then concludes, may also explain why she is so happy to have suddenly and recently fallen in love. Though the narrator does not necessarily attribute her happiness to her newfound love, it can be concluded that she chose to share this fact with her readers to show that she has realized that love is a beautifully simplistic experience. Though love is often characterized as being a deep and complicated emotion, she suggests that her newfound love is just as simple and beautiful as the oversized orange she found earlier.