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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of pattern does the floor at the A and P have?

2. The narrator likens the appearance of the young woman he calls "Queenie" (5) to what object?

3. What is NOT an action the narrator describes as being part of the other customers' reactions to seeing the young women?

4. The three young women take their purchase up to whose register?

5. The narrator says that Stokesie has aspirations to become what one day?

Short Essay Questions

1. Besides dressing differently than everyone else in the store, how else do the young women stand out?

2. What is Stokesie's career goal?

3. In what way is the power of paradox shown within the story?

4. How is the motif of sexuality included within the story?

5. Describe the three young women who enter the store.

6. Who is the protagonist of the story "A and P"?

7. How is the animal motif included within Paragraphs 1-6?

8. On what evidence does Sammy base his conclusion that one particular young woman is the leader?

9. What sorts of details does Updike use to portray the appearance of the store and why?

10. What is ironic about Sammy's reaction when he sees McMahon ogling the young women?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Updike’s focus on the theme of class differences within the story. What message is Updike sending about class, privilege, and wealth?

Essay Topic 2

William Faulkner once famously claimed that the most important literature deals with the subject of the human heart in conflict with itself. Explain how the theme of Human versus Self is demonstrated within Updike’s story “A and P.” Create a decisive, arguable claim and prove it with quotes from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze Sammy’s fascination with the bodies of the three young women who enter the store in their bathing suits. Conduct an online inquiry that will allow you to understand the context of Updike’s possible messages more fully. Consider the fact that the story was first in 1961 as you conduct your research. Then combine your research with your analysis of the story and answer the prompt.

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This section contains 1,056 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample