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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. The narrator describes the A and P's stock of records as "a waste of" (12) what?

2. What term does the narrator use in reference to the women in hair curlers who shop in the A and P?

3. What name does the narrator use before saying, "Hold me tight" (8) to Stokesie?

4. The narrator uses what word to describe the reactions of the other customers as they catch sight of the young women in the store?

5. Of whom do the girls ask a question?

Short Essay Questions

1. Provide evidence for the conclusion that Sammy uses diminutive terms indiscriminate of his target's gender.

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

3. What is Sammy's purpose for using a historical allusion in Paragraph 1?

4. What is Stokesie's family situation?

5. What simile does Sammy use to describe the layout of the grocery store?

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

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

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

9. What is Stokesie's career goal?

10. What are Sammy's feelings about Stokesie's career goal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the topic of masculinity treated within Updike’s story and how does its treatment relate to the story's depicted messages?

Essay Topic 2

What is Updike’s message concerning the link between integrity and suffering?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the interplay between the resolution of Updike’s story “A and P” and one of the story's main messages. How does Updike make connections between these elements and how does their juxtaposition help Updike get across one main message of the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 834 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample