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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. One of the young women picks up a package of what before putting it back?

2. When the narrator rings up a customer's item twice, she "starts giving" (2) him what?

3. To what is the narrator referring when he discusses Stokesie's "fuselage" (8)?

4. What street does the narrator name when depicting the "free-loaders" (10) in his town?

5. The girls ask a question when they reach what area of the store?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Cite and discuss a unique simile used by Updike within the story.

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

4. Discuss how Updike uses language to indicate the character traits of Sammy.

5. What is the setting of the story "A and P"?

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

7. What is Stokesie's family situation?

8. What is Stokesie's career goal?

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

10. Provide evidence for the conclusion that there are many people in Sammy's town who are set in their ways.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Look carefully at Sammy’s language use throughout the story. What is Updike’s purpose for shaping Sammy’s voice in the way that he does? For example, why does Updike often choose to put grammatically incorrect phrasing into Sammy’s mouth, while also choosing a word like “hereafter” (32) for Sammy’s final line of narration within the story?

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This section contains 956 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample