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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. How many children does Stokesie have?

2. The narrator names what year when hypothesizing that it will be a long time before Stokesie fulfills his goal?

3. At which "check-out slot" (1) is the narrator working throughout the story?

4. The narrator describes the young women in the store as being "without" (2) what item?

5. The young woman on whom the narrator first focuses is wearing a green what?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. In what way is Sammy demonstrating true empathy toward the young women with his comment beginning with "Poor kids" (11)?

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

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

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

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

7. What is Stokesie's family situation?

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

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

10. Discuss the way in which Sammy objectifies the three young women.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Updike’s story from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Determine Updike’s message regarding the phenomenon of the male gaze.

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