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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 does the narrator describe Stokesie's relationship status?

2. How many children does Stokesie have?

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

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

5. The tallest young woman in the group has what type of hair?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What is Stokesie's family situation?

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

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

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

8. What is Stokesie's career goal?

9. To what does Stokesie refer when he asks Sammy, "Is it done?" (9)?

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

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the story’s use of the animal motif. Why does Sammy continually use language associated with farm animals, and how does this choice dovetail with messages depicted in the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 895 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample