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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. The other young women are described by the narrator as doing what to Queenie as they all walk toward the meat counter?

3. To what animal does the narrator compare his customers when discussing how they react to seeing the girls in the store?

4. How many children does Stokesie have?

5. What adjective does the narrator use to describe the young woman's face whom he calls "Queenie" (5)?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. What does Sammy mean when he describes Stokesie "finding his voice" (9)?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

Could “A and P” be classified as a coming-of-age story? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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