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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. From what location does the girl the narrator calls "Queenie" (5) pull a folded dollar bill?

2. What does the narrator describe as the source of the bleached appearance of the hair of the young woman he calls "Queenie" (5)?

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

4. What is NOT an action the narrator describes as being part of the other customers' reactions to seeing the young women?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is Stokesie's family situation?

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. What is the symbolism of the buildings Sammy names?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Updike’s messages about guilt and responsibility within the story “A and P.” Focus on elements of the story such as Sammy’s family’s negative reaction to Sammy’s decision to quit his job at the A and P.

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

Write a critical essay about “A and P” while using the critical power theory lens of Marxist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the story's treatment of issues such as socioeconomic status, hierarchies, wealth, class, or any other issues related to Marxist theory that can be found in the short story.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,050 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample