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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. What are the final two syllables of the nonsense word Sammy utters to Lengel?

2. When Lengel first addresses the young women, he tells them that they are not in what location?

3. What is the third word of the song Sammy has come to hear when he works the register?

4. Sammy says that once a person uses the cash register enough, "it begins to make a little" (21) what?

5. What is NOT a register button Sammy hits while ringing up the young woman's purchase?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss a possible reason for Lengel's request for Sammy to repeat his words "I quit" (22).

2. Discuss the socioeconomic status from which Sammy's family stems.

3. Of what crime does Sammy accuse Lengel when he quits?

4. In what way do food similes enter the story and for what purpose does Updike use them?

5. What unique form of imagery does Updike create to depict Queenie's anger at Lengel's words?

6. How does Updike demonstrate Sammy's lack of experience with girls and women?

7. What type of home life does Sammy imagine for the young woman he dubs "Queenie" (5)?

8. In what way does Updike use the animal motif within the customers' reaction to the scene involving Lengel and the young women?

9. What is ironic about Sammy's claim that Lengel is the most nervous person involved?

10. What is the policy cited by Lengel when he tells the young women they are in violation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the function of Stokesie's character within the story? He is 22, while Sammy is only 19. In addition, Stokesie is married, has two children, and aspires to be one day be the manager of the grocery store at which he works. Sammy is highly critical of this goal and dubious about its possibility of fulfillment. Discuss the characterization methods used by Updike in depicting Stokesie and include in your discussion the reasons that Updike portrays Stokesie in these particular ways.

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

How is the topic of masculinity treated within Updike’s story and how does its treatment relate to the story's depicted messages?

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This section contains 872 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample