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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. Who notices when the narrator reacts in a particular way to Lengel's repetition of one word?

2. The narrator states that when his parents have people over, they serve what non-alcoholic beverage?

3. In what way does Sammy uncrease the bill handed to him by the young woman he privately calls "Queenie" (5)?

4. The narrator says that the truck parked outside of the A and P is full of what?

5. The narrator states that what "the others want is" (19) what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Updike's use of foreshadowing within the story "A and P".

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

3. In what way does Sammy react to Lengel's mention of policy?

4. Which comment of Lengel's causes the young woman dubbed "Queenie" (5) to get angry rather than embarrassed?

5. How is repetition utilized within Paragraph 21?

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

7. In what way do the themes of guilt and responsibility enter the narrative?

8. Why does Sammy use haste when saying "I quit" (22) the first time?

9. Describe an example of Updike's use of metaphor within the story.

10. What clues does Sammy utilize in order to detect the class of the young woman he dubs "Queenie" (5)?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Write a critical essay about “A and P” while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the story's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the novel.

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