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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 is the second word of the song Sammy has come to hear when he works the register?

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

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

4. The narrator states that "Policy is what" (19) who wants?

5. Who asks Sammy if he has rung up the purchase of the three young women?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. How does the young woman dubbed "Queenie" (5) by Sammy react to Lengel's actions?

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

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

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

10. How is repetition utilized within Paragraph 21?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Trace the characterization arc of Sammy’s character throughout the story. Discuss whether Sammy is a round or flat character and whether he is a static or dynamic character.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 968 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample