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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. Whom does the young woman referred to as "Queenie" (5) name as the person who had asked her to visit the grocery store?

2. Lengel tells the young women that they must be dressed in what way when they come into the store?

3. What word does Lengel repeat when he speaks to the young women for the second time?

4. The narrator says that the sound of one young woman's voice immediately takes him to what location?

5. To what flavor of ice cream does Sammy refer when describing the breasts of the young woman he privately calls "Queenie" (5)?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. For what reason and in what manner does Lengel confront the three young women in the store?

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

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

7. How is the theme of family bonds depicted within Sammy's reply to Lengel's claim about the harm inflicted by the young women?

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

9. How is repetition utilized within Paragraph 21?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

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 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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 930 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample