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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. In what type of glasses do the narrator's parents serve alcoholic beverages at parties?

2. Sammy says that nearby the altercation between Lengel and the young women, he can feel "everybody getting" (21) what?

3. The narrator describes Lengel as doing what "all day" (13)?

4. The young woman referred to as "Queenie" (5) replies to Lengel's comments by saying that the three young women are what?

5. What action does the narrator take when Lengel repeats a particular word to the young women?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Updike show the childlike and whimsical nature of Sammy's personality in the story?

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

3. How is repetition utilized within Paragraph 21?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Updike’s focus on the theme of class differences within the story. What message is Updike sending about class, privilege, and wealth?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of “A and P” and analyze Updike's purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze Updike’s story from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

(see the answer keys)

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