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A & P By John Updike Analysis

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Title: A&P_________________________ Author: John Updike_______________ (Identify sentences/words/phrases in the story to support your information.) Title (Significance?): The author was in search for ideas for stories, when he happened to drive past an A&P store. He wondered why nobody has created a story about the A&P store. He combined this question with a personal experience he once had at a grocery store. Setting (Time, Place, Social Context-(Significance?)): The A&P grocery store was one of the pioneers in this industry, making the way for the superstores we see today. Took place in the 1950’s, at that time people were expected to conform. Sammy and the girls represent a rebellion against this conformism. Moreover, in the 1950’s people …show more content…

Sammy sees the costumers as “sheep” all different from one another. The people are meant to symbolize the spirit of conformity; like the author saw among the people in the 1950’s. He goes from complaining about what he sees as a problem to actually taking action towards the situation. Characters with types (flat, round, static, dynamic,) traits, and motivations: • Sammy; Sammy is a 19 years old guy, and a cashier in the A&P grocery store. (Flat and Static) because we do not know very much about him. Also, Sammy is motivated by his hormones, which he cannot control. • Queenie: Everything we know about her is based on the descriptions of Sammy. Queenie is the leader of her little group. She is also very sensitive. (Round) • Stokesie: (Flat and Static), he is a sympathetic character, which we can tell because Sammy likes him. • Lengel: Is the manager of the A&P store, and also a Sunday teacher. He embarrasses the girls and threatens Sammy with a horrible future. (Flat) …show more content…

For the reason, that in the 1950’s it was not common to see people walk around in their bathing suits. The girls in bathing suits also caused Sammy to get distracted and start thinking in s sexual manner. -Climax: The climax in the story is when Sammy quits his job. Sammy quitted his job because he did not like how Lengel was treating the girls in the bathing suits -Resolution: The resolution takes place at the end of the story, when Sammy watches his ex boss through the windows doing his old job. Sammy began to feel that by quitting his job, will make things more complicated for him in the future. Literary Elements -Symbols: • Sheep: Sheep, symbolize people who just follow the flock. • Herring snacks & Beer glasses: Symbolize people’s social and economic class. • The apron and bow tie: Symbolize breaking free from the sheep’s • The money in her top: Symbolize the action of the unexpected. • A&P: Symbolize anatomy & physiology. -Irony: The most ironic moment in the story is when Sammy quits his job. Sammy wants to make a statement that on behalf of the girls, by being their hero. The irony is that they do not hear Sammy, they are out of the store before his resignation is

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