A & P Group

Question:


bethl3670

I need help describing the opening paragraph of John Updike's "A&P" and how it prepares the reader for what will follow in the end.

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Posted by bethl3670 on Wednesday January 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM and tagged with a & p, opening paragraph, reader, style.

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  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The opening paragraph describes how the teenaged narrator, Sammy, notices three teenage girls walk into the grocery store where he works. They are wearing nothing but their bathing suits. Sammy gets so distracted that he can't remember whether he rang up the purchase of a box of crackers. So, he tries to ring up the purchase again and " a witch about 50" begins to yell at him.

    This exchange foreshadows the ending of the story. It sets up the idea that Sammy isn't really thinking clearly and doesn't welcome older people's advice. At the end of the story Sammy gets so distracted trying to save the girl's from embarrassment, that he forgets his common sense and simply quits his job. When the older store manager tries to talk to him out of quitting, he rings up "No Sale" and leaves.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/and-pa

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Wednesday January 21, 2009 at 1:46 PM