A&P Questions on Sammy

A&P

Sammy's description of the three girls in "A & P" reveals his lascivious and judgmental nature, as he objectifies and sexualizes them based on their physical attributes. However, his detailed...

2 educator answers

A&P

In "A&P," Sammy characterizes the customers as "sheep" to highlight their conformity and lack of individuality. This metaphor underscores his disdain for their unquestioning adherence to social...

7 educator answers

A&P

Sammy's final decision in "A&P" to quit his job is driven by his desire to assert his individuality and protest the store’s treatment of the girls. However, his unreliability as a narrator, due...

4 educator answers

A&P

In the story "A&P," Updike is successful in drawing Sammy's character in a few brief strokes, showing that Sammy is observant, imaginative, rash, impulsive, and longs for a better life. He is no...

6 educator answers

A&P

In "A&P," one could argue that Sammy did not make the right decision in quitting, because his decision didn't achieve the ends he'd hoped it would. He didn't get the attention of the girls, loses...

1 educator answer

A&P

In John Updike's "A & P," Sammy, a nineteen-year-old cashier, is motivated by a desire to break free from societal norms and impress three girls who defy the store's dress code by wearing bathing...

3 educator answers

A&P

In John Updike's "A & P," the setting of the grocery store influences Sammy's actions and reactions by highlighting his discontent with the mundane environment, prompting his impulsive decision...

6 educator answers

A&P

Sammy's character in "A&P" can be seen as an anti-hero. While he makes a bold decision to quit his job in protest of how the girls are treated, his actions are driven more by personal...

3 educator answers

A&P

Sammy is fascinated by the three girls in "A&P" because they defy social norms by wearing bathing suits in the store, which is unusual and rebellious. He is particularly drawn to "Queenie," who...

2 educator answers

A&P

Yes, there is foreshadowing in “A&P,” when Sammy hints how much he dislikes his store, the customers, and his coworkers. Portraying himself as being above ringing up sales as well as superior to...

1 educator answer

A&P

John Updike's "A & P" offers rich themes for thesis development, focusing on Sammy's epiphany and the consequences of his impulsive decision to quit his job. This decision reflects the tension...

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A&P

The last lines of "A & P" signify Sammy's realization of the consequences of his impulsive actions. After quitting his job in protest over Lengel's treatment of the girls, Sammy understands that...

2 educator answers

A&P

Sammy seems indifferent to his job as grocery cashier in "A&P." His work day is tedious, except when punctuated by the diversion of pretty girls. He looks down on customers and coworkers. His...

2 educator answers

A&P

The narrator, Sammy, is a dynamic character. Initially, he is a typical teenage boy working a job he dislikes, motivated by a desire for recognition when he "defends" young girls in the store....

2 educator answers

A&P

The story would be interesting from Lengel's point of view because he is a fully-grown adult and has to work his job as a full-time career. I don't think Sammy's voice would be as interesting for the...

6 educator answers

A&P

Sammy compares the girls to bees because he is so confused about how a girl's mind works. He sees this lead girl, leading her followers like a Queen Bee, and wonders how her brain works.

1 educator answer

A&P

The point of dramatic conflict and crisis in "A&P" occurs when the protagonist, Sammy, decides to quit his job in a display of rebellion against the store's conservative management, who reprimand...

3 educator answers

A&P

Some readers view "A&P" as offensively sexist due to Sammy's objectification and derogatory descriptions of women, highlighting a focus on their physical appearance. Sammy, along with other male...

4 educator answers

A&P

Updike demonstrates the difference in economic and social class between "Queenie" and Sammy through setting, appearance, and contrasting home lives. Upper-class Queenie definitely does not fit in the...

1 educator answer

A&P

In "A&P," the girls are treated as objects through the narrator Sammy's objectifying gaze. He focuses on their physical appearance, using terms like "can" and "scoops of vanilla" to describe...

2 educator answers

A&P

First person point of view allows us to see more than would have been possible from the perspective of a third party observer. The reader is able to see Sammy's monotony, his longing for something...

1 educator answer

A&P

I think Sammy is more appealing because he's doing something for the girls when Lengel isn't and I think that's a kind thing to do.

2 educator answers

A&P

Sammy's behavior in "A&P" by John Updike can be interpreted as sexist. His objectification of the girls and his condescending attitude towards them highlight underlying sexist tendencies....

1 educator answer

A&P

In "A & P," John Updike uses connotation to convey deeper meanings and emotions. For instance, Sammy describes his manager Lengel using words like "haggling" and "scuttle," which imply pettiness...

3 educator answers

A&P

In John Updike's "A&P," the realistic details that stand out include the mundane setting of the grocery store, the authentic dialogue among the characters, and the vivid descriptions of the...

6 educator answers

A&P

In "A&P," both Sammy and Lengel are observant and aware of social norms, but they differ significantly in age, experience, and reactions to the girls' attire. Sammy is captivated by the girls'...

2 educator answers

A&P

Sammy quits his job because he is bored, and the girls' arrival provides a welcome distraction from the mundane nature of his job.

1 educator answer

A&P

The boys in A&P and Araby both have romanticized views of the girls they are in love with. They both imagine performing chivalrous actions on behalf of their beloveds. Sammy is more independent...

1 educator answer

A&P

In "A & P," Sammy's decision to quit is foreshadowed by several moments illustrating his chivalric and rebellious mindset. He romanticizes the girls, especially "Queenie," and feels a need to...

2 educator answers

A&P

The most obvious physical characteristics in "A & P" are the detailed descriptions of the girls who enter the supermarket in bathing suits. Sammy, the narrator, focuses on one girl in a plaid...

1 educator answer

A&P

In ten years, Sammy's future is uncertain but holds two main possibilities. He might return to a conservative path, similar to Lengel, becoming a grocery clerk or manager after realizing the world’s...

3 educator answers

A&P

In contrast to the adult, Mr. Lengel, who enforces rules that are sedate and conventional, Sammy is young and romantic in his perceptions of the world. Queenie is somewhat defiant and self-centered....

1 educator answer

A&P

"A&P" by John Updike reflects the societal norms of its time, which included prevalent sexist attitudes. The protagonist, Sammy, exhibits sexist views, such as questioning women's mental...

1 educator answer

A&P

Sammy calls the girl “Queenie” because she is both the leader of her group of friends and someone who conducts and carries herself in a rather regal way, despite her casual attire and surroundings....

1 educator answer

A&P

Ten years after the events, Sammy is likely to be involved in social movements, possibly embracing the Civil Rights Movement of the late 1960s. His rebellious decision to quit his job at A & P...

1 educator answer

A&P

The main characters in this story are Sammy, the narrator, and Stokesie. Sammy is a part-time cashier at the local A&P grocery store. He has been working at this job for "two summers." Stokesie...

4 educator answers

A&P

In "A&P," the girls might wear bikinis in the store because they are young and unselfconscious, possibly coming from the beach without realizing the distance to the grocery store. Their attire...

1 educator answer

A&P

Sammy's experience as a girl-watcher in "A & P" is revealed through his detailed observations and descriptions of the girls who enter the store. His familiarity with the nuances of their...

2 educator answers

A&P

In "A & P," Sammy does not connect with the girls before quitting his job. His interaction is limited to observing them and feeling drawn to the lead girl, Queenie. Although he sympathizes with...

1 educator answer

A&P

Sammy's consciousness in "A & P" differs from Updike's as Sammy embodies youthful idealism and innocence, viewing "Queenie" as regal and his actions as noble. Updike, however, is aware of the...

1 educator answer

A&P

Physical Characteristics: Sammy is tall, thin and very shy. He has dark hair and wears glasses. Physical actions: Sammy stands up for the girls. He quits his job after he realizes how he's been...

1 educator answer

A&P

If "A & P" were narrated by Lengel, the characters would be portrayed in a straightforward, matter-of-fact manner. Lengel, as a by-the-book manager, would focus on enforcing store policies rather...

1 educator answer

A&P

Sammy's actions and thoughts in the story reveal that he anticipated the outcome concerning the girls. When his manager, Lengel, warns him that he'll "feel this for the rest of your life," Sammy...

1 educator answer

A&P

Sammy and Connie are similar in their youthful defiance and desire for independence. Both characters experience moments of epiphany that lead to significant personal change. Sammy quits his job...

1 educator answer

A&P

To start your thesis comparing your role as a defense paralegal to Sammy's situation in "A&P," focus on the theme of standing up for others. Begin with: "At some point, everyone faces the...

1 educator answer

A&P

"A&P" and "Soldier's Home" both feature young male protagonists out of sync with their societies, but for different reasons. Krebs in "Soldier's Home" is disillusioned and detached due to his war...

1 educator answer