1. Rewrite the story's opening paragraph in third person. Why do you believe Updike chose to write it in first person?

2. Draw comparisons and contrasts between Sammy's epiphany in "A & P" and the revelation experienced by the main character in James Joyce's "Araby."

3. Highlight some similarities between Sammy and Holden Caulfield, the lead character in J. D. Salinger's notable coming-of-age novel, The Catcher in the Rye.

4. Identify the symbols you find most significant in adding depth to the story's events. Explain why you selected these symbols.

5. Examine the effects of the story's events on characters other than Sammy.

6. Investigate teenage life in the late 1950s and early 1960s and compare it with life today. Look into aspects such as education, job prospects, marriage prospects, family and parental relationships, peer pressure, unsupervised leisure activities, and consumer buying power. Relate your findings to the characters in "A & P."