John Updike Reading Response Questions

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Olwyn Bostic English 1B Pg 22 Reading Response Questions Jason Schilling 5 February 2015 Updikes A & P Reading Questions 1. Updike sets the story in an everyday grocery store. I also used to work at a check stand and the details that Updike uses relate to my experience. For example, he is so astonished by these girls and guesses what their lives are like. While working in a boring check stand, looking at people and creating their life in your mind serves as perfect entertainment to get through the day. These details set the story off perfectly so that the reader can feel like they are observing what is going on. 2. Updike doesn’t quite portray Sammy. He mentions what kind of drinks and orderves his family might serve compared to the girls who walk in. What Updike does stress is how opinionated Sammy is by judging these girls. He is not really less of a hero for wanting the girls to notice. At his age he is very interested in impressing girls, and by taking the position of the hero he thinks that he will have a chance. 3. The paragraphs in the beginning of the story is where the exposition is. Updikes detailed picture of Queenie sets the storyline. Sammy is so curious about Queenie and basically acted like a fool because he wanted to have a chance to be part of their circle. 4. In the beginning of the story as soon as the girls caught Sammy’s eye, he was just watching them. As the story goes on he imagines how their lives are like. His feelings start to change once he “sticks up” for them in the line. His imagination ran wild. 5. In A & P the dramatic conflict arises when Sammy’s boss says something to the girls about their choice of clothing in his store. The crisis is when Queenie talks back to the manager which is quite disrespectful during this time. The climax of the story arises when Sammy quits and walks out realizing it

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