About the Author
John Updike is one of America’s most prominent contemporary authors. He has written novels, short stories, essays, poetry, reviews, articles, memoirs, art criticism, and drama. […]
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Setting
The action of “A & P” takes place in a grocery store in a town north of Boston that is five miles from the nearest […]
Themes and Characters
The encounter of Sammy, a checkout clerk at an A & P supermarket, with a trio of swimsuited girls encompasses many of the themes central […]
Literary Qualities
Sammy narrates this story in the first person. His voice is colloquial and intimate. His speech is informal, a factor that highlights his individuality and […]
Social Sensitivity
Today it is common for businesses to post signs stating the rules of their premises: “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service,” or for movie theaters […]
Topics for Discussion
1. If three girls in bathing suits walked into your local supermarket, what do you think the reaction would be today? Has society’s attitude towards […]
Ideas For Reports and Papers
1. Rewrite the first paragraph of this story in the third person. Why do you think Updike wrote it in the first person? 2. Compare […]
Related Titles and Adaptations
Pigeon Feathers and Other Stories (1962) by John Updike. “A & P” is one of the stories in this collection which contains stories about characters […]