Week 3, Day 1 - John Updike's "A & P" - 539 in text

For Discussion:

• Some people have described this story as "comic." Agree or disagree? WHY?
• Explain the meaning and use of the term "sheep" in the story.
• Explain the significance of the age of Sammy and Stokesie. How do they differ? What bearing does this have on Sammy's action in the story?
• How is socioeconomic class indicated in the story?
• In what way is this story characteristic of a story of initiation?

Suggested writing topic over this story: Discuss Stokesie as a character foil to Sammy.


Stokesie is an important character foil to Sammy in John Updike's "A & P." The reader sees both employees and is able to observe their actions and hear them talk, albeit from Sammy's perspective. As a character foil, Stokesie is near the same age as Sammy, and he appreciates the sexual allure of Queenie and the girls. However, Stokesie is considerably different from Sammy--which makes him a character foil. For example, Stokesie may be only three years older than Sammy, but he is married and has two children, which indicates that he takes his job seriously and hopes to be manager of the store one day, a future Sammy ridicules. Because he is an adult, Stokesie also knows when it is best to keep his thoughts and opinions to himself, and even though he may feel that a rule laid down by Lengel is unfair, Stokesie will not jeopardize his job with unwarranted comments, much less quit for the sake of becoming someone's "hero."