By John Updike

Supermarket where Sammy works

Fifty year old witch-lady’s crackers

Right: Cartoon called “They’ll Do It Every Time” – Comic Strip

stenciled on Sammy’s cups at home.

What year was this story written?

What (do you think) are the socially accepted standards for how young women dress during that time? Would it be different today if young women walked into the supermarket dressed in the same way? (Think Newtown Square Wawa – if there is one.)

In what season does this story take place?

The three girls Sammy The other supermarket workers

Stokesie old McMahon

The shoppers of A&P Mr. Lengel

What did you think about the girls? Was Mr. Lengel right or wrong? Why do you think so?

Why did Sammy quit? Was it a genuine action?

What kind of person is Sammy in the beginning of the novel?

List words and phrases he uses to describe the girls: “sweet broad soft-looking can with those two crescents of white

just under it” (15).

“do you really think it’s a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?” (16).

“with the straps pushed off, there was nothing between the top of the suit and the top of her head except just her, this clean bare plane… it was more than pretty” (16).

“Darling,” I said. “Hold me tight” (16).

Stokesie “Oh Daddy,” Stokesie said beside me. “I feel so faint” (16).

Old McMahon “old McMahon patting his mouth and looking after them

sizing up their joints” (17).

Lengel “Girls, this isn’t the beach” (17). “We want you decently dressed when you come in here”

(17). “Girls, I don’t want to argue with you. After this come in

here with your shoulders covered” (17). Shoppers

“sheep” “You could see them, when Queenie’s white shoulders

dawned on them, kind of a jerk, or hop, or hiccup, but their eyes snapped back to their own baskets and on they pushed” (16).

“All of a sudden I slid right down her voice into her living room. Her father and the other men were standing around in ice-cream coats and bow ties and the women were in sandals picking up herring snacks on toothpicks off a big plate and they were all holding drinks the color of water with olives and sprigs of mint in them. When my parents have somebody over they get lemonade and if it’s a real racy affair Schlitz in tall glasses with ‘They’ll Do It Every Time’ cartoons stenciled on” (18).

What does Queenie’s voice make Sammy realize? What is her social class? (Or what does Sammy imagine her home to be like?)

In contrast, what is his family like?

At what point does Sammy experience an epiphany? What suddenly becomes clear to him? List Sammy’s thoughts, words, and actions after his

epiphany. “Poor kids, I began to feel sorry for them, they couldn’t help it”

(17).

“but remembering how he made that pretty girl blush makes me feel so scrunchy inside” (19).

What are the consequences of Sammy’s actions? Did he make the right choice? What does he mean by “I felt how hard the world was

going to be to me hereafter”?