English Discussion, English homework help
Questions about “A & P”:
- What is Sammy’s conflict in “A & P” (don’t confuse the complication–the girls entering the store in their swimsuits–with the real conflict)? In other words, even as the story begins, what is Sammy’s problem?
- Who—or what—is the antagonist? (Consider that it might not be a person.)
- What do we learn about Sammy? Does he change significantly by the end of the story? If so, what is his moment of change? Does Sammy really quit to impress the girls or is there a deeper reason for his action?
Questions about “The Things They Carried”:
- What is the conflict in “The Things They Carried”? How is it resolved?
- How has Jimmy changed by the end of the story? What has he learned about himself? Or, to put it another way, what has he lost and what has he gained?
- Here is the link: Updike’s “A&P”
