A&P | Study Guide

John Updike

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Course Hero. "A&P Study Guide." Course Hero. 9 Feb. 2017. Web. 29 May 2023. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-P/>.

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Course Hero. (2017, February 9). A&P Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-P/

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Course Hero. "A&P Study Guide." February 9, 2017. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-P/.

Footnote

Course Hero, "A&P Study Guide," February 9, 2017, accessed May 29, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-P/.

Overview

Author

John Updike

Year Published

1961

Type

Short Story

Genre

Comedy, U.S. Supreme Court Case

At a Glance

In the groundbreaking case Engel v. Vitale, the Supreme Court established that it is unconstitutional to require public schools to use religious rituals composed or financed by the government.
During the 1950s New York State public schools allowed teachers and students to recite a brief prayer, including a reference to God, each morning. Even though students could remain silent or leave during recitation, several parents sued the school district in 1958 to end prayer in public schools.
When the case reached the Supreme Court in 1962, the majority ruled in favor of the parents, reversing lower court decisions. The justices decided the prayer violated the establishment clause in the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
Relevant, too, was the 14th Amendment, which prohibits states from violating citizens' rights—meaning state law cannot violate federally protected rights, including those granted by the Bill of Rights.
The verdict created controversy. Many Americans believed prayer was appropriate in schools and didn't want the court to dictate how religion should be practiced. Others agreed with the decision—and still do.
The case is a turning point in the ongoing debate about religion's place in American government and society.

Perspective and Narrator

"A&P" is told in the first person by Sammy, a 19-year-old cashier with a limited teenaged point of view. Although his point of view is restricted, he shows growth or change over the course of the story.

Tense

The narrator of "A&P" switches between present and past tense.

About the Title

A&P is the name of the grocery store that serves as the setting of the story. A&P was the largest retail chain in the United States throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Diagrams

Character Map

Plot Diagram

Summary

This study guide and infographic for John Updike's A&P offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.

Characters

Sammy Lengel Queenie

Symbols

Sheep Manager's Office Fancy Snacks

Themes

Sensuality versus Propriety Change Boredom versus Deviation

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