The Great Scarf of Birds is a poem by John Updike. The title refers to the many birds that are mentioned throughout the poem. The poem is about the speaker’s love for nature, and how the beauty of the world around him makes him feel. The speaker also talks about how he feels when he … Read more
One of the most important aspects of any story is its setting. The setting provides readers with necessary background information, helps to establish the tone and atmosphere of the story, and can even influence the plot. John Updike’s A&P is a perfect example of how setting can be used effectively in a story. Set in … Read more
“A&P” is a short story written by John Updike. It tells the story of a young man named Sammy who works in a grocery store called A&P. One day, three girls come into the store wearing nothing but bathing suits. Sammy is intrigued by them and ends up quitting his job to follow them. The … Read more
Marry Me is a novel by John Updike that was published in 1957. The novel tells the story of a young man named Henry Bech who is struggling to find meaning in his life. Bech is married to a woman named Joan, but he is not happy with his marriage. He decides to divorce Joan … Read more
In Marry Me, John Updike chronicles a year in the life of a young couple who have been living together for several years. The book centers on a cast of characters who are all interconnected and live in the small suburb of Tarbox, Massachusetts during the mid-sixties. Marry Me’s plot mainly concerns the relationship between … Read more
John Updike’s A&P is a short story that tells the tale of an eighteen-year-old girl who quits her job in protest. The story follows three days in her life, all beginning with her working at A&P (a grocery store) and ending with her quitting after confronting a group of girls she thinks are too “brave” … Read more
A&P is a short story written by John Updike in 1961. A&P, or A Kind of Store, tells the story of a young cashier’s thoughts as he works through an average day at his local A&P supermarket. The protagonist, Sammy, befriends three girls who are dressed immodestly for the A&P, and he is given a … Read more