The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara and A&P by John Updike

DB WEEK TWO (SU21) for The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara and
A&P by John Updike

Directions: Choose one question to answer from
each story set and answer the personal journal question at the end. You will
complete three responses to this DB assignment. Answer just one question for
Bambaras story and one for Updikes story. Dont forget that each response
should be a min. of 150 words. ANSWER QUESTIONS COMPLETELY: IF THERE ARE
MULTIPLE QUESTIONS, ANSWER ALL. Use quotes from each story itself to help
answer, if you need to. But dont use long quotes from the story. Your response
should be mostly YOUR WORDS. Also,
comment on one peers response when finished.

I. The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara

1. What do you think the narrator
is referring to in the final sentence of the story when she says, But aint
nobody gonna beat me at nuthin?

2. What was the main lesson in this
story? Was there more than one lesson? If so, do you think these lessons were
aimed at the characters or the reader?

3. Consider each characters first
response to F.A.O. Schwarz (toy store). Why do you think Bambara included the
responses of the other characters instead of just focusing on the narrators
response? Investigate the role of the other characters in the story.

II. A&P by John Updike

1. What was your initial impression
of Sammy as he describes the entry of the girls into the A&P? Did that
impression hold, or did it change as the story progressed? Why or why not? If
it changed, explain when that happened in the story.

2. After Sammy quits, he goes out
to the parking lot and sees not the girls, but some young married screaming
with her children about some candy they didnt get (par. 32). Does this detail
tell us anything about where Sammy has arrived, or what his prospects are? Consider Sammys descriptions of the shoppers
in the A&P as sheep and houseslaves (par. 5) in your response.

III. Tell a story about one of your
first jobs in the real world and what you first experienced. If you dont have
a job story, then consider any community-service memory. Use these prompts to
help write your memory: What was the setting like? What were the co-workers or
co-voluntal eers like? How did that experience change you eventually? You can also
connect to Sammys story (especially if you quit on the spot like he did!).

My first job in the real world was for a company called North Star, I was a HRIS Analyst and Workday consultant. my experrience was a tad harsh, I was one of the youngest women in the office and the senior HR Team made me feel like I was not qualified until they realized they needed my expertise.

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