Literary Criticism for John Updike AP - 2060 Words

Literary Criticisms on John Updike’s â€Å"AP† First and Last Name Class Section 11/21/13 http://www.notablebiographies.com/images/uewb_10_img0695.jpg Introduction: John Updike is considered to be one of the greatest modern American writers. He was able to use his All-American upbringing as inspiration for a lot of his writing, making it relatable to many people. Updike was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on March 18, 1932. He moved around in the area during his childhood, and the rural Pennsylvania setting of his youth is often reflected in his writing. His father was a school teacher and his mother was an aspiring writer. He excelled in school, and worked for his local newspaper. Updike was granted a scholarship to Harvard, and went†¦show more content†¦The driving point is that understanding the allusion to Botticelli, and grasping the elements of Sammy that can only be read between the lines is essential to appreciating the story for all that it is worth. This literary criticism is useful because it illustrates how the arts are connected, in this case, writing and painting. The arts are fluid and can translate between different mediu ms. The story is considered modern, but the painting is a classic. The character of Sammy is also meant to be relatable, even to future generations. The essay is well researched and soundly written; it is a good example of what a published literary criticism should look like. Title of Source: Irony and Innocence in John Updike’s ‘AP’ Author: Lawrence Jay Dessner Search Engine: Literature Resource Center Website: Gale Web Address: http://go.galegroup.com Abstract: The critical essay by Lawrence Jay Dessner explains the importance of the themes of irony and innocence in John Updike’s short story â€Å"AP.† The essay begins with a short summary of the story, and introduces the character of Sammy. Dessner argues that the story depends on irony. The reader expects a certain action and reaction from Sammy, but instead he does the opposite. This irony provides an innocent air of humor due to Sammy’s lack of world knowledge and youthful outlook on life. The remainder of this literary criticism analyzes Sammy’s interactions with the otherShow MoreRelatedA P By John Updike765 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Updike wrote, â€Å"A P† in 1961. In this era of the 1950s and early 1960s, conservative dress mirrored conservative social values. Conformity was the measure of popularity as well as a measure of moral rightness. During this time, people were more afraid of being labeled outsiders than they were afraid of th e outsiders themselves (â€Å"A P†). Gender issues and the emergence of feminist consciousness are represented when Lengel states the rules that proclaim the girls are decently dressed-codingRead MoreThe Stages of Maturation in James Joyce’s Araby John Updikes AP from the Authors Perspective902 Words   |  4 PagesWhen comparing the views of both James Joyce and John Updike on maturation from adolescence to adulthood it will be important to continually compare two of their similar works in Joyce’s â€Å"Araby† and Updike’s â€Å"AP†. James Joyce and John Updike follow similar views with the latter using Joyce as a foundation and following in similar footsteps; both authors follow a process of maturation based on the allure of love, while doing it at different stages of each of the protagonists’ lives resulting in similarRead MoreA P By John Updike Character Analysis818 Words   |  4 Pages This story could make one wonder, how far would you go to get the person of your dreams. In Updike’s story, three young ladies walk into the AP store wearing nothing but bathing suits. The girls catch the attention of Sammy who is the cashier. Sammy watches the girls walk around the store while making mental notes about each one of the girls. When Mr. Lengel the store manager sees the girls, he lets them know that the store policy is to have your shoulders covered and to dress appropriately whenRead MoreAnalysis Of John Updike s A P2577 Words   |  11 Pagesways to analyze a literary work. These ways are called Schools of Criticism or Critical Theories. Schools of criticism occur when groups of readers and critics come together and declare allegiance to a similar core of beliefs. And, when they do, they ask a particular set of question about a literary work. Each different way of analyzing a literary work elicits a different set of questions. AP, a short story by John Updike, would best be analyzed by using the school of New Criticism and analyzing theRead MoreJohn Updike’s Portrayal of Individualism vs. Conformity in Society2079 Words   |  9 Pagesbe the setting of three stories written by author John Updike. An examination of these short stories reveals that John Updike incorporates the struggles young adults experience as they attempt to hold on to their individualism and to protest as well as to question the fact that societys standards are out of focus. The first short story in which Updike delineates the conflict of individualism and societal standards is â€Å"A P.† Set in an A P grocery store, the story follows the struggle of aRead MoreThe parallel between â€Å"Cathedral† and â€Å"AP†1892 Words   |  8 Pages The parallel between â€Å"Cathedral† and â€Å"AP† Raymond Carver with â€Å"Cathedral† and â€Å"AP† by John Updike are both short stories, even if in facts they are written during the same century, readers can interpret the changes that occurred to be really different. They both introduce characters that are being victim of stereotype by the protagonists, but somehow these characters made a great change into the protagonists’ view of the world and life itself. The stories differ in atmosphere and the quantityRead MoreAnalysis Of John Updike s A P2084 Words   |  9 PagesAnalyzing any literary piece can be hard to do. Knowing the right tools to analyze the work can make it tremendously easier. A good tool to know is the Schools of Criticism or Critical Theories. These occur when groups of critics come together and declare allegiance to a similar core of beliefs. Once they do, they ask a particular set of questions about the literary work. Each different way of analyzing brings up different sets of questions. There are a total of seven different schools. John Updike’sRead MoreEssay about Rebellious to Responsible in John Updikes AP2030 Words   |  9 Pagesencompass many moral aspects that would not have been socially acceptable fifty or more years ago. John Updike’s short story, AP, addresses these issues of societal changes through a 1960’s teenager point of view. This teenager, Sammy, spends a great deal of his time working at a local supermarket, observing customers, and imagining where his life adventures will take him. Through symbolism and setting, Updike establishes the characters and conflicts; these, in turn, evolve Sammy from an observationalRead MoreHuman Oppressiveness in Two Kinds and AP Essay2357 Words   |  10 Pagesdetailed look of Amy Tan’s â€Å"Two Kinds† and John Updike’s â€Å"AP,† you will find that this quote is entirely applicable in the context of oppressiveness and in the likeness of â€Å"coming of age.† These two stories document the different p erspectives of two characters’ growing up and how the role of the invisible hand of oppression guides developing adolescents into mature adults; without prejudice or even forethought. The characters in question are: Sammy, an AP store clerk whose time spent at work revealsRead MoreA P By John Updike2027 Words   |  9 Pages John Hoyer Updike was born on March 18, 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania. John spent his early years in a small town named Shillington where his father was currently a science teacher. He was an excellent student graduating with co-valedictorian and as president of his graduating class of High school. John attended Harvard University graduating with a major in English while writing for the Harvard lampoon humor magazine. In his arrival on the literary scenes in the late 1950’s, John amazed everyone