Readers today encounter "A&P" more than sixty years after it was first published, and the language has aged in noticeable ways. Sammy's slang, his references to everyday objects, and his casual way of describing people reflect a particular time and place. Students may find some of these elements confusing or even jarring. Teaching them to analyze style, including period language, turns that friction into an opportunity for deeper reading.

Style analysis asks students to consider how an author's language choices create a particular effect. In this story, the informal narration makes Sammy feel immediate and believable, as if a real teenager were telling the story at the counter. At the same time, the slightly exaggerated comparisons create humor and reveal his imagination. Students should learn to describe both the effect and the means by which it is achieved.

One effective strategy is to have students translate a passage into modern English and then compare the two versions. They quickly notice what is lost, such as the playful rhythm and the specific attitude embedded in particular words. The comparison reveals that style is not decoration but an essential part of meaning. This realization often improves the quality of their analytical writing.

Distinguishing Period Detail From Authorial Choice

A common error is attributing every unusual phrase to authorial technique when some are simply products of the era. Teachers can help students distinguish between language that reflects the period and language that Updike uses deliberately to characterize Sammy. For example, a dated expression may tell us about the time, while an extended, humorous comparison tells us about the narrator's personality. This distinction sharpens their analysis.

• Identify an expression that reflects the time period
• Identify a choice that reveals Sammy's personality
• Explain how informal diction shapes the reader's trust in the narrator
• Describe the effect of humor on the story's tone
• Compare the narration with a more formal rewrite

Grading Style Analysis

Grading style analysis requires attention to specificity and accuracy. Students should name particular words or phrases, describe their effect, and connect that effect to the story's meaning. Vague statements such as the language is casual deserve less credit than precise explanations of how casual language characterizes Sammy. The rubric should reflect this emphasis.

Feedback can focus on the quality of the explanation. If a student identifies slang but does not explain its effect, ask what the slang suggests about Sammy's attitude toward the people he describes. If they describe the effect but offer no evidence, ask which words create it. These prompts reinforce the habit of tying observation to explanation.

Supporting Students Who Find the Language Unfamiliar

Some students will need help with unfamiliar references or expressions. Providing brief explanatory notes or a short discussion of the historical setting can remove barriers to comprehension. Encourage students to ask questions and to use context clues. The goal is for them to engage with the language rather than avoid it.

It can also be valuable to connect the story's language to contemporary examples. Students might compare Sammy's voice to the way a modern narrator speaks in a podcast or a short video. Discussing how voice creates intimacy and personality in both cases makes the analysis feel relevant. This connection helps students apply their skills beyond the classroom.

Building Stylistic Awareness in Student Writing

Studying Sammy's voice can also improve student writing. After analyzing his language, students might write a short scene in a strong first-person voice of their own. They can experiment with diction, rhythm, and humor to create a distinct narrator. This practice builds awareness of how style works from the writer's side.

Assessing these pieces with a clear rubric ensures that the focus remains on voice and control. Feedback should highlight moments where the voice is vivid and suggest revisions where it falters. Over time, students develop a stronger sense of their own style. That growth is a lasting benefit of studying the story closely.