西洋小說賞析 : 中興大學外文系副教授周淑娟 Spring 2014. Week 8: “ A & P ” by...

西洋小說賞析西洋小說賞析 : :

中興大學外文系中興大學外文系副教授周淑娟副教授周淑娟Spring 2014Spring 2014

Week 8: “A & P” Week 8: “A & P”

byby

John UpdikeJohn Updike

The Meaning of “A & P”The Meaning of “A & P”

1. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea 1. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea CompanyCompany, better known as , better known as A&PA&P, is a , is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets are found inUnited States. Its supermarkets are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

2. Our setting here is Boston, Massachusetts.2. Our setting here is Boston, Massachusetts.

Plot (Plot ( 情節情節 ))

Definition: Definition:

the particular arrangement of actions, events, the particular arrangement of actions, events, and situations that unfold in a narrative.and situations that unfold in a narrative.

Plot : central line of developmentPlot : central line of development

ExpositionExposition (( 說明；展現說明；展現 )) : : beginning beginning ComplicationComplication （糾結；複雜化（糾結；複雜化 )) : : a new conflict a new conflict CrisisCrisis （危機）（危機） : a moment of high tension: a moment of high tension ClimaxClimax （高潮）（高潮） : the moment of greatest tension : the moment of greatest tension

at which the outcome is to be decidedat which the outcome is to be decided ConclusionConclusion (resolution; d(resolution; déénouementnouement ；結局；結局 )) : :

the outcome; the untying of the knotsthe outcome; the untying of the knots

Plot: related elementsPlot: related elements

FlashbackFlashback (retrospect(retrospect ；倒敘；倒敘 ):): a scene relived in a charac a scene relived in a character’s memoryter’s memory

SuspenseSuspense （懸疑）（懸疑） : the pleasurable anxiety we feel: the pleasurable anxiety we feel

that heightens our attention to the story, inheres that heightens our attention to the story, inheres

in our wondering how it will all turn out. in our wondering how it will all turn out.

ForeshadowingForeshadowing （預示；伏筆）（預示；伏筆） : indication of event: indication of eventss

to come to come

Plot development of “A & P”Plot development of “A & P”

ExpositionExposition: the appearance of the 3 girls: the appearance of the 3 girls ComplicationComplication: the response of people around: the response of people around CrisisCrisis: the appearance of Langel: the appearance of Langel ClimaxClimax : Langel’s conflict with the girls and : Langel’s conflict with the girls and

Sammy’s quitting his jobSammy’s quitting his job ConclusionConclusion: Sammy’s sense of loss for the gi: Sammy’s sense of loss for the gi

rls’ neglect of his doing and for future difficultrls’ neglect of his doing and for future difficultyy

InitiationInitiation （啟蒙，成長）（啟蒙，成長） ThemeTheme

---The protagonist （主角） grows towards or is initiated into adulthood.

---When the protagonist learns certain lessons or realizes certain truths about life (which are often cruel).

Initiation StoryInitiation Story

An initiation story may be said to show its An initiation story may be said to show its young protagonist experiencing a significant young protagonist experiencing a significant change of knowledge about the world or change of knowledge about the world or himself, or a change of character, or of both, himself, or a change of character, or of both, and this change must point or lead him toward and this change must point or lead him toward an adult world. It may or may not contain an adult world. It may or may not contain some form of ritual, but it should give some some form of ritual, but it should give some evidence that the change is at least likely to evidence that the change is at least likely to have permanent effects.have permanent effects.

A Question to ExploreA Question to Explore

How do you think of Sammy’s acts? Is it How do you think of Sammy’s acts? Is it reckless, stupid, or heroic?reckless, stupid, or heroic?

Would Sammy do the same in his adulthood?Would Sammy do the same in his adulthood?

Major Elements of the TextMajor Elements of the Text

The humorous tone (although somewhat regretThe humorous tone (although somewhat regretful)ful)

The dull workplace vs. juvenile sexual fantasy The dull workplace vs. juvenile sexual fantasy （青少年性幻想）（青少年性幻想）

Adolescent Adolescent （青春期）（青春期） group identification: herogroup identification: heroism ism

Juvenile delinquency Juvenile delinquency The cruel reality: initiationThe cruel reality: initiation

Adolescence Adolescence （青少年時期）（青少年時期） Juvenile Juvenile （青少年）（青少年） sexual curiosity/fantasy (the sexual curiosity/fantasy (the

influence of hormones)influence of hormones) Juvenile delinquencyJuvenile delinquency （偏差行為）（偏差行為） : :

---defying the adult world which the old, prudi---defying the adult world which the old, prudishsh （拘泥的）（拘泥的） manager Lengel representsmanager Lengel represents

A question: Have you ever conflicted seriously A question: Have you ever conflicted seriously with your teacher or parents for insignificant rwith your teacher or parents for insignificant reasons? easons?

The dull workplaceThe dull workplace

““She is one of those cash-register-watcheShe is one of those cash-register-watches, a witch about fifty with rouge on either s, a witch about fifty with rouge on either cheekbones and no eyebrows, and I know cheekbones and no eyebrows, and I know it made her day it made her day （使某人樂一天）（使某人樂一天） to trip me up.to trip me up.” ” (1(1). . . if she had been born at the right ti). . . if she had been born at the right time they would have me they would have burn her over in Saleburn her over in Salemm. . . .. . . . (2)(2)


““The sheep The sheep (( 膽小懦弱者膽小懦弱者 )) pushing their carts do pushing their carts down the aisle . . .I bet you could wn the aisle . . .I bet you could set off dynset off dynamiteamite (( 炸彈炸彈 )) in an A&P and the people woul in an A&P and the people would by and large keep reaching and checkind by and large keep reaching and checking oatmeal off their lists . . .”g oatmeal off their lists . . .” (5)(5)


““but we‘re right in the middle of town, and but we‘re right in the middle of town, and the women generally put on a shirt or shothe women generally put on a shirt or shorts or something before they get out of the rts or something before they get out of the car into the street. And anyway these are car into the street. And anyway these are usually usually women with six children and variwomen with six children and varicose veins cose veins (( 靜脈曲張靜脈曲張 )) mapping their legs mapping their legs and n and nobody, including them, could care less.”obody, including them, could care less.” (1(1

0)0)

juvenile sexual curiosity/ fantasyjuvenile sexual curiosity/ fantasy

““She was a chunky kid, with a good tan aShe was a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking nd a sweet broad soft-looking cancan (( 屁股屁股 )) witwith those two crescents of white just under ih those two crescents of white just under it, where the sun never seems to hit, at the t, where the sun never seems to hit, at the top of the backs of her leg.top of the backs of her leg. (1)(1)

““You never know for sure how girls’ minYou never know for sure how girls’ minds work . . . .”ds work . . . .” (2)(2)


“…“…the straps were down. They were off her the straps were down. They were off her shoulders looped loose around the cool shoulders looped loose around the cool tops of her arms . . . If it hadn’t been tops of her arms . . . If it hadn’t been there you wouldn’t have known there there you wouldn’t have known there could have been anything whiter than could have been anything whiter than those shoulders. . . .” those shoulders. . . .”

to be continued in next slideto be continued in next slide


““……With the straps pushed off, there was With the straps pushed off, there was nothing between the top of her suit and nothing between the top of her suit and the top of her head except herthe top of her head except her, this clean , this clean bare plane of the top of her chest bare plane of the top of her chest down . . .”down . . .” (4)(4)


““. . . they three of them went up the cat-a. . . they three of them went up the cat-and-dog-food-breakfast-cereal-macaroni-rind-dog-food-breakfast-cereal-macaroni-rice-raisins-seansonings-spreads-spaghetti-ce-raisins-seansonings-spreads-spaghetti-soft-drinks-crackers-and-cookies- aisle.soft-drinks-crackers-and-cookies- aisle. (5)(5)


““Now her hands are empty . . . I wonder whNow her hands are empty . . . I wonder where the money’s coming from. Still with tere the money’s coming from. Still with that prim look she lifts a folded dollar bill hat prim look she lifts a folded dollar bill out of the hollow at the center of her nubbout of the hollow at the center of her nubbled pink top. . . Really, I thought that was led pink top. . . Really, I thought that was so cute.”so cute.” (11)(11)


““I uncrease I uncrease (( 攤平褶痕攤平褶痕 )) the bill, tenderly as you the bill, tenderly as you may imagine, it just having come from bemay imagine, it just having come from between the tween the two smoothest scoops of vanilltwo smoothest scoops of vanillaa I had ever known were there . . . “ I had ever known were there . . . “ (20)(20)

Juvenile Identification with HeroismJuvenile Identification with Heroism

““She was the queen. She kind of led them,She was the queen. She kind of led them, the other two peeking round and making the other two peeking round and making their shoulders round. She didn’t look routheir shoulders round. She didn’t look round, not this queen, she just walked straighnd, not this queen, she just walked straight on slowly, on these long right prima-dont on slowly, on these long right prima-donna na (( 首席女歌手首席女歌手 )) leg. leg. (2)(2)


““Walking into A &Walking into A & ＰＰ with you straps dowith you straps down, I guess it’s the only kind of face you wn, I guess it’s the only kind of face you can have.can have. (5) (5)


““She must have felt in the corner of her eShe must have felt in the corner of her eye me and over my shoulder Stokesie in tye me and over my shoulder Stokesie in the second slot watching, but she didn‘t tihe second slot watching, but she didn‘t tip p (( 透露透露 )) . . Not this queenNot this queen. She kept her eyes . She kept her eyes moving across the racks, and stopped, anmoving across the racks, and stopped, and turned so slow it made my stomach rub d turned so slow it made my stomach rub the inside of my apron, and buzzed to the the inside of my apron, and buzzed to the other two, who kind of huddled against hother two, who kind of huddled against her for relief . . .”er for relief . . .” (5)(5)


““All of a sudden I slid right down her All of a sudden I slid right down her voice into her living room. Her father and voice into her living room. Her father and the other men were standing around in the other men were standing around in ice-cream coats and bow ties and the ice-cream coats and bow ties and the women were in sandals picking up women were in sandals picking up herring snacks on toothpicks off a big herring snacks on toothpicks off a big plate. . . .plate. . . .

(to be continued in next slide)(to be continued in next slide)


““and they were all holding drinks the coloand they were all holding drinks the color of water with olives and sprigs of mint ir of water with olives and sprigs of mint in them. When my parents have somebody n them. When my parents have somebody over they get lemonade and if it‘s a real rover they get lemonade and if it‘s a real racy affair Schlitz in tall glasses with ”Theacy affair Schlitz in tall glasses with ”They’ll Do It Every Time“ cartoons stencilley’ll Do It Every Time“ cartoons stencilled d (( 刻蠟紙刻蠟紙 )) on.” on.” (14)(14)

The old, conservative culture the The old, conservative culture the manager represents: Generation Gapmanager represents: Generation Gap

““. . . and if you stand at our front doors you . . . and if you stand at our front doors you can see two banks and the can see two banks and the Congregational Congregational churchchurch and the newspaper store and three and the newspaper store and three real-estate offices”real-estate offices” (10)(10)


“ “Lengel's pretty dreary, teaches Sunday scLengel's pretty dreary, teaches Sunday school and the rest, but he doesn't miss that hool and the rest, but he doesn't miss that much. He comes over and says, "Girls, thimuch. He comes over and says, "Girls, this isn't the beach."s isn't the beach." (12)(12)


"Girls, I don't want to argue with you. "Girls, I don't want to argue with you. After this come in here with your After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It's our policy." He shoulders covered. It's our policy." He turns his back. That's policy for you. turns his back. That's policy for you. Policy is what the kingpins want. Policy is what the kingpins want. What What the others want is juvenile delinquencythe others want is juvenile delinquency.. (16)(16)

Heroism vs. the Cruel RealityHeroism vs. the Cruel Reality

““The girls, and who'd blame them, are in The girls, and who'd blame them, are in a hurry to get out, so I say "I quit" to Lena hurry to get out, so I say "I quit" to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping gel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they'll stop and watch me, their unsuspectthey'll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero. . . .”ed hero. . . .” (21)(21)

to be continued in next slideto be continued in next slide

Heroism vs. the Cruel RealityHeroism vs. the Cruel Reality

“ “ . . . They keep right on going, into the el. . . They keep right on going, into the electric eye; the door flies open and they fliectric eye; the door flies open and they flicker across the lot to their car, Queenie ancker across the lot to their car, Queenie and Plaid and Big Tall Goony-Goony d Plaid and Big Tall Goony-Goony (( 笨笨的笨笨的 )) (not that as raw material she was so bad), (not that as raw material she was so bad), leaving me with Lengel and a kink leaving me with Lengel and a kink (( 糾結糾結 )) in in his eyebrow.”his eyebrow.” (21)(21)

Heroism vs. the Cruel Reality Heroism vs. the Cruel Reality

““Sammy, you don’t want to do this to youSammy, you don’t want to do this to your Mom and Dad,” he tells me. r Mom and Dad,” he tells me. It’s true, I dIt’s true, I don’ton’t. But it seems to me that once you be. But it seems to me that once you begin a gesture it’s fatal not to go through wgin a gesture it’s fatal not to go through with it.ith it. (28) (28) [[ 騎虎難下騎虎難下 ]]

Heroism vs. the Cruel Reality Heroism vs. the Cruel Reality

“ “ . . . and my stomach kind of fell as I felt . . . and my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter.”hereafter.” (29)(29)

The First-Person Point of ViewThe First-Person Point of View

To present vividly how a juvenile thinks and To present vividly how a juvenile thinks and actsacts

Historical notesHistorical notes

““By the time I got her feathers smoothed By the time I got her feathers smoothed and her goodies into a bag -- she gives me and her goodies into a bag -- she gives me a little snort in passing, if she'd been born a little snort in passing, if she'd been born at the right time they would have burned at the right time they would have burned her over in her over in SalemSalem.”.” (2)(2)

Historical notesHistorical notes

Salem witch trialSalem witch trial: a series of hearings and : a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the executions of The trials resulted in the executions of twenty people, most of them twenty people, most of them womenwomen. .

Major themeMajor theme

An adult’s amused recollection of his An adult’s amused recollection of his immature pursuit of heroism in his juvenile immature pursuit of heroism in his juvenile age. age.

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西洋小說賞析 : 中興大學外文系副教授周淑娟 Spring 2014. Week 8: “ A & P ” by...

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