Emily Larson
Professor Jones
ENGL 1B
February 28, 2025
Character Analysis of A & P
1. Round Character: The round character for the story A&P is Sammy.
Sammy works in a grocery store and is observant of those around
him. He gets distracted when working by three girls who are all
wearing bathing suits. He gets distracted from analyzing the girls and
seems separate from reality. As he stands there looking at the girls
his thoughts get more intense causing him to get in trouble with his
boss and losing his job.
2. Flat Character: The flat character in John Updike’s A&P is the store
manager Lengel. He is the authority figure and makes all the rules.
He comes in and explains to the girls that they cannot come into the
store wearing just bathing suits. He wants the girls to be in proper
clothing and have covered shoulders when coming into the store.
Sammy defends the girls which causes a conflict between him and
Lengel.
3. Interaction of Round and Flat Characters: After Lengel tells the
girls that they need to wear proper store clothing when entering
Sammy felt that he needed to stand up for the girls. Doing this
Sammy told his boss “I quit” hoping the girls would have stayed long
enough to see him. Sammy was upset that Lengel embarrassed them
by criticizing what they were wearing, so he acted and quit. Lengel
was being patient with Sammy because he knew his parents and
didn’t want Sammy to disappoint them.
Professor Jones
ENGL 1B
February 28, 2025
Character Analysis of A & P
1. Round Character: The round character for the story A&P is Sammy.
Sammy works in a grocery store and is observant of those around
him. He gets distracted when working by three girls who are all
wearing bathing suits. He gets distracted from analyzing the girls and
seems separate from reality. As he stands there looking at the girls
his thoughts get more intense causing him to get in trouble with his
boss and losing his job.
2. Flat Character: The flat character in John Updike’s A&P is the store
manager Lengel. He is the authority figure and makes all the rules.
He comes in and explains to the girls that they cannot come into the
store wearing just bathing suits. He wants the girls to be in proper
clothing and have covered shoulders when coming into the store.
Sammy defends the girls which causes a conflict between him and
Lengel.
3. Interaction of Round and Flat Characters: After Lengel tells the
girls that they need to wear proper store clothing when entering
Sammy felt that he needed to stand up for the girls. Doing this
Sammy told his boss “I quit” hoping the girls would have stayed long
enough to see him. Sammy was upset that Lengel embarrassed them
by criticizing what they were wearing, so he acted and quit. Lengel
was being patient with Sammy because he knew his parents and
didn’t want Sammy to disappoint them.
