"Test" Analysis by Katherine Roedel

"Good"

84112_9 — 2024-01-12 16:44:50 UTC

The excessive use of positive terms including "good" foreshadows the fact that something bad will happen.

The men in the white uniforms

84112_9 — 2024-01-12 16:58:23 UTC

The color white symbolizes pureness and innocence. The men in the white uniforms are taking Robert Proctor who is now thought of as sick and needing treatment. The men could've passed the test or finished their treatment and are now pure.

May/Spring

84045_1 — 2024-01-17 16:51:46 UTC

The season of spring and May indicates a beautiful day. In stories when it is a beautiful day it is usually foreshadows that something will happen that will make it an awful day in the end.

Cool/fresh/clean

84112_9 — 2024-01-17 16:54:40 UTC

The setting is repeatedly described as clean before the accident happens. This is foreshadowing that something bad will happen as clean is seen as a good thing.

Mother's "quiet smile"

84045_1 — 2024-01-17 16:56:11 UTC

The mothers quiet smile symbolizes peace and relaxation. In stories this irony that something that's peaceful and relaxing will soon turn scary and stressful, thus making the persons smile disappear quickly.

Blue (the color)

84045_1 — 2024-01-17 16:59:07 UTC

The color blue symbolizes serenity, stability, inspiration, or wisdom, this is ironic because Robert Proctor will soon get into a horrible car accident that makes him question is wisdom and stability for driving.

Convertible

84112_9 — 2024-01-17 17:03:36 UTC

The car that caused the accident is a convertible. Convertibles have retractable roofs, symbolizing change. Since Robert Proctor is under hypnosis to test his actions after, the convertible can be seen as a metaphor for looking inside Robert's mind as the moving roof makes it able to look inside a convertible.

Screaming (of mother)

84045_1 — 2024-01-17 17:06:25 UTC

The screaming of the mother symbolizes realism and shows how fear-inducing a car accident can be. This screaming creates a reaction in Robert that makes him distracted creating an even worse accident because of the ringing the scream makes for his ears. This accident is proven to be false but creates a problem for his real self.

Trees + fields "slip by"

84112_9 — 2024-01-17 17:09:32 UTC

The trees and fields slipping by represent the later event of the cause of the crash happening so fast. This line in the story is foreshadowing how things can go wrong very quickly.

Sleeping girl

84045_1 — 2024-01-17 17:10:11 UTC

The sleeping girl symbolizes innocence and death, which is ironic because Robert Proctor then has a head on collision with the car driving with the girl in it. This sleeping girl creates he consequence of Robert being taken by the men in white because of her death in his dreaming.

Grooves worn in the floor

84045_1 — 2024-01-17 17:13:08 UTC

Grooves worn in the floor symbolizes strength and resilience. It also symbolizes not willing to give up and the last bit of hope you can have. In the story at the very end Robert Proctor is deemed a threat to society and is then taken away by men in white.

Robert Proctor (the name meaning)

84112_9 — 2024-01-23 03:28:58 UTC

Proctor is used to describe someone who oversees assessments. This is ironic since Robert Proctor is not the one managing the test he is taking and does not have control. Since his full name is frequently mentioned, the story is foreshadowing this detail.

Colors

84112_9 — 2024-01-24 16:33:05 UTC

Black - Katherine

Green - Jade