Narrator and point of view

The short story “The Test” by Angelica Gibbs is told in the past tense and is a third-person narration.

The story is told using a mix of narration and dialogue. The narrator intervenes after almost every line of dialogue, providing small details about the characters: “ ‘Yes, Ma’am,’ Marian said in her soft unaccented voice.” (l.7); “ ‘People say that they only want you to slip them a little something,’ Mrs. Ericson said doubtfully.” (ll. 29-30)

The narrator has a limited point of view and is not explicit about the meaning of the story. The narrator’s limited point of view can be observed, for example, in the fact that the narration rarely gives us direct insight into what the characters are feeling or thinking. For example, we are never told …