Perspectives

To engage in a broader conversation about “The Test” by Angelica Gibbs, we recommend that you also consider the literary period when it was written as well as similar works.

Literary period

Published in 1940, the short story fits the literary movement we call modernism. Literary modernism has its origins in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, mainly in Europe and North America. Modernist works can be recognized through themes, context, and narrative techniques.

The themes and context of modernist works usually explore society’s problems and the decline of civilization. In “The Test”, we notice that the author explores social themes such as racism, power abuse, and injustice.

In terms of narrative techniques, “The Test” uses strong imagery, symbolism, and an ambiguous ending. Imagery and symbolism are used by the author to convey mo...