Summary Of Test By Theodore Thomas

In “Test”, by Theodore Thomas, there were three points in the story where the plot suddenly changes direction, and the author uses certain tactics to make sure the readers don’t expect them. Thomas begins his story by describing the perfect driving conditions and driver. “It was a good day for driving” gets ingrained in our heads; nothing could go wrong. The audience is lead into a false sense of security, but suddenly, notice the use of that word, “a blue convertible swung out from behind a truck.” Robert Procter, the driver, noted the car and the truck in the previous paragraph, but he clearly labeled them as not a threat, he put them in the back of his mind. The second big plot twist was the reveal of the car crash being a hypnotization;
it was “the last part of the driver’s test”. The story seemed to be about a regular guy and his mother getting into a car accident—there was nothing that indicated otherwise. Robert processed information like he normally would, describing what he sees, hears, smells, and feels. Lastly, the uniformed man who hypnotized Robert calls him sick and says that he needs treatment. Just as Robert thinks that he was done being messed with and that he can finally get his licence, they spring this on him. He gets dragged away with the promise that he will be fixed. These two plot twists were also placed close together. As the readers were still reeling from the first blow, the second blow happens immediately after. In “Test”, the author places the plot twists in a way that makes them more unexpected and more effective.