Examination Day

“The Jordans never spoke of the exam, not until their son, Dickie, was twelve years old.”

This is the opening sentence of “Examination Day,” and it establishes that the work is speculative fiction. There are elements that are familiar and realistic, notably that a 12-year-old boy would have to sit for an exam. However, that the Jordans have not spoken of the exam with their son suggests that the story takes place in a world not like our own.

“He didn’t understand what the sudden tension was about, but he did know that today was his birthday, and he wanted harmony above all.”

Dickie is intelligent, but he is also a child and therefore not entirely aware of what is going on around him. He is perceptive enough to recognize that there is tension between his parents, but he does not understand the reason for it. His lack of understanding emphasizes the horror of the ending, contributing to the theme of Innocence as a Lens for Dystopian Horror.

“He wanted the day to be happy, and the moistness of his mother’s eyes, the scowl on his father’s face, spoiled the mood of fluttering expectation with which he had greeted the morning.”

Throughout “Examination Day,” the tone is emotionally detached. This is reflected even in the description of Dickie’s feelings. He seemingly does not recognize that his mother has been weeping, describing it simply as “the moistness of his mother’s eyes.”