The Test of Friendship: Comprehensive Story Analysis and Reflection

This homework assignment analyzes the short story "The Test of Friendship." The solution begins by identifying and listing adjectives and adverbs from the passage. It then delves into character analysis, providing evidence from the story to illustrate what the character does, thinks, says, and what others say or think about him, along with the implications of these actions. The assignment also examines the setting, detailing specific elements from the story and their impact on the reader. Furthermore, it dissects the plot, identifying and correctly ordering key plot points such as the introduction, inciting incident, rising action, climax, and conclusion. The analysis continues with a discussion of the story's theme, with an explanation of the chosen theme. Finally, it explores the story's point of view and includes a personal reflection where the student relates to the protagonist's experiences and feelings.

The Test of Friendship
Damian had been dreading this day for weeks and finally it had arrived. This summer
had been the worst summer he could remember. His dad had lost his job and his mom
was struggling to support their family by working two crappy jobs. Damian had tried to
help out where he could but there were few people willing to hire a 14 year old.
“Damian – hurry up, the bus will be here soon!” yelled his mom.
Damian grabbed his dirty backpack and turned to take one last look in the mirror before
heading down the stairs. The image that greeted him was of a boy with too long hair,
wearing a shirt that had been mended twice and jeans worn out around the cuffs. He
knew in his head that his parents couldn’t afford to buy him new school clothes – but
that knowledge didn’t prevent him from feeling self-conscious and ashamed.
As he walked down the stairs his mother, ever sensitive to his feelings, said, “Damian I
know it has been a rough summer, but I hope you know how much we love you and
appreciate how much you have tried to help out this summer. You are a mature, hard-
working boy.”
“Thanks mom,” he mumbled softly as he headed out the door.
On the bus Damian kept to himself knowing that the moment would soon arrive when he
would step off the bus and be greeted by his friends. He had barely seen them all
summer and they had no idea about his family’s financial hardships. He had been too
embarrassed to tell them, so when they called he usually just made excuses as to why
he couldn’t go along to movies or the mall. In his head he imagined what their reunion
would be like. Each of them would have new haircuts and brand new
clothes. He knew Josh, his best friend, would have the new Nikes that had just come in
to the stores.
He was positive that when they saw him they would turn to one another and say, “Uh –
sorry Damian – we have to get to class,” and take off leaving him to walk into the school
alone.
As the bus rolled up to the school steps the moment of truth had arrived. The driver
expertly parked the bus and the door swung open. Kids filed off, the air buzzing with
their excitement to see friends and show off their first day of school outfits. Damian
stayed seated looking down at his lap. “Aren’t you getting off?” asked the driver loudly
once all the other kids had left.
“Uh yah, in a minute,” he replied softly, looking out the window. There they were, Josh
and Terrell, in their traditional meeting spot by the front door. Both guys looked cool and
excited to be back at school. Finally he mustered up the courage and headed off the
bus.

As he walked toward them his heart was beating in anticipation of the laughter and
jeers. “Hey Damian,” Josh called out, “We’re over here!”
As he approached the guys Josh said, “Hey – we missed you, we haven’t seen you all
summer!”
“Yah,” said Terrell, “It hasn’t been the same without you. Let’s go find out what our first
class is.”
Josh and Terrell turned and headed toward the school doors. Damian stood there in
shock that they hadn’t even commented on his shabby clothes and shaggy hair. “Are
you coming?” called Terrell as he headed through the door.
Damian laughed to himself and relaxed. “I guess all my worrying was a waste of time,”
he thought to himself. “They couldn’t care less how much money I have or what my
clothes are like.”
Damian walked confidently toward the school, knowing his two best friends were waiting
for him.
Make a list of the adjectives and adverbs in the passage below. Your list should
have at least 10 adjectives and at least five adverbs.
Adjectives
Worst, crappy, few, dirty, last, long, twice, worn
out, new, self-conscious, ashamed, mature,
hard-working, rough, brand new, best, alone
Adverbs
Finally, soon, softly, ever, barely, usually,
expertly
A. Character

In the left column place evidence from the story that shows what the character does, thinks,
says, and what others say/think about him or her. On the right indicate what that evidence
shows us about the character. Find as many pieces of evidence as you can.
What the Character Does What This Indicates About the Character
Example: Damian looks at himself in the
mirror before heading down to catch
the bus
Example: This indicates that Damian feels
insecure about his appearance and is worried
about how others will treat him because of
his shabby appearance
What the Character Thinks What This Indicates About the Character
Damien thinks that his “image that
greeted him” in the mirror “was of a boy
with too long hair, wearing a shirt that
had been mended twice and jeans worn
out around the cuffs”.
Damien thought that, when his friends
would see him “they would turn to one
another and say, “Uh – sorry Damian –
we have to get to class,” and take off
leaving him to walk into the school
alone.
The character felt ashamed of his clothes as
well as poor financial condition.
Due to his poor financial condition Damien
thought it would be embarrassing to meet his
rich friends and they would probably ignore
him when they would look at his clothes.

What the Character Says What This Indicates About the
Character
Aren’t you getting off?” asked the driver
loudly .
his mother, ever sensitive to his feelings,
said, “Damian I know it has been a
rough summer, but I hope you know
how much we love you and appreciate
how much you have tried to help out this
summer. You are a mature, hard-
working boy.”
As he approached the guys Josh said,
“Hey – we missed you, we haven’t seen
you all summer!”
The character is curious why Damian stayed
seated
Damien’s mother know that Damien feel
ashamed of his poor condition
Damien’s friends did not mind whether he was
in a poor financial condition , they valued
friendship more and ignorant about the poor
clothes Damien wearing. Rather they
conveyed their concern for not meeting him.
What Others Say/Think About
the Character
What This Indicates About the
Character
Damien thought that his friends would
laugh at his poor condition
Rather, Damien’s friends did not mind
whether he was in a poor financial condition ,
they valued friendship more and ignorant
about the poor clothes Damien wearing.
Rather they conveyed their concern for not
meeting him

B. Setting
On the left side of the chart, list details from the story that describe the setting. Remember to
copy the lines directly from the story and to use quotation marks. On the right side, indicate
what effect those details have on us the reader. Pick out as many details as you can.
Detail Effect
Example:
“Slowly Damian grabbed his dirty
backpack off his bed.”
Example:
This helps us to imagine a teenage boy’s
bedroom. I imagine that it is messy and
had posters all over the walls.
“Aren’t you getting off?” asked the driver
loudly once all the other kids had left.
“Uh yah, in a minute,” he replied softly,
looking out the window.
“Yah,” said Terrell, “It hasn’t been the
same without you. Let’s go find out what
our first class is.” Josh and Terrell turned
and headed toward the school doors
Damian stood there in shock that they
hadn’t even commented on his shabby
clothes and shaggy hair.
Are you coming?” called Terrell as he
headed through the door.
Damian laughed to himself and relaxed. “I
guess all my worrying was a waste of
time,” he thought to himself. “They
couldn’t care less how much money I have

or what my clothes are like.”
Damian walked confidently toward the
school, knowing his two best friends were
waiting for him.
“Damian – hurry up, the bus will be here
soon!” yelled his mom.
Damian grabbed his dirty backpack and
turned to take one last look in the mirror
before heading down the stairs. The image
that greeted him was of a boy with too long
hair, wearing a shirt that had been mended
twice and jeans worn out around the cuffs
C. Plot
Fill in the blanks below with the following words:
Introduction
Inciting incident
Rising action
Climax
Conclusion
Note: the plot points are mixed up so you will not be able to put the words in order!

1. The _ Introduction_ is when Damian’s mom calls to him to hurry up.
2. The description of Damian’s tough summer is the Inciting incident
of the story.
3. The part where Damian realizes his best friends do not care about how he looks is the __
Rising action__________.
4. Damian’s bus ride to school is the _ inciting incident________.
5. Josh and Terrell welcoming Damian with open arms is the ___ climax
D. Theme
In your opinion, what is the theme of “The Test of Friendship”? Choose one of the following
themes and explain why you chose it:
● Worrying is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do but it does not get you
anywhere
● Do not judge a book by its cover
● True friends are invaluable
● What does not kill us makes us stronger
Explanation:
True friends are invaluable- is the theme of this story. The story showed how Damien’s
friends did not judge Damien’s value in their life by his poor financial condition reflected
through his clothes. Rather, they greeted Damien and explained how much they missed
Damien during the entire summer.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
E. Point of View
In the story “The Test of Friendship” the point of view is _true friendship refers to an
unconditional bonding ______________.
Evidence from the text:
Damian laughed to himself and relaxed. “I guess all my worrying was a waste of time,” he
thought to himself. “They couldn’t care less how much money I have or what my clothes are
like.”
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
F. Think of a time when you were like Damian and you worried about something but it turned out
there was no need to worry. Explain the situation in three or four sentences.
If I were Damien, I used to be worried like him, about my poor appearance due to financial
insatiability. I had gone through such phases in life, when I thought that there would be none
who would accept me as a friend, as I did not belong to a rich and influential family. This
happened me, when I joined my masters course in a renowned university. However, slowly I
realized that the world is not that harsh. As some of my classmates who were from rich and

influential families became my best buddies. They never judged me by my family background of
financial condition. Rather they cooperated with me during group projects, which proved fruitful
to nourish my potentialities. We enjoyed travelling together, explore new restaurants and places.
They gifted me memories that I would love to cherish forever.