Fear, By Karen Thompson Walker

One of the things we fear the most is the loss of or lack of control. Even if we really don’t have control, we like to think we do, and when we lose that sense of control, fear rushes in. For example, an alcoholic will say " I can quit any time; I’m in control." The fear comes when he realizes for the first time that he is an alcoholic and that he is not in control. We all fear uncertainty and the unknown. We arm ourselves against it with candles in the dark, or faith against the uncertainty of death. Then, when we think we’ve conquered our fear, it comes invading our minds again, let in by a smell or a taste, a sound or a thought Fear is always there, just waiting right under the surface, to awaken those memories which frighten us the most.

What is fear? Fear can be, and can come from, many things. It can come from everyday life experiences, such as taking tests in school, or giving a speech in a meeting at work. Or from things that frighten more people than just yourself. Such as going to war, being in an accident, or in the midst of a public shooting. In Alan Axelrod’s, “Nothing to Fear: Lessons in Leadership from FDR”, Alan talks about fear, and his points are valid, for fear is like a fog, it can be overcome, and that mankind has had worse things to fear than what is feared in his writing.

Karen Thompson Walker’s “What Fear Can Teach Us” indicates how fear influences our everyday actions and

In the article “Why do we Read Scary Books?”, by Lou Morgan, the main argument made is that, by reading these fictionalized versions of fear, we are controlling it. Morgan states, “The difference is that if you're faced with a sabertooth tiger, a spear is going to make you feel a lot better about your odds of survival.” Morgan is basically saying that when you read these scary stories, you a have different hypotheticals for the situation. She goes on to write, “We seek out stories; stories which give us a place to put our fears.” Again, she is saying that we are in control of our emotions when we read these frightening tales. Another point made by Morgan is that “we’re curious about fear.” Most people, she says, aren't very interested in sharing

In numerous novels spoken about there was fear of death, being taken away from loved ones, a type of phobia, fear of heartbreak, or fear of the unknown. These may just be stories, but it's relevant in life too. Every single day fears appear in each person’s mind, probably more than once. That is why without fear, there would not be life. Or life would be boring, dull, and unexciting.

Fear is the fuel that drives our train. It is the gas that keeps us moving. Too little and we won’t move; too much and we will become overwhelmed. Fear may manifest itself in many forms, but always strives to complete the same goal: overwhelm you. Fear tries to catch up with your well-being and enrobe you in a pit of darkness.

Fear is a crazed emotion that controls the life of anyone it touches. The rollercoaster of fear that many ride, can be the breaking point, or the bounce back part in life. Fear is represented in all stories like in Macbeth, The Leaving, and Warren Pryor. All of these stories have a major impact in the plot all due to fear within the characters. With fear present in the character, it drives them to act ways they would not have.

“Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation.” Charles Stanley, a pastor and author, revered for his motivational and wise mindset, said these words, highlighting how fear is the ultimate suppressor and controlling-agent of mankind. Fear can be manipulated and used to conduct masses and institute ideals and normalities. Fear is not always used on others, for it can shroud one’s own credibility or demeanor.

Fear is a scary emotion that can play a significant role in our lives. It can affect our decision making and ultimate choices. Fear is something that can be a barrier in the way of our dreams and goals. Most people struggle with some sort of fear in their lives. Lisa Paitl, a forty-two-year-old, women from Merrill, Wisconsin who in the past has let fear consume her life by taking away her happiness.

“Fear is not real. It is the product of thoughts you create. Danger is very real, but fear is a choice.” Personally, I would not take a genetics test to find out if I was at high risk; and, to many this might sound odd coming from someone who is planning to pursue a career in the sciences. I am uncertain if my DNA holds the BRCA gene but like Cynthia Graber I am certain of one thing, myself.

Karen Thompson Walker, an aspiring fiction writer and novelist, delivered an imaginative Ted Talk titled What Fear Can Teach Us. She explored the connection between fear and imagination through storytelling. In this critique I will analyze Walker’s content, delivery, and conclusion of her speech. Karen Thompson Walker based the idea of her story on comparing fear and storytelling. She wanted to reach out to adults on how we feel about fear and how we can perceive fear to be an amazing feeling.

Fear is what we feel when we are scared or afraid of something or someone. In this story “Right to the streets of Memphis” by Richard Wright. Richard was scared “Sent me home in panic” (115). This shows how he was afraid of the gang. So after he had gotten beaten up by them he did not understand what was happening. Thus, fear is a difficult route to go do but what really matters

America has been granted many influential American authors in literature throughout history. Children’s literature is best known for happy endings and keeping things light and positive. However, there are a handful of authors that uses, children’s fear to create short stories and depict a sense of terror. Robert Lawrence Stine exposes children’s literature to the fun in fear. Stine’s well known series is Goosebumps. Stine impacted the world of children’s literature by helping more kids become interested in reading, creating a “Horror Life” genre for children’s literature, and evolving the craft of the story telling by his use of cliffhangers at the

Fear is an emotion that is often used so that society can go along with the beliefs of powerful figures. An example would be in WWII with the Japanese internment camps. Roosevelt used the fear from the bombing of Pearl Harbor to justify the relocation of Japanese-American people. Due to the fear of the unknown, people were punished for crimes that they didn't commit and were treated unjustly and brutally. People in power use this to manipulate everyone and obey because from the beginning we are taught to do just that.

Fear is something that consumes many humans. Some fear too much in life, but when I faced fear, I completely understood all the fears that everyone else saw. Summers should be filled with fun and friends, not fear. The rain consumed the small town we called home, even though it was summer we had dreadful amounts of rain.