Sometimes, feelings of embarrassment and humiliation about parts of our identities can influence the way we think about and act toward others. In a reflection titled “Fear,” writer Gary Soto writes about how such feelings affected the way a boy he knew growing up treated others.




I opened my mouth and tried to feel happy as he told me what he was going to have for Thanksgiving. “My Mamma’s got a turkey and ham, lots of potatoes, yams, and stuff like that. I saw it in the refrigerator. And she says we gonna get some pies. Really, ese.”




Frankie scared most of the school out of its wits and even had girls scampering out of view when he showed himself on the playground. If he caught us without notice, we grew quiet and stared down at our shoes until he passed after a threat or two. If he pushed us down, we stayed on the ground with our eyes closed and pretended we were badly hurt. If he riffled through our lunch bags, we didn’t say anything. He took what he wanted, after which we sighed and watched him walk away after peeling an orange or chewing big chunks of an apple.



  • 1 : Gary Soto, “Fear,” in Living Up the Street (New York: Laurel-Leaf, 1985), 59–62. Reproduced by permission from Gary Soto.

Connection Questions

  1. Make an identity chart for Frankie. Choose two phrases from the text that reveal something important about his identity. How might the identity chart you made for Frankie be different from the one he would make for himself?
  2. What connection do you see between Frankie’s identity and his choices?
  3. What range of feelings does the narrator have for Frankie?
  4. Why do you think Gary Soto called this story “Fear”? Who feels fear in the story, and what are they afraid of? How does fear affect their actions?
  5. What is a bully? What motivations does this story suggest might be at the root of bullying behavior? What other factors might influence one to bully others?


Related Content


Excerpts from “The Hell of Treblinka” by Vasily Grossman, 1944

Jewish journalist Vassily Grossman describes visiting the remains of the killing center at Treblinka.


Elisabeth Kaufmann's Diary Entry on Fleeing from Paris, June 13, 1940

An entry from the diary of Elisabeth Kaufmann from June 13, 1940, in which she describes the mass exodus of tens of thousands of people from Paris as the German army advanced into the city.

June 13, 1940 [Rambouillet]

Race & Membership/Eugenics

Beyond Classification

Explore three first person perspectives on stereotyping to understand how these prejudices can divide a society.

Genocide & Mass Violence

Everyone Has a Story

Learn about Arn Chorn Pond’s life as a Cambodian refugee, and consider the power of telling your story.

Search Our Collection
