“Fear” by Guy
de Maupassant
1️⃣
Introduction
“Fear” is a psychological short
story by French writer Guy de Maupassant, known for his realistic and
insightful portrayal of human emotions.
The story explores
different kinds of fear — physical, instinctive, and psychological — and shows
that true fear is mental rather than physical.
Maupassant uses a frame
narrative, where one story is told within another.
Short Summary
“Fear” is a story
about what
true fear really is.
The
story begins on a boat at night, where a group of
men are talking about fear. They all think they are brave and know what fear
is.
An experienced
traveler interrupts them and says they don’t really understand
true fear.
He
tells them about a night he spent alone in a lonely inn during wartime.
The
inn was quiet and dark, and he was all alone. Every little sound made him feel
scared.
He
realized that true fear comes from the mind —
from imagination and helplessness, not from real danger.
By
the morning, he was safe, but he had experienced a kind of fear he had never
felt before.
The
men on the boat understood that real fear is very different from ordinary fear.
2️⃣
Setting
The story is set on a boat,
where a group of men are talking at night.
The calm, quiet setting
contrasts with the intense subject of fear.
🧩 Plot
Introduction (Frame Setting on the Boat)
The
story begins on a boat at night, where a
group of men, including the narrator, are engaged in a calm
conversation.
They
start talking about fear, boasting of their bravery
and experiences during wars, adventures, or dangerous situations.
Each
man believes he understands what fear is — the emotion felt during
physical danger or life-threatening moments.
Rising Action (Traveler’s Intervention)
One
man — an experienced traveler or old officer
— interrupts the discussion.
He
claims that none of them truly know what real fear means.
He
says that true fear is different — it is
not the fear of visible danger but a terrible psychological condition
that overcomes a person when imagination and helplessness take control.
Main Story (The Traveler’s Experience)
The
traveler then narrates a personal experience:
During
wartime, he once stopped for the night at a lonely inn in a deserted
countryside.
The
silence, isolation, and the thought of possible attack filled him with unease.
Every
sound, shadow, or creak seemed suspicious.
His imagination
began to magnify everything, turning normal sounds into signs
of danger.
He
was not attacked or harmed, but he felt a cold terror unlike anything he
had known before.
He
describes it as a feeling of paralysis, where his
heart stopped and his body turned cold.
He
realized he could neither fight nor flee — he was helpless, trapped in fear
itself.
Climax
The climax
occurs when the traveler completely surrenders to his imagination.
His
mind convinces him that he is in danger, though nothing is happening.
This
marks the peak of psychological fear —
terror born entirely from within, not from reality.
Falling Action
As
the night passes and morning arrives, the traveler realizes there was no real
danger.
He
is safe — but the memory of that fear remains
with him forever.
He
now understands the difference between physical fear and mental
fear.
Conclusion (Return to the Boat Scene)
The
traveler ends his tale, explaining that true fear is not a reaction to external
events but a psychological experience that
takes control of both body and mind.
The
men on the boat, who were previously proud and confident, fall silent — they
understand that they have never truly experienced fear in this way.
The
story closes on a thoughtful and reflective note.
🧱 Structure
of the Story
Guy
de Maupassant structures “Fear” in a frame
narrative, also known as a story within a story, which
adds depth and realism.
|
Part |
Description |
Purpose |
|
Frame Story (Outer Story) |
Conversation
on the boat among men about fear |
Introduces
the theme and sets the stage for the main story |
|
Inner Story (Traveler’s Tale) |
The
old officer’s personal experience of true fear |
Provides
the real meaning and emotional core of the story |
|
Return to Frame |
Silence
and reflection after the tale |
Concludes
with the message and impact of the traveler’s realization |
Narrative Technique
Frame Narrative: The
outer story (discussion) wraps around the inner story (traveler’s experience).
First-person narration: The
traveler’s tale feels personal and real.
Contrast: Calm and
safety of the boat vs. terror and darkness of the inn.
Psychological realism:
Focuses on feelings, sensations, and the mind rather than physical action.
Summary of the Plot in Brief (For Quick
Revision)
Men
on a boat talk about fear.
A
traveler interrupts, claiming they don’t know true fear.
He
narrates his experience in a lonely inn during wartime.
His
imagination fills him with uncontrollable terror.
He
realizes fear is psychological, not physical.
The
story ends with a reflective silence on the boat.
Key Message from Plot and Structure
Maupassant
uses the frame structure to contrast rational
discussion (outer story) with irrational fear (inner story).
The
plot moves from conversation → personal experience →
realization, reflecting the journey from ignorance to
understanding.
The
story’s structure mirrors the nature of fear itself — it begins calmly and
grows silently until it dominates the mind.
Important
Characters
1️⃣ The
Traveler / The Old Officer (Main Speaker)
Role: Central character —
tells the story within the story (the inner tale).
Description:A worldly,
experienced man who has faced real danger — war, storms, and death.He
interrupts the conversation on the boat to explain that most people do not
understand true fear.
He then narrates his
personal experience of feeling real fear while staying alone in a lonely
inn during wartime.
Character Traits:Wise and
reflective: Understands fear deeply, not superficially.
Honest: Admits that even
brave men can be terrified.
Courageous yet human: Has
faced danger but realizes the power of imagination.
Philosophical: Teaches
others that true fear is a mental experience, not physical.
Importance:
Main narrator of the inner
story. Represents truth, wisdom, and realism about human emotions.Through him,
Maupassant conveys the main theme — that true fear is psychological.
2️⃣ The
Narrator
Role: The storyteller of
the outer frame (the person on the boat who reports the event).
Description: Describes the
setting — a group of men travelling on a boat at night.
Introduces the conversation
about fear among them.
He listens to the
traveler’s story and records it for readers.
Character Traits: Curious
and observant: Carefully listens and reports what others say.
Neutral: Doesn’t take sides
or argue about fear.
Reliable narrator: His calm
tone contrasts with the traveler’s emotional experience.
Importance: Provides
structure to the story (the frame narrative).
Connects the readers with
the main story told by the traveler.
3️⃣ The
Group of Men on the Boat
Role: Listeners and
discussants in the frame story.
Description: Friends or
companions of the narrator and traveler.
They begin a casual
conversation about bravery and fear.
Most of them think they
know what fear is (through war, duels, or danger).
Character
Traits:Overconfident: They confuse excitement or danger with true fear.
Inexperienced about inner
emotions: They think fear only comes from physical threats.
Skeptical: Doubt the
traveler until he explains his experience.
Importance: Represent the
common people’s misunderstanding of fear.
Their talk sets the stage
for the traveler’s deep psychological explanation.
4️⃣ The Innkeeper (Mentioned
Briefly)
Role: Minor character in
the traveler’s tale.
Description: The person who
gives the traveler a room in the lonely inn.
Not much is described about
him, but his brief appearance helps set up the isolation of the traveler later
in the story.
Importance: Helps establish
the setting — a lonely inn far from help or company.
His absence later in the
story adds to the traveler’s sense of solitude and fear.
🧩 Summary Table of
Characters
|
Character |
Role
in Story |
Importance
/ Function |
|
The Traveler / Old
Officer |
Central character;
tells inner story |
Explains and defines
true fear; core of the story |
|
The Narrator |
Frame narrator on
the boat |
Connects readers to
the tale; provides contrast |
|
The Group of Men |
Listeners and
discussants |
Represent ordinary
people’s shallow understanding of fear |
|
The Innkeeper |
Minor character |
Helps create lonely
setting for the traveler’s experience |
Important
Places
1️⃣ The
Boat (Opening Scene)
Where the story begins.
A
group of men, including the narrator, are travelling on a boat at night.
They
begin a conversation about fear,
boasting about their bravery and experiences.
This
calm and peaceful setting acts as a contrast to the story that
follows — a tale filled with tension and terror.
It
serves as the frame setting of the story (outer
story).
Significance: Represents safety,
calm, and discussion — the opposite of fear.
Introduces
the theme and allows the traveler to share his experience.
2️⃣ The
Lonely Inn (Main Setting in the Traveler’s Story)
Main location where the
traveler experiences true fear.
He
stays in a small, isolated inn during
wartime.
The
place is dark, silent, and deserted.
Surrounded
by forests and emptiness, it creates a feeling of isolation
and suspense.
He
feels unsafe and begins imagining dangers around him.
Significance:
Symbolizes
isolation
and helplessness.
Triggers
the psychological
terror that defines the story.
Shows
that fear often arises in lonely, quiet places where imagination takes control.
3️⃣ The
Traveler’s Room (Inside the Inn)
The immediate
place where the traveler’s fear becomes intense.
Every
sound, creak, or movement makes him panic.
The
closed doors, dim light, and silence make him imagine attackers or ghosts.
Significance: Represents the mental
prison of fear.
The
physical room mirrors the darkness inside his mind.
It
is where he realizes the difference between imagined fear and real
danger.
4️⃣ The
Surrounding Countryside (Wartime Area)
The
inn is located in a war-affected region, quiet and
empty.
The
traveler knows that enemies or soldiers might be nearby.
This
background adds realistic tension to his
imagination.
Significance: Provides a
believable reason for fear.
Connects
external
danger (war) with internal fear (mind).
Summary of Places and Their Roles
|
Place |
Description |
Role / Symbolism |
|
Boat |
Peaceful
setting where men discuss fear |
Represents
calm and safety; contrast to inner story |
|
Inn |
Isolated
house where traveler spends the night |
Symbol
of loneliness, isolation, and helplessness |
|
Room in the Inn |
Dark,
silent room |
Center
of psychological fear; the mind’s battlefield |
|
Wartime Countryside |
Empty,
dangerous area |
Adds
realism and tension; source of possible threat |
Overall Importance
The boat
represents reason and discussion.
The inn and
room represent emotion, imagination, and fear.
The
shift from the boat to the inn reflects the journey from calm
reality to mental chaos.
5️⃣
Main Themes
1. Nature of Fear
Fear is a psychological
experience, not just physical danger.
True fear arises when one
feels helpless, uncertain, or unable to act.
2. Human Vulnerability
Even strong or brave people
can be overwhelmed by fear.
Fear exposes the weakness
of the human mind.
3. The Unknown
The darkness, silence, and
solitude symbolize the unknown, which intensifies fear.
4. Realism
Maupassant uses realistic
details, tone, and psychological depth to depict fear as a natural human
emotion.
7️⃣
Style and Techniques
Frame narrative: Story
within a story.
Descriptive imagery: Dark,
silent, and lonely atmosphere heightens fear.
Psychological realism:
Focuses on inner emotions rather than action.
First-person narration:
Makes the story intimate and believable.
Contrast: Calm boat scene
vs. inner terror in the traveler’s tale.
8️⃣
Important Lines / Quotations
“Those who have never felt
it can know nothing about it.” —
shows that true fear is an inner experience.
“Fear is something
different from the ordinary emotion we call by that name.” — distinguishes real
psychological terror.
“A cold shiver runs through
you, your heart stops beating, your whole body becomes cold.” — physical reaction to
mental fear.
9️⃣
Message / Moral
True fear comes from the
mind, not from actual danger.
1.
The Short Story Itself
* Original Title: "La Peur" (French
for "The Fear").
* Multiple Stories with the Same Title: Maupassant
actually wrote two short stories titled "La Peur."
* The Better Known One (1882): This story
was first published in Le Gaulois in 1882 and later collected in Contes de la
bécasse (1887). This is the version that is typically discussed.
* The Second Version (1884): Published in Le
Figaro in 1884.
3.
Key Themes and Analysis
* The Nature of Fear: The central theme is the
philosophical and psychological distinction between physical danger/anxiety
(which can be faced by an "energetic man") and true, pathological, or
existential fear (a psychological, almost spiritual, terror often induced by
vague or mysterious influences).
* Psychological Depth: Maupassant explores the
subconscious and human psychology, suggesting that pathological fear is an
"enemy within us" that destroys life and contaminates surroundings.
* Atmosphere and Ambiguity: The story uses
vivid descriptions of atmosphere (the clear desert vs. the gloomy, snowy night)
to highlight the conditions that give rise to "real fear."
* Pessimism and Naturalism: Consistent with
Maupassant's overall style, the story explores dark human emotions and a sense
of hopelessness when faced with internal, inexplicable forces.
* The Power of Storytelling: The framing
narrative and the told anecdotes emphasize the communal and powerful nature of
sharing and contemplating terror.
Full
Summary
The
story “Fear”
(La Peur)
by Guy de Maupassant is a psychological short story that
explores the true nature of fear — not as a
simple reaction to danger, but as a deep, uncontrollable emotion that grips the
soul and mind of a person when confronted with the unknown
and the inexplicable.
Beginning
of the Story
The
story begins with a group of travelers sitting together in a railway carriage
at night. As often happens among strangers traveling together, they begin to
talk, and their discussion turns toward the topic of fear.
One
of the passengers, a naval officer, argues that very
few people have ever really experienced true fear. He says that what most
people call “fear” is only a mild anxiety or nervousness — such as fear of wild
animals, of accidents, or of enemies in battle. These, he insists, are ordinary
fears that arise from real, visible, and understandable
dangers.
But true
fear, according to him, is something much deeper and more terrible
— an emotion that cannot be explained by reason
and that freezes the body and soul. It comes
suddenly and irresistibly, without any clear cause, and it takes complete
control of a person’s being.
The
Officer’s Story
To
explain what he means by true fear, the naval officer tells
a story from his own life.
Years
earlier, he was sailing on a small vessel along the coast of Africa with
another officer. One night, the sea was calm but dark and silent. Everyone on
the ship was asleep, and the only sound was the gentle movement of the waves.
Suddenly,
a terrifying
cry came from the deck. It was so unexpected and full of horror
that it sent a chill through everyone on board. They rushed out of their
cabins, but no one could see the source of the cry. After searching the entire
ship, they discovered that a passenger was missing — he
had disappeared into the sea without a trace.
They
could not find any explanation. There was no storm, no struggle, and no warning
— just the man’s sudden disappearance into the dark, endless water. The night
was black and the sea stretched infinitely around them, silent and
unfathomable.
The
Experience of Real Fear
The
naval officer describes the feeling that overcame him in that moment. It was
not just ordinary fright — it was a paralyzing dread, a cold
horror that seemed to stop the flow of blood in his veins. He
says it felt as though his heart had stopped beating.
He
and his companion stood on the deck, trembling, unable to speak or move. The
silence of the sea and the mystery of the man’s disappearance filled them with
an overwhelming sense of the unknown. They felt
small, powerless, and completely at the mercy of nature.
He
explains that this is true fear — the fear that comes not
from a visible threat, but from something invisible, inexplicable, and beyond
human understanding. It is the fear of the unseen,
the supernatural, or the incomprehensible, when the mind cannot
explain what is happening.
Return
to the Present
After
finishing his story, the naval officer concludes that very few
people have truly known what fear is. Soldiers in battle may be
afraid of dying, but that is still a rational fear — their courage and reason
can help them face it.
But real fear, he says, comes when reason disappears and the imagination takes
control — when a person feels the terrifying presence of something they cannot
see or understand.
He
insists that the greatest terror is not death itself,
but the mystery surrounding it — the
unknown darkness that lies beyond life.
The
listeners in the train are silent after hearing his story, realizing that the
naval officer has revealed a profound truth about human emotion. The story ends
quietly, leaving the reader with a haunting sense of the depth and complexity
of fear.
In
Essence
Maupassant’s
“Fear”
is not about ghosts or supernatural beings. Instead, it explores the psychological
and spiritual dimension of fear. It shows how fear can arise
from the imagination and from our inability to understand or control the forces
around us.
Through
the naval officer’s experience, Maupassant suggests that the most
terrifying thing in the world is the unknown — the things we
cannot see, touch, or explain.
Key
Points in Summary
The story is told through a frame
narrative — a conversation on a train.
The naval officer defines and
describes true
fear.
He recalls an incident at sea when a man
vanished mysteriously into the night.
This event caused a deep, paralyzing terror
that he calls “real fear.”
The story ends with the reflection that true
fear is psychological, not physical, and that it comes from
confronting the unknown and incomprehensible
Paraphrase
of “Fear” by Guy de Maupassant
One
evening, a group of travelers were sitting together in a railway carriage. As
often happens among strangers, they began to talk. After some time, their
conversation turned to the topic of fear — what it really means,
and how people experience it.
Among
the passengers was a naval officer, a man who had
traveled widely and faced many dangers. He listened quietly for a while, and
then said,
“Most
people do not really know what fear is. They only think they do.”
He
explained that what most of us call fear — the kind we feel when we are in
danger, or facing wild animals, or even in battle — is not true
fear. That kind of fear is natural, but it can be controlled. A
brave person, he said, can still think, act, and even fight in those
situations.
Then
he said,
“Real
fear is something very different. It is a deep, uncontrollable panic that
seizes both your mind and body. It paralyzes you. You can no longer think,
speak, or move. Your heart seems to stop, and your blood turns cold. You are no
longer yourself.”
The Officer’s
Experience
To
show what he meant, the naval officer told a story from his own life.
He
and another officer were once traveling by sea on a small ship along the coast
of Africa. The voyage was calm and uneventful. One night, the air was quiet and
heavy, and the sea was dark and still. Everyone on the ship was asleep.
Suddenly,
in the middle of the night, a terrible scream broke the
silence. It was not an ordinary cry — it was full of pain and terror, a cry
that seemed to come from someone facing something dreadful.
Everyone
woke up and rushed on deck. They searched the ship from end to end, but they
could not find anyone who had screamed. Soon, they realized that one
passenger was missing. He had vanished completely — no one knew
how or why.
There
had been no storm, no sound of struggle, no sign of danger. The sea was
completely dark, stretching endlessly around them. The man was gone, swallowed
up by the night and the water.
The Moment of
True Fear
The
naval officer said that at that moment he felt something he had never known
before.
“It
was not ordinary fear,” he said. “It was something far worse — something that
froze my heart and soul. I could not speak, could not move. My blood felt cold
as ice.”
He
and his companion stood silently on the deck, staring into the black sea. They
listened, hoping to hear a cry or a splash, but there was only the sound of the
waves. They realized that the man was gone forever — lost to an unseen force they
could not fight or understand.
In
that moment, he said, they both felt the presence of something invisible and
terrible. The darkness around them seemed alive. Their reason
and courage disappeared, and they were filled with a strange, hopeless terror —
a sense of being completely powerless before the unknown.
Return to the
Train
After
finishing his story, the officer looked around at the other passengers and said
quietly,
“That
is what true fear is. Few people ever experience it.”
He
explained that soldiers, sailors, and travelers may all face danger, but danger
is something you can see and fight. True fear comes only when you face something
you cannot see or explain, when you feel the
unknown pressing upon you, when your reason vanishes and your
imagination takes over.
He
ended by saying that the greatest fear of all is not death itself,
but the
mystery that surrounds it — the darkness, the silence, and the
uncertainty beyond life.
The
train continued through the night, and no one spoke again for a long time. The
passengers were lost in thought, reflecting on what they had just heard — the
story of a man who had truly known fear.
Summary
of the Paraphrase’s Meaning
The story is a conversation on a night train.
A naval officer defines true
fear as a deep, instinctive, uncontrollable terror.
He tells a story of a mysterious disappearance at sea,
when a man vanished in the dark.
The silence and mystery of the
event filled him with real fear.
The story ends with the reflection that true
fear comes from the unknown, not from visible danger.
Questions
🧩 Section A: Short Answer Questions
1. Who is the author of the story “Fear”?
Answer: The story “Fear”
is written by Guy de Maupassant, a famous
French short story writer known for his psychological realism.
2. Where does the story begin?
Answer: The story
begins in a railway carriage at night,
where a group of travelers are having a discussion about the nature of fear.
3. Who is the main speaker in the story?
Answer: The naval
officer is the main speaker who explains and describes the true
meaning of fear.
4. What does the naval officer mean by “true
fear”?
Answer: According to
the officer, true fear is a deep,
uncontrollable, and paralyzing terror that overwhelms both the body and the
mind — a fear of the unknown and unseen.
5. What incident does the naval officer describe
to explain fear?
Answer: He tells of a
night at sea when a passenger disappeared mysteriously into
the dark water, which filled him and his companion with a sense of true,
inexplicable fear.
6. What kind of fear is not true fear, according
to the officer?
Answer: Ordinary fear
— like fear of animals, danger, or death — is not true fear because it is
rational and can be controlled.
7. What emotion does the officer experience when
the man disappears?
Answer: He feels a paralyzing
dread, as if his heart stopped beating and his blood froze. He
could neither move nor think.
8. What message does the story convey?
Answer: The story
conveys that true fear arises from the unknown and
mysterious, not from visible dangers or physical threats.
9. What is the tone of the story?
Answer: The tone is serious,
reflective, and psychological, filled with suspense and
mystery.
10. What is the setting of the inner story told by
the officer?
Answer: The inner
story is set on a ship at sea at night,
surrounded by darkness and silence.
Section
B: Long Answer / Analytical Questions
1. Describe the difference between ordinary fear
and true fear as explained in the story.
Answer:
In “Fear,”
Maupassant distinguishes between ordinary fear and true fear through the naval
officer’s reflections. Ordinary fear arises from visible and understandable
dangers, such as wild animals, enemies, or accidents. It can be faced with
courage and reason.
True fear, however, is psychological and instinctive.
It comes when reason disappears, and a person faces something incomprehensible.
It seizes the entire being — body, mind, and soul — making one numb and
helpless. The naval officer’s experience of a man’s mysterious disappearance at
sea illustrates this terrifying, irrational kind of fear.
2. How does Maupassant create an atmosphere of
fear in the story?
Answer:
Maupassant uses several techniques to create an atmosphere of fear:
The story is set at night,
a time associated with mystery and the unknown.
The sea is described as vast, dark,
and silent, symbolizing the unknown.
The sudden cry in the darkness creates
shock and suspense.
The mystery of the disappearance
builds psychological tension.
The narration is calm yet chilling,
reflecting the inner terror rather than external violence.
Through these elements, Maupassant evokes a deep and haunting sense of dread.
3. What is the central idea or theme of the story
“Fear”?
Answer:
The central theme of “Fear” is the psychology
of true fear. Maupassant shows that fear is not only a reaction
to physical danger but also an emotional and spiritual experience caused by the
unknown
and uncontrollable. The story explores how human beings become
powerless when faced with mysteries beyond their understanding. It also
emphasizes the thin line between courage and panic when reason gives way to
imagination.
4. What role does the setting play in developing
the story’s theme?
Answer:
The setting of darkness and the sea plays a vital role in expressing the theme
of fear. The night and silent
ocean symbolize the unknown, the unseen, and the limitless. The
vastness of the sea mirrors human helplessness in the face of mystery. The
isolation of the characters intensifies their terror. Maupassant uses these
natural elements to turn the setting into a psychological landscape of fear.
5. Discuss the story “Fear” as a psychological
study.
Answer:
“Fear”
is a psychological study because it examines the inner
emotional state of a person facing the unknown. Maupassant
focuses not on physical events but on mental reactions — the freezing
of blood, the silence, and the paralysis caused by terror. He explores how the
human mind reacts when logic and courage collapse. The story reflects
Maupassant’s interest in the dark, subconscious forces that control human
behavior.
6. How does the naval officer’s experience at sea
reflect Maupassant’s view of human nature?
Answer:
The officer’s experience shows that beneath the surface of courage and
strength, human beings are fragile and helpless before the unknown. Maupassant
suggests that all people — no matter how brave — can be reduced to fear when
faced with mysteries they cannot understand. The story reveals the limits of
human reason and the power of instinctive emotion.
🧾 Section C: Multiple-Choice Questions
Who narrates the story “Fear”?
a) A journalist
b) The naval officer
c) An unnamed narrator
d) A priest
Answer:
c) An unnamed narrator
What event causes true fear in the naval
officer?
a) A storm
b) A man’s disappearance at sea
c) A fight on the ship
d) A ghost sighting
Answer:
b) A man’s disappearance at sea
According to the story, what is true
fear caused by?
a) Danger
b) Imagination
c) The unknown and the unseen
d) Death
Answer:
c) The unknown and the unseen
What emotion accompanies true fear?
a) Anger
b) Courage
c) Helplessness
d) Joy
Answer:
c) Helplessness
What literary device is used in “Fear”?
a) Frame narrative
b) Allegory
c) Satire
d) Irony
Answer:
a) Frame narrative
✍️ Section
D: Essay / Paragraph Questions (10 Marks Each)
1. Write an essay on Maupassant’s treatment of
fear in the story “Fear.”
Answer (Summary Points):
Maupassant treats fear as a psychological
emotion, not a physical response.
Through the naval officer, he distinguishes ordinary
fear from true fear.
The story’s setting (night, sea, silence)
intensifies psychological dread.
Maupassant focuses on human
helplessness and the limits of reason.
He concludes that true
fear arises from the unknown, not from visible threats.
This psychological realism makes Maupassant’s work timeless and deeply human.
2. Why is the story “Fear” considered a
masterpiece of psychological realism?
Answer:
The story is a masterpiece because Maupassant portrays fear from
within the human mind. Instead of relying on ghosts or
violence, he examines the mental and emotional impact of
fear. The officer’s calm yet horrifying description makes the emotion real and
believable. Maupassant’s realistic detail, atmosphere, and psychological
insight make “Fear” one of the finest examples of psychological realism in
literature.
💬 Section E: Vocabulary / Reference to Context
1. “Fear is something more terrible, more
profound, more intangible than that.”
Question: What does the
speaker mean by this line?
Answer:
He means that real fear cannot be explained or touched; it is a deep emotional
and physical reaction that paralyzes a person completely.
2. “It is the dread of the unknown and the
unexpected.”
Question: What is being
described here?
Answer:
The naval officer is describing true fear — a feeling that comes
when facing mysterious and unseen forces.
✅ Moral /
Lesson:
True
fear lies not in visible danger but in the unseen and unknown mysteries that
test human courage and reason.
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