Most of us are afraid of something. Whether it's spiders, heights, or the boogeyman, we all have fears. Fear dominates in The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm. We're not talking haunted-house-at-Halloween scary or things that go bump in the night, though; we're talking kidnappers who sell you to evil people who want you dead. That scary enough for you? By the time you finish reading this book, you'll be surprised at how many different scary things Tendai, Rita, and Kuda have to deal with. They face some pretty serious—and pretty high-stakes—stuff between genetically engineered monkeys, the Mask, and witch potions. It's enough to make anyone shake in their boots a bit.
Questions About Fear
- What is the scariest thing that happens to Tendai? Why? How does it affect him?
- In general, how does Tendai react to fear? Does it change when he's interacting with his siblings? If so, how? What does this reveal about Tendai?
- Why do Arm's visions scare Sekai? What does this tell us about adults and babies when it comes to fear?
Chew on This
Tendai is afraid throughout the book but pretends to be brave so Kuda doesn't get scared.
Tendai is too naïve about the world to get frightened easily. He thinks everyone will help him so he has nothing to fear.