A number of times in this chapter, the narrator mentions that "fear" had been a major part of his school life. In what ways could his school life have been filled with fear? What other key emotions does he recall experiencing during his time at school?

Gene feared a few things. There was the regular adolescent angst but with Gene there was more. Much of his fears had to do with Finny. He feared his relationship with Finny (loosing him, competing with him, being close to him, becoming him...) I think most of Genre's fears were tied up with Finny in one way or another. There is a homoerotic element to their relationship that always lay hidden beneath the surface of things. I think his fears were tied up with that too.