Final answer:
The question involves literary analysis within the English subject, focused on high school level text excerpts that depict the theme of fear and its effects on characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question stems from a selection of texts that touch upon the theme of fear and the concept of 'the Other.' These passages explore the emotional and psychological impact that fear has on individuals, and how it shapes their interactions with the world around them. The extracts depict characters who are gripped by terror, whether it's a fear of interpersonal relationships, existential dread, or the overwhelming sensation of fear itself.
The notion of fear is used as a literary device to engage readers and develop characters. It also acts as a mirror to our own fears of the unknown and the different, which is often referred to as fear of 'the Other.' Additionally, fear can be used in rhetoric to persuade or manipulate, as seen in the political statement example.