torrin a. greathouse reads "Hapnophobia or the Fear of Being Touched"

The transcript is a reading of a poem exploring various phobias, personal memories, and fears. It begins with a content warning about childhood sexual assault. The speaker reflects on the absence of a term for the fear of fish hooks, recalling memories with their father and grandfather. The narrative intertwines fishing experiences with deeper fears, including the fear of being touched and self-image issues. Religious symbolism is used to convey the complexity of these fears, concluding with a reflection on how these experiences shape the speaker's perception of fear and faith.

What is the main theme introduced at the beginning of the poem 'Half the Phobia'?

• The fear of loud noises

• The fear of closed spaces

• The fear of heights

• The fear of being touched

In the poem, what does the narrator's father teach them to do?

• Swim in the river

• Clutch a knife

• Ride a bicycle

• Read a book

What does the narrator compare the act of gutting a fish to?

• Opening a door

• Writing a poem

• Drawing a picture

• Cooking a meal

What Greek word is mentioned in the poem, and what does it symbolize?

• Athena, symbolizing wisdom

• Hermes, symbolizing speed

• Icthus, symbolizing fish and faith

• Zeus, symbolizing power

How does the narrator describe their fear in the final section of the poem?

• As a forgotten memory

• As a fleeting thought

• As a joyful experience

• As a kind of prayer