ELA Sample Chapters Middle School Sample Chapter FICTION | Page 3

Introduction to Fiction
“Fear quickened his step. Reaching his small apartment, he hurried up the steps. His
heart pounded in his ear, and his left arm tingled. He had an idea, and there wasn’t a
moment to waste.”
—PATRICIA M c KISSACK, “The 11:59”

H

ow does this passage make you feel? Does
it make you eager to know what will
happen next? By creating feelings of
expectation, fictional stories can hook readers,
making them want to learn more about the
characters and what happens to them. A story also
provides readers with a window into the fictional
lives, thoughts, and experiences of its characters.
The very broad category of literature known as
fiction includes any work of prose (writing other
than poetry and drama) that tells an invented or
imaginary story.

Cade Bambara are considered writers of literary
fiction. The dividing line between popular and
literary fiction is not clear-cut. For example, some
writers of literary fiction, such as Rudyard Kipling,
are also well known for their works of popular or
imaginative fiction.

Types of Popular Fiction
Here are some of the most widely read types
of popular fiction and their common formulas
or elements.
Mystery:  The main character usually takes
on a detective role and tries to uncover clues
to a crime or some baffling event.

Types of Fiction
Short Stories and Novels
The two main forms of fiction are the short story
and the novel. The short story is a brief prose
narrative, or story, that usually presents only a
single plot, one or two main characters, and one
important setting. A novel is a long work of prose
fiction. Novels often have several plots, many major
and minor characters, and numerous settings.

Popular Fiction and Literary Fiction
Another way of dividing fiction is into popular
fiction and literary fiction. Popular fiction includes
subgenres such as mystery, suspense and thriller,
horror, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and
Western. The works of writers in this book such as
Ray Bradbury (famous for his science fiction and
fantasy fiction) and Roald Dahl (famous for his
fantasy stories) are examples of popular fiction.
Literary fiction does not fit into one of these
categories. Writers in this book such as Ernest
Hemingway, O. Henry, Sandra Cisneros, and Toni

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Horror:  Ghosts, monsters, or other dangerous
characters may lurk within these stories,
whose purpose is to provide a good fright.

Science Fiction: 
Often the setting is
outer space, but it
doesn’t need to be, as
long as advanced
technology is a strong
element in the story.
Fantasy:  Often
confused with science fiction, fantasy relies on
magic and magical beings instead of
technology. Fantasy is often set in another
age or world.
Westerns:  The setting is important here—the
West. The main character is usually a cowboy,
often fighting for survival against the
wilderness or evildoers.

UNIT 1  FICTION

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