Narratives are written to entertain readers. There are many different forms of narrative. A long story may even contain more than one type. The type we will look at today is the narrative written to thrill or frighten. As we all have basic human fears, these stories use that fact to get a strong response from the reader. Thriller narratives are often best-sellers in bookshops. People enjoy being frightened by a story because it is not real. Have you ever read a book that has been called 'a thriller'? Have you ever read a scary story? They can be a lot of fun. Mei Lee's lucky escape Mei Lee needed to get a new exercise book for her homework. Her mathematics teacher was very strict. If Mei Lee did not hand in her homework the next morning, she would be in trouble. She was very nervous. 'You cannot go out,' her mother said. 'There is a typhoon coming. The No3 signal is up. The weather report says the No8 signal will go up soon. It will be dangerous outside.' Mei Lee did not know what to do. She sat down and began to think. Her mother went into the bedroom and shut the door. Mei Lee took her chance and rushed out. 'Mum won't mind,' she thought to herself. 'I'll only be a few minutes.' She rushed out of the block where she lived. She felt the strength of the wind. Paper was blowing everywhere. The rain began lashing down. Just as she passed the post office, a large hole appeared in the road. The wind blew Mei Lee towards it. She could not stop. She was careering straight for the hole. She looked around desperately for something to hold on to. There was nothing. Just as she was about to drop deep into the hole she spotted a metal pipe sticking out of the wall. Could she reach it? It was her only hope. She grabbed at the pipe with her left hand. She thought she'd missed it. But she hadn't. Mei Lee was hanging over the hole by one hand. The wind continued to howl. Tears filled her eyes. There was nobody to help. 'Why did I leave the flat?' she asked herself. 'Why didn't I listen to my mother?' Mei Lee's hand began to slip. Slowly, slowly she was losing her grip. She could not hold on for any longer. She was slipping slowly, slowly towards the edge. It was nearly too late ... Glossary strict (adj) - harsh or firm nervous (adj) - slightly worried to lash (v) - to come down heavily to career (v) - to travel quickly desperately (adv) - without hope grip (n) - a firm hold Comprehension 1. Why did Mei Lee leave the flat? 2. Who warned Mei Lee not to go out? 3. What was blowing everywhere? 4. What building had Mei Lee just passed before the wind blew her? 5. What piece of luck did she have? 6. How do you think Mei Lee felt? Writing style Emotion adjectives Fear is a basic human emotion. Writers often use it as a theme for their writing. There are many words that describe fear. They refer to the level of fear. Writers may choose the word that best fits the situation they are describing. Look at the jumbled-up words below and write the word describing fear: 7. sixouna 8. friedirt 9. revosun 10. friedipet Crossword Typhoons are a severe form of weather. Read the clues below and write the word related to weather in the crossword. Clues: thunder, humidity, cloud, fog, drought, storm, breeze 1. A light wind 2. Bad weather at sea 3. When there is no water to drink 4. Moisture in the air 5. Loud noises in the sky 6. Where rain comes from 7. Thick mist Answers: 1. to buy an exercise book 2. her mother 3. paper 4. the post office 5. the pipe 6. afraid 7. anxious 8. terrified 9. nervous 10. petrified Crossword: 1. breeze 2. storm 3. drought 4. humidity 5. thunder 6. cloud 7. fog