In medias res: Meaning ‘into the middle of things’, this Latin
phrase denotes the literary narrative technique where the story begins at the
mid-point or even the end, instead of the beginning. Setting, character, and
conflict are generally established using flashback and, sometimes, expository dialogue
to explain and describe what has happened prior to the opening events. Its main
advantage is that the story opens with dramatic action instead of beginning
with an explanation and description of the characters and situation.
An example is Homer's Odyssey, where we first hear about Odysseus’
journey as he’s kept captive on Calypso's island. Later, we discover that most
of Odysseus’ journey takes place before that point in the narrative.
The technique is used fairly widely in modern literature as a device to
hook the attention of readers who might otherwise be impatient enough to
discard a good story before it has really begun.
9 July 1911: Mervyn Peake, author of Gormenghast, born.
Picture: Nettle Dale, near Huggate, East Yorkshire.
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