Roopa Banerjee

Although in the iconic movie Sound of Music, Hollywood star Julie Andrews crooned this advice, ‘Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…,’ many tend to enjoy films or read books whose plots don’t start at the beginning. They start bang in the middle with flashbacks to establish context. This isn’t an error but a carefully thought through literary device known as in media res in which a story begins in the middle of action. In media res is Latin for “into the middle of things”.

The phrase in media res was first used by ancient Roman poet Horace in his treatise on poetry, Ars Poetica, where he advised writers to start their stories in media res, or in the middle of the action, as a way to quickly engage readers and create literary tension. Since then, this literary device is used in literature, film, and television.

One of the most famous examples of in media res in literature is Homer’s Iliad. This epic poem begins in the middle of the Trojan War, with the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon already well underway.

Another prominent example is James Joyce’s Ulysses. The novel begins with Stephen Dedalus walking on a beach, lost in thought. It is only later that the reader learns the full context of Stephen’s musings. By starting the novel with Stephen’s monologue, Joyce creates a sense of mystery and intrigue that draws readers into the narrative.

In media res is also commonly used in film and television. For instance the film Saving Private Ryan begins with the violent and chaotic depiction of the Normandy landings during World War II, plunging the viewer straight into the thick of action. By starting the film in the middle of a battle, director Steven Spielberg creates a sense of danger and urgency.

Another example in pop culture is in the pilot episode of the TV show Lost. The episode begins with the survivors of a plane crash stranded on a mysterious island, dealing with the aftermath of the accident. The viewer is immediately thrown into the story, with no explanation of how the characters got there or their backstory. This creates a sense of mystery and intrigue that draws viewers into the show.

There are many benefits of using in media res in storytelling. By starting a story in the middle of action, writers and filmmakers can engage audiences and create a sense of urgency. This is especially effective in lengthy literary works, such as novels or television series, where a slow build-up may not be feasible and there are fears of losing reader attention. With in media res, readers become eager to know preceding as well as succeeding events. Also, by using this literary device, the author is spared from providing extraneous details of the past compelling readers to question every aspect of the story which makes their involvement deeper.

However, there are also some drawbacks. By starting a story in the middle of action, writers may risk confusing their audience. Additionally, it may limit the amount of backstory that can be provided, which makes it difficult to develop characters or establish a proper context.

In media res has become a staple of popular culture. You are likely to come across it very often.

Exercise
Can you name the authors of these works that have used in media res ?
1. The Catcher in the Rye
2. Beloved
3. The Waste Land
4. The Da Vinci Code
5. The Road

 

Authors:
1. J.D. Salinger
2. Toni Morrison
3. T.S. Eliot
4. Dan Brown
5. Cormac McCarthy