1. In Medias Res

2. In Medias Res
Definition – A literary technique where the author starts in the middle of the story. It often requires some back-tracking to explain actions that occurred before the narrative began. Also known as medias in res meaning “in the middle of things”.

3. Ratatouille begins looking at a house in the distance with the muffled sounds of what turn out to be shotgun blasts and then with Remy jumping through a plate glass window while carrying a book significantly larger than himself. It quickly jumps back to explain how the incident occurred.

4. Examples of In Medias Res
Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey
Shakespeare’s Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Star Wars: A New Hope
The Godfather

5. Function of In Medias Res
Immediately introduces action, which then can be explained more fully as a narrative process.
Take a small part of a larger story that the audience might be familiar with, also known as the back story.
Many writers find that it can be a fun exercise to take a well known tale and to change it to begin in the middle.
Helps writers to learn to tell a story from a different angle.

6. Homework Write three examples of In Medias Res.
Turn them in next class.