In medias res Facts for Kids

A story that begins in medias res (pronounced "in MED-ee-ahs RAYS") means it starts right in the middle of the action. It's a Latin phrase that means "into the middle of things."

When a story uses in medias res, it doesn't usually begin at the very start of the plot. Instead, the story jumps straight into an exciting moment or a key event. The background information, or exposition, is then filled in later. This can happen through characters talking about past events, through flashbacks (scenes showing what happened before), or through descriptions.

For example, the famous play Hamlet by Shakespeare starts after Hamlet's father has already died. The characters talk about his death, but the play doesn't show it happening. Since the play is mostly about Hamlet's revenge, Shakespeare uses in medias res to skip the parts that aren't as important to the main story.

Another great example is Homer's Odyssey. The reader first meets the hero, Odysseus, when he is being held captive on an island. Later in the story, through flashbacks, we learn about the many adventures and challenges he faced before that moment. Homer's Iliad also starts in medias res, right in the middle of the exciting Trojan War.

Stories from the Past

Starting a story in medias res is a very old way of telling tales. It probably began with oral tradition, where stories were passed down by speaking them. This style became a common feature of epic poetry, which are long poems about heroes and their adventures.

Some of the earliest and most famous examples in Western literature are Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, written around the 7th century BC. The ancient Indian epic, the Mahābhārata, also begins in medias res.

Later, the Roman poet Virgil used this technique in his epic poem, the Aeneid. He was following the style of Homer. Many other famous works also start this way, including:

"The Three Apples" from One Thousand and One Nights (around the 9th century)
The Italian Divine Comedy (1320) by Dante Alighieri
The German Nibelungenlied (12th century)
The Spanish Cantar de Mio Cid (around the 14th century)
Paradise Lost (1667) by John Milton

Even in more recent times, many writers use in medias res. Modern novelists like William Faulkner and Toni Morrison often use this style, along with flashbacks, to tell their stories. Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" is another example.

In Movies and TV Shows

The in medias res technique is very popular in movies and TV shows too.

It's often seen in film noir, which are dark and moody crime films. For example, a private detective might already be in the middle of a case when the movie begins.

Crossfire (1947) starts with a murder. As the police investigate, the story of what led to the murder is shown through flashbacks.
Dead Reckoning (1947) opens with the main character, Rip Murdock, on the run. He tells his story in a flashback to a priest.

This technique is used in many different types of movies:

Dramas like Raging Bull (1980) and City of God (2002).
Crime thrillers such as The Usual Suspects (1995) and Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004).
Action films, including many movies in the James Bond series.
Comedies like Dr. Strangelove (1964).

Some people say that the Star Wars saga uses this technique because the first movie released, A New Hope, is actually the fourth episode in the overall story.

Even Superhero films like Deadpool (2016) and Birds of Prey (2020) use in medias res to set up their stories.

Many animated films also start this way.

The Emperor's New Groove (2000) and Megamind (2010) begin with a quick scene that hints at what will happen later. This scene is then shown again, but differently, after the main story unfolds.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) starts with a character named Clopin telling the story to children, after the main events have already happened.

Many war films also use in medias res. For instance, The Thin Red Line (1998) begins with the soldiers already fighting, without showing their lives before the war.

In medias res facts for kids

Stories from the Past

In Movies and TV Shows

See also