In medias res
A narrative technique in which a story begins not at the chronological beginning but in the middle of events ('in the middle of things'). Background information is revealed gradually through exposition, flashback, or dialogue.
Real World
Ian McEwan's Atonement opens with Briony already rehearsing her play on a hot summer day, plunging readers into escalating tensions before revealing the family dynamics and social context that explain them.
Exam Focus
Explain what information is withheld by the in medias res opening and how this creates suspense or dramatic irony.
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