In medias res is a Latin phrase meaning "into the middle of things". It describes a narrative technique where the story begins in the middle of the action, without prior explanation of events. The reader is placed immediately inside a situation, and the backstory is filled in gradually afterwards.
What is the opposite of in medias res?
The opposite is sometimes called ab ovo — Latin for "from the egg" — where a story begins at the very beginning of the timeline of events, tracing the story in strict chronological order. Homer described this distinction: the Iliad begins in the middle of the Trojan War, in medias res, while a less skilled poet might have started "from the egg" — from Helen's birth.
In practice, most modern stories fall somewhere between these two poles:
| Approach | When the story begins | Backstory | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab ovo | At the chronological beginning | Delivered in order as the story unfolds | Can feel slow to start; risks losing the reader before the action begins |
| In medias res | In the middle of the action | Revealed gradually through flashback, dialogue, or exposition | Can confuse if too little is explained too late |
| Middle ground | At a meaningful trigger point | Some prior context given briefly | Balances engagement and clarity |
Most professional novels and films open in medias res or close to it, because the alternative — beginning at the very start of a character's relevant history — risks boring the reader before the story has begun.
Where does in medias res appear in literature?
The technique is ancient. Homer's Iliad begins not at the start of the Trojan War but in its tenth year, with a quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon. Homer's Odyssey begins with Odysseus stranded on an island, and his preceding adventures are narrated in retrospect. The technique was codified by the Roman poet Horace in Ars Poetica (18 BC), who praised Homer for plunging his reader immediately into the action.
Modern examples are everywhere:
- Cormac McCarthy's The Road opens with a man and boy already on a post-apocalyptic journey, with no explanation of what happened to the world.
- Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities opens at the height of political crisis: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
- Many GCSE set texts begin in this way: Lord of the Flies opens with the boys already stranded and the crash already over; An Inspector Calls begins in the middle of a celebratory dinner that is about to be disrupted.
What effect does in medias res create for the reader?
Opening in the middle of the action creates several distinctive effects:
Immediate engagement: The reader is given a problem or a scene to interpret before they have a framework for understanding it. This curiosity is productive — it pulls them forward to find out the context.
A sense of urgency: Beginning mid-action implies that things are already happening, that time is already pressing. There is no leisurely build-up — the world of the story is already in motion.
Questions instead of answers: The reader begins with questions — who are these people, what has happened before this moment, what does this situation mean? — rather than being given all the information first. This creates engagement.
A realistic feeling: Real life does not begin at beginning. We enter situations mid-way through, without a narrator explaining the prior context. In medias res mimics this experience, giving fiction a sense of immediacy.
Worked example — opening in medias res
Weak opening (ab ovo): "James was born in Leeds in 1987. He had always been quiet. His parents divorced when he was seven, and he moved to his grandmother's house. By the time he was thirty, he had three jobs and no friends."
Stronger opening (in medias res): "James was already late, and the train was already gone. He stood on the empty platform with one shoe and a bag full of papers he would never read. Somewhere in the last hour, everything had changed."
The second version places the reader inside a moment of crisis with no prior explanation. Who is James? Why does he have one shoe? Where was he going? These questions pull the reader forward into the next paragraph. The backstory — whatever happened in "the last hour" — will be revealed later.
How do I use in medias res in my own creative writing?
For KS3 and GCSE creative writing, opening in medias res is a reliable and effective technique:
- Begin with an action already underway — a conversation already started, a decision already in progress, an event already happening.
- Give the reader just enough to orient themselves without explaining everything — they need a character, a location, and a sense of stakes.
- Weave in the backstory gradually through what the character notices, remembers, or says — not through a separate explanatory paragraph.
- Use the opening sentence as a hook: something immediate, concrete, and slightly puzzling.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to signal that I am using in medias res?
No — and you should not. The technique works precisely because there is no explanation; the reader is simply placed inside the action. The backstory is revealed organically as the story develops. Announcing "I am beginning in the middle of the story" would immediately break the effect.
What is the difference between in medias res and a flashback?
In medias res is an opening strategy — it describes where in the chronology a story begins. A flashback is a narrative device that shifts time backwards within a story to show an earlier event. A story can begin in medias res and then use flashbacks to fill in the backstory; these are complementary rather than competing techniques. In medias res + flashback is one of the most common structural combinations in contemporary fiction.
Can in medias res be used in non-fiction?
Yes. Feature journalism, travel writing, and personal essays often open in medias res — dropping the reader into a scene before stepping back to provide context. This is a deliberate choice to engage readers who might not read a piece that begins with abstract background. The technique works in any text type where immediate engagement matters more than chronological completeness.
Is this technique the same as using a dramatic hook?
They overlap but are not identical. A dramatic hook is any opening that grabs the reader's attention — it could be a striking image, a provocative statement, or an in medias res scene. In medias res is a specific structural choice about where in the timeline the story begins; a hook is any device used to pull the reader in. An in medias res opening is often also a dramatic hook, but not every hook uses in medias res.
Practise opening your creative writing with Professor Quill at aitutors.me — he will challenge you to start mid-action and help you see where the story naturally begins.