/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.4651176]

>Just like life itself, a narrative must always start in medias res.

Do you agree?

[Anonymous No.4651180]

No because people get confused about what's happening. It's called the beginning for a reason, you start there.

[Anonymous No.4651190]

>>4651180
Well, in some way there always is some kind of "in medias res". If a story starts, say, with the protagonist waking up from his bed, this progress is the mediae res of a longer progress that includes getting into bed, falling asleep, sleeping, waking up, standing up, eating breakfeast, etc.
Or, to get even more extreme, a story taking place on one day in the life of the protagonist is the mediae res of the protagonist's life. So unless the story tells the entire life of the protagonist, and that of his father, and that of his grandfather, and that of the human race, and that of life itself, and that of the universe - all stories technically start in medias res.

Though that's not what we mean when we say "In medias res.", so I disagree with the OP.

[Plaisett Vur Dwenni No.4651192]

>>4651176
If it can provide a compelling sense of mystery that spurs the reader on without making them confused as to what is happening, then yeah.

[Anonymous No.4651195]

>not starting your life with the Greeks