An epic poem begins "in media res," meaning "in the midst of things," when it starts in the middle of the action rather than at the beginning of the story. Here are some key indicators that an epic poem has begun in media res:
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Immediate Conflict or Action: The poem opens with an ongoing battle, journey, or important event. Readers can sense that significant events have occurred prior to the start of the poem.
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Flashbacks or Allusions: The narrator often provides background information or context through flashbacks or allusions to past events that have shaped the current situation.
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Character References: Important characters may be mentioned or introduced without extensive backstories, suggesting they are already well-known or have established relationships.
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Direct Address: The poet may begin with a direct invocation, such as calling on a muse, which can signal that the story has already commenced and will unfold in a non-linear fashion.
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Episodic Structure: The poem may unfold in a series of episodes or scenes, relying on the reader's ability to piece together previous events from the narrative.
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Themes of Fate or Heroism: The focus might immediately be on grand themes like fate, heroism, or divine intervention, indicating that the stakes are high from the outset.
Examples of epic poems that begin in media res include Homer's "The Iliad," which starts in the middle of the Trojan War, and Virgil's "The Aeneid," which opens with Aeneas already on his journey to establish a new homeland after the fall of Troy.
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