Question

What is one effect that an in medias res opening is meant to have on the reader? A.The reader is meant to identifiy with characters quickly. B.The reader is meant to feel the tension of the conflict immediately. C.The reader is meant to question deeply held notions about setting and point of view. D.The reader is meant to pick up on the theme of the story.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. The reader is meant to feel the tension of the conflict immediately.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "In media res" is used to refer to a narrative opening or work such as a poem or novel that begins in the middle of the plot, usually in the most important moment of the conflict. This means the reader knows first what is the conflict and later discovers how this conflict emerged and how it is finally solved. Because of this "In media res" narrative uses flashbacks and other literary resources to tell the reader the background of the conflict and different to the traditional narrative the first element the reader has contact with is not the background or the character but the conflict itself. Thus it can be concluded the effect an in media res opening has on the reader is that the reader is exposed immediately to the conflict and because of this the reader feels immediately the tension of it.

Answer 2

The correct answer is B. The reader is meant to feel the tension of the conflict immediately. The meaning of "In medias res" is to start the story in the middle or sometime after the natural beginning of the story. Its effect is to create significant questions and consequent tension so the audience wonders about what happened before. Throughout the story, questions are gradually answered.