by Flora Deter
Introduction
Many find Shakespeare intimidating because they don't understand the opening scenes. Becoming lost in the first act of a play can not only throw you, as the reader (think of yourself as a member of the audience), into a state of confusion, but also ruin your Shakespearean experience. In the hopes of make reading Shakespeare more enjoyable (rather than the chore that some perceive), this feature discusses two techniques used in Act I, Scene I of "Cymbeline," one of Shakespeare's romances.
In Medias Res: In the Middle of Things
The first scene of "Cymbeline" opens "in the middle of all the action," a literary technique called "in medias res". This literary technique is commonly used in epic poetry.
"In Medias Res": In the middle of the subject. In novels and epic poetry, the author generally begins with some catastrophe, which is explained as the tale unfolds. In history, on the other hand, the author begins "ab ovo" ("The Dictionary Of Phrase And Fable," E. Cobham Brewer, 1894).
John Milton's "Paradise Lost" also used in medias res to begin the epic of Man's original sin and the loss of Paradise. For instance, the action of Milton's story begins with Satan and the other fallen angels.
Therefore, when you begin reading "Cymbeline" and you feel that you've jumped right in the middle of things, you have! This technique helps bring out the action in a play without beating around the bush. Don't panic; just keep on reading and watch as the play unfolds before you.
On to the next page:
Introduction and In Medias Res: In the Middle of Things | The Characters: Two Gentlemen | Discussion Questions
2001 Articles | 2000 Articles | Writer Directory | Character Showcase | Book Reviews | Homework Help | E-texts
