Friday, April 17, 2015
In Media Res: Chronological v. Narrative Order
In class we observed that the narrative order of the Odyssey, the order the event are retold in the epic, is different from the chronological order, the order the events occur in time. The epic begins in medias res, literally in the middle of things. What is ONE reason that the story begins in this way? Why doesn't the story begin with Odysseus leaving Troy?
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It seems that beginning the Odyssey in media res is done to provide a more engaging and interesting storyline to grab the audience’s attention fully. This method makes readers want to know the what’s and why’s behind the beginning of the story, which draws them in and keeps them interested. For example, as the story starts with Telemachus, readers are wondering what happened to Odysseus, which leads them further into the narrative. Then, when Odysseus is introduced on Calypso’s island, forlorn and homesick, readers want to know how he got from Troy to Ogygia and what drives him to long for home so powerfully. In this way, each progression in the story further draws in the readers until they are fully invested in where the story is going, whereupon the story starts going in a more natural timeline, as it did when Odysseus finished recounting his journeys and began his travel back to Ithaca. At this point, the readers have a good idea of who Odysseus is as a person and the general direction his story is going, so they have an interest in the rest of the narrative. In addition to keeping readers hooked, starting in media res also adds variety and flow to the story. For example, most of Odysseus’s journey to Ithaca is told through himself telling the tale to King Alcinous and his people. It is a better placement for the story of his journey both for the previously discussed ‘hook’ factor and also because it changes the point of view from the omniscient narrator to Odysseus himself. This switch into Odysseus’s perspective also helps to let readers know him better and thereby become more invested in the rest of his story, and also makes the story more enjoyable by shaking things up. In media res is used in the Odyssey to create interest in the story and a more satisfying narrative.
ReplyDeleteFrom putting the events in story in order we figured out that the narrative order id very different than the chronological order. In fact the very beginning with Telemachus does not happen chronologically until after many of Odysseus’ journey. Although this may seem very weird I believe that there is a legitimate reason for this. Telemachus is Odysseus’ son and he is longing for him to come home. It has been years since he last saw him and the suitors are taking over his house and life. He expresses his yearning and admiration of Odysseus when he says, “if only he might drop from the clouds/ and drive these suitors all in a rout throughout the halls/ and regain his pride of place and rule his own domains!” I think that the author starts out with Telemachus to make him more of a main character than he would have been if he had come in the book later on. It shows how strong of a relationship Odysseus and his family have. This is probably one of the main motivations for Odysseus to come home. Without this at the beginning of the book it leaves the reader wondering about what is happening at home and what Odysseus will come home to. Listening to the story of Agamemnon it may make the reader nervous about whether Odysseus will be happy or betrayed once he finally reaches home. Although it is unusual I think the narrative order was a very good decision for the flow of the book. It makes Telemachus more of a main character and shows his and his mom’s determination to get Odysseus back.
ReplyDeleteThe Odyssey incorporates media res because as the author had been writing the book, he chose to give the reader a better view and understanding as to what is happening in the story. If the author had decided to start the story as actually happened, or in chronological order, the story would have started off with the Strife between Odysseus and Achilles, but Since Homer decided to retell the story in media res, he started telling off the story as if it started with Odysseus coming back to his homeland after the Trojan War. I believe that he started to story there because it makes the scene more dramatic for Odysseys’ arrival back home to Ithaca. Some authors choose to write this way because it keeps the reader engaged from the start of the story without having to wait for the climax in the action more towards the middle of the book. Another reason authors might choose to write stories this way is because they are able to introduce some of the main characters that would otherwise not be included into the story until later in the book instead of them being introduced near the beginning. For example, Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, is introduced early on in the story. If he was not introduces until later, or even after Odysseus’ arrival, the reader would not have an understanding of who he is, what he is like, what he has gone through in his life, and even the challenges that he has faced.
ReplyDeleteIn The Odyssey the story doesn’t begin with Odysseus leaving Troy for multiple reasons. One is that it establishes Telemachus as a character. He is weak and cowardly because of his lack-of a father figure. He allows the suitors to live in his home and basically steal from him. Odysseus would have taught him to stand up for himself. Another reason is so that he could meet Nestor, Menelaus, and Helen. This allows for us to hear their side of the stories, and to hear Nestor’s, Menelaus’s, Ajax’s, and Agamemnon’s return stories. This allows us to get some background on the Trojan War and on the struggles of returning home. They are also helping us compare Odysseus’s return to theirs later. This comparison also foreshadows part of his return. Another reason they start media res is to cause some suspense. When the story starts, the reader has no idea where Odysseus is or why he has been gone for so long. This peeks the reader’s curiosity, and makes the book more interesting, and allows for the different perspectives of Odysseus’s story before we actually here Odysseus’s version of it. Another reason is that it keeps them engaged throughout the story. If Homer wrote the story normally, we would be engaged, because Odysseus’s story is interesting, but it is more engaging this way because it is in a way very mysterious. In conclusion, Homer starts the book media res, because it will establish Telemachu, allows the reader to hear The Returns, and causes suspense.
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