The Rememberer

“In medias res” is a Latin term that means “in the midst of things.” Bender chooses to start “The Rememberer” in the middle of her tale when Annie tells the reader at the beginning of the story that “It’s been a month” (Paragraph 1) since Ben’s reverse evolution began. She tells the story of his transformation in flashbacks.

This method of dropping the reader into the center of the story’s conflict is a literary technique many writers use to engage their audience. The writer then works to share the chain of events that led up to the story’s opening moment of action, bouncing between the present day and flashbacks.

When a story’s plot begins in medias res, there is also a sense of urgency for both the characters and the reader. Annie admits she hasn’t shared what is happening to Ben with anyone, but in the opening sentence, it’s clear she’s about to reveal what led up to this bizarre occurrence to the reader. This creates a feeling of trust between Annie and the reader, as well as a strong desire to know more.