Name of the technique where you show a tense scene in the beginning and then transitioning to a peaceful first chapter

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What do you call the writing technique that shows an incredibly tense scene at the beginning, and then transitioning to a more peaceful pace in the first chapter?



The only novels that I can remember that has this kind of intro is Dan Brown's Inferno and Robert Ludlum's Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Identity.



I'm not talking about the excerpt because it could be a different scene and not really taken from the story. (but please correct me if it is the excerpt)



It's like a teaser intro, something like that. Does that mini-chapter have a name?










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    What do you call the writing technique that shows an incredibly tense scene at the beginning, and then transitioning to a more peaceful pace in the first chapter?



    The only novels that I can remember that has this kind of intro is Dan Brown's Inferno and Robert Ludlum's Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Identity.



    I'm not talking about the excerpt because it could be a different scene and not really taken from the story. (but please correct me if it is the excerpt)



    It's like a teaser intro, something like that. Does that mini-chapter have a name?










    share|improve this question























      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      What do you call the writing technique that shows an incredibly tense scene at the beginning, and then transitioning to a more peaceful pace in the first chapter?



      The only novels that I can remember that has this kind of intro is Dan Brown's Inferno and Robert Ludlum's Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Identity.



      I'm not talking about the excerpt because it could be a different scene and not really taken from the story. (but please correct me if it is the excerpt)



      It's like a teaser intro, something like that. Does that mini-chapter have a name?










      share|improve this question













      What do you call the writing technique that shows an incredibly tense scene at the beginning, and then transitioning to a more peaceful pace in the first chapter?



      The only novels that I can remember that has this kind of intro is Dan Brown's Inferno and Robert Ludlum's Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Identity.



      I'm not talking about the excerpt because it could be a different scene and not really taken from the story. (but please correct me if it is the excerpt)



      It's like a teaser intro, something like that. Does that mini-chapter have a name?







      fiction technique






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      Bwrites

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          This sounds like a special case of starting in medias res, or jumping into the story during an action scene. This is usually followed by more action before a pause to reflect on how the characters arrived at their current situation but in this case the deescalation occurs very quickly.



          Depending on the proper chronological order of events this may also constitute a flashback structure if the calm scene actually precedes the action that started the story.






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            The more classic way of describing this is called "in medias res," which often also implies the action scene is from the middle of the story, considered chronologically. But more generally, and in a modern context, this can be considered an action hook.



            "Hooks" are a more recent way of conceptualizing things that rapidly and reliably draw the audience into a piece of art. In an environment of short attention spans and limitless choices, hooks have become ever more important and emphasized across a wide variety of disciplines (older works often began more gradually-- and when they had "hooks," they weren't generally called that).






            share|improve this answer






















            • The opening scene of a narrative begun in medias res need not fit anywhere else in the narrative, Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet starts in medias res but proceeds in a direct chronological order from there on.
              – Ash
              30 mins ago










            • @Ash - Thanks, I've edited to address that. That's new info for me, I always assumed in medias res implied the middle of the story, not just the middle of the action.
              – Chris Sunami
              17 mins ago










            • It is often used to denote starting in the middle of the plot, because that's how it is often used; starting in the chronological middle and working forwards and backwards simultaneously until the whole story is told. It has been used that way since Homer wrote down the Odyssey but technically all it means is starting in the thick of the action so you're not obligated to go back and explain in detail how you got to the starting point.
              – Ash
              11 mins ago










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            This sounds like a special case of starting in medias res, or jumping into the story during an action scene. This is usually followed by more action before a pause to reflect on how the characters arrived at their current situation but in this case the deescalation occurs very quickly.



            Depending on the proper chronological order of events this may also constitute a flashback structure if the calm scene actually precedes the action that started the story.






            share|improve this answer


























              up vote
              3
              down vote













              This sounds like a special case of starting in medias res, or jumping into the story during an action scene. This is usually followed by more action before a pause to reflect on how the characters arrived at their current situation but in this case the deescalation occurs very quickly.



              Depending on the proper chronological order of events this may also constitute a flashback structure if the calm scene actually precedes the action that started the story.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                This sounds like a special case of starting in medias res, or jumping into the story during an action scene. This is usually followed by more action before a pause to reflect on how the characters arrived at their current situation but in this case the deescalation occurs very quickly.



                Depending on the proper chronological order of events this may also constitute a flashback structure if the calm scene actually precedes the action that started the story.






                share|improve this answer














                This sounds like a special case of starting in medias res, or jumping into the story during an action scene. This is usually followed by more action before a pause to reflect on how the characters arrived at their current situation but in this case the deescalation occurs very quickly.



                Depending on the proper chronological order of events this may also constitute a flashback structure if the calm scene actually precedes the action that started the story.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited 36 mins ago

























                answered 42 mins ago









                Ash

                4,331428




                4,331428




















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote













                    The more classic way of describing this is called "in medias res," which often also implies the action scene is from the middle of the story, considered chronologically. But more generally, and in a modern context, this can be considered an action hook.



                    "Hooks" are a more recent way of conceptualizing things that rapidly and reliably draw the audience into a piece of art. In an environment of short attention spans and limitless choices, hooks have become ever more important and emphasized across a wide variety of disciplines (older works often began more gradually-- and when they had "hooks," they weren't generally called that).






                    share|improve this answer






















                    • The opening scene of a narrative begun in medias res need not fit anywhere else in the narrative, Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet starts in medias res but proceeds in a direct chronological order from there on.
                      – Ash
                      30 mins ago










                    • @Ash - Thanks, I've edited to address that. That's new info for me, I always assumed in medias res implied the middle of the story, not just the middle of the action.
                      – Chris Sunami
                      17 mins ago










                    • It is often used to denote starting in the middle of the plot, because that's how it is often used; starting in the chronological middle and working forwards and backwards simultaneously until the whole story is told. It has been used that way since Homer wrote down the Odyssey but technically all it means is starting in the thick of the action so you're not obligated to go back and explain in detail how you got to the starting point.
                      – Ash
                      11 mins ago














                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote













                    The more classic way of describing this is called "in medias res," which often also implies the action scene is from the middle of the story, considered chronologically. But more generally, and in a modern context, this can be considered an action hook.



                    "Hooks" are a more recent way of conceptualizing things that rapidly and reliably draw the audience into a piece of art. In an environment of short attention spans and limitless choices, hooks have become ever more important and emphasized across a wide variety of disciplines (older works often began more gradually-- and when they had "hooks," they weren't generally called that).






                    share|improve this answer






















                    • The opening scene of a narrative begun in medias res need not fit anywhere else in the narrative, Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet starts in medias res but proceeds in a direct chronological order from there on.
                      – Ash
                      30 mins ago










                    • @Ash - Thanks, I've edited to address that. That's new info for me, I always assumed in medias res implied the middle of the story, not just the middle of the action.
                      – Chris Sunami
                      17 mins ago










                    • It is often used to denote starting in the middle of the plot, because that's how it is often used; starting in the chronological middle and working forwards and backwards simultaneously until the whole story is told. It has been used that way since Homer wrote down the Odyssey but technically all it means is starting in the thick of the action so you're not obligated to go back and explain in detail how you got to the starting point.
                      – Ash
                      11 mins ago












                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    The more classic way of describing this is called "in medias res," which often also implies the action scene is from the middle of the story, considered chronologically. But more generally, and in a modern context, this can be considered an action hook.



                    "Hooks" are a more recent way of conceptualizing things that rapidly and reliably draw the audience into a piece of art. In an environment of short attention spans and limitless choices, hooks have become ever more important and emphasized across a wide variety of disciplines (older works often began more gradually-- and when they had "hooks," they weren't generally called that).






                    share|improve this answer














                    The more classic way of describing this is called "in medias res," which often also implies the action scene is from the middle of the story, considered chronologically. But more generally, and in a modern context, this can be considered an action hook.



                    "Hooks" are a more recent way of conceptualizing things that rapidly and reliably draw the audience into a piece of art. In an environment of short attention spans and limitless choices, hooks have become ever more important and emphasized across a wide variety of disciplines (older works often began more gradually-- and when they had "hooks," they weren't generally called that).







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited 11 mins ago

























                    answered 36 mins ago









                    Chris Sunami

                    25.8k33197




                    25.8k33197











                    • The opening scene of a narrative begun in medias res need not fit anywhere else in the narrative, Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet starts in medias res but proceeds in a direct chronological order from there on.
                      – Ash
                      30 mins ago










                    • @Ash - Thanks, I've edited to address that. That's new info for me, I always assumed in medias res implied the middle of the story, not just the middle of the action.
                      – Chris Sunami
                      17 mins ago










                    • It is often used to denote starting in the middle of the plot, because that's how it is often used; starting in the chronological middle and working forwards and backwards simultaneously until the whole story is told. It has been used that way since Homer wrote down the Odyssey but technically all it means is starting in the thick of the action so you're not obligated to go back and explain in detail how you got to the starting point.
                      – Ash
                      11 mins ago
















                    • The opening scene of a narrative begun in medias res need not fit anywhere else in the narrative, Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet starts in medias res but proceeds in a direct chronological order from there on.
                      – Ash
                      30 mins ago










                    • @Ash - Thanks, I've edited to address that. That's new info for me, I always assumed in medias res implied the middle of the story, not just the middle of the action.
                      – Chris Sunami
                      17 mins ago










                    • It is often used to denote starting in the middle of the plot, because that's how it is often used; starting in the chronological middle and working forwards and backwards simultaneously until the whole story is told. It has been used that way since Homer wrote down the Odyssey but technically all it means is starting in the thick of the action so you're not obligated to go back and explain in detail how you got to the starting point.
                      – Ash
                      11 mins ago















                    The opening scene of a narrative begun in medias res need not fit anywhere else in the narrative, Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet starts in medias res but proceeds in a direct chronological order from there on.
                    – Ash
                    30 mins ago




                    The opening scene of a narrative begun in medias res need not fit anywhere else in the narrative, Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet starts in medias res but proceeds in a direct chronological order from there on.
                    – Ash
                    30 mins ago












                    @Ash - Thanks, I've edited to address that. That's new info for me, I always assumed in medias res implied the middle of the story, not just the middle of the action.
                    – Chris Sunami
                    17 mins ago




                    @Ash - Thanks, I've edited to address that. That's new info for me, I always assumed in medias res implied the middle of the story, not just the middle of the action.
                    – Chris Sunami
                    17 mins ago












                    It is often used to denote starting in the middle of the plot, because that's how it is often used; starting in the chronological middle and working forwards and backwards simultaneously until the whole story is told. It has been used that way since Homer wrote down the Odyssey but technically all it means is starting in the thick of the action so you're not obligated to go back and explain in detail how you got to the starting point.
                    – Ash
                    11 mins ago




                    It is often used to denote starting in the middle of the plot, because that's how it is often used; starting in the chronological middle and working forwards and backwards simultaneously until the whole story is told. It has been used that way since Homer wrote down the Odyssey but technically all it means is starting in the thick of the action so you're not obligated to go back and explain in detail how you got to the starting point.
                    – Ash
                    11 mins ago

















                     

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