Prologues and Epilogues

Today, I'll be expounding on my understanding of the use for prologues and epilogues. These opinions are my own.

My Doubleday Dictionary gives the following definitions:

Prologue-n. 1.A preface, sp. an introduction, often in verse, spoken or sung by an actor before a play or opera. 2. Any anticipatory act or event; to introduce with a prologue or preface.{pro
-before + logos-discourse}.
Epilogue-n. 1. A concluding section , as of a novel or play, that rounds out or comments on the work. 2. A short speech to the audience delivered by an actor after the conclusion of a play. 3. The actor who delivers such a speech. {epi
-upon, in addition  + legein-say}.
The use of a prologue or epilogue depends on the author, and the story being told.

If you have a story set in a location familiar to yourself but not many others, it is helpful to give a brief set-up. I have a novel set in the capital city of Oregon. The story was inspired by actual events which touched the lives of many of my generation, and can still bring the terror to the forefront when mentioned. While those of us who lived through it know exactly what we're talking about, the rest of the world got a quick view of the horror then went about their lives relatively unaffected.

I chose to put a single paragraph giving the bare facts of the incident at the time it occurred in a prologue. Thus, the scene was set to tell the story I wanted.

The beginning of the Star Wars movies have a prologue that scrolls to the back [top] of the screen, setting up the movie and events which have led to the current happenings. The information is three paragraphs-no more. If you start a prologue, and it has morphed to more than 250 words... make it the first chapter. As the definition above states, a prologue is a preface, an introduction, i.e., short.

At the other end of the story is the epilogue, as stated by Doubleday, "A concluding section, as of a novel or play."

For most writers, their story winds around and ties up all the loose ends by the time the novelist puts 'The End' on the paper. However, if there are a few characters who played an important role in the novel, yet didn't get their ending written in, an epilogue can solve the problem. You can put in a few sentences that explain what happens to them. For example, 'Peggy Sue married Bobby, had four children, and they moved to the suburbs." This is a little more explanation than happily ever after.

It is not recommended to write an epilogue if you plan to continue the story in a series or are thinking of a sequel. As with the prologue, epilogues should be short and sweet. If your wrap up starts to expand to more than a page, make it a chapter.

Sable Angel