An epilogue or epilog (from Greek ἐπίλογος epílogos, "conclusion" from ἐπί epi, "in addition" and λόγος logos, "word") is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature, usually used to bring closure to the work. It is presented from the perspective of within the story.
The closing line is the author's final opportunity to leave the reader with a lasting impression of the book. Some last lines offer closure, others leave the reader with questions; the best stay with a reader – long after they've turned the final page.
Story ending (also called resolution) is a very important part of the writing craft. The ending should not be a deviation, it should resonate with the story. The ending should not break your readers' trust (it does not, however, mean that it must always be a happy ending).
Epilog and epilogue are both English terms. Epilog is predominantly used in 🇺🇸 American (US) English ( en-US ) while epilogue is predominantly used in 🇬🇧 British English (used in UK/AU/NZ) ( en-GB ). In the United States, there is a 85 to 15 preference for "epilogue" over "epilog".
Conclusion. Epilogues and conclusions function the same, but conclusions tend to be found in nonfiction books, usually accompanied by an introduction chapter at the start of the book, whereas epilogues tend to be found in novels and memoirs.
On this page you'll find 29 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to epilogue, such as: afterword, coda, postscript, summation, conclusion, and ending.
An epilogue is a concluding section of a story or play that provides closure or ties up loose ends. A prologue, on the other hand, is an introductory section that sets the stage for the story to follow. An epilogue is placed after the main body of the story, while a prologue is placed at the beginning.
You'll need finesse to make this epilogue work. Focus on raising questions rather than creating a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger can make readers feel cheated – “Wait! This isn't the whole story!” Instead, use your epilogue to create questions about what happens next in your character's life.
Epilogue means 'a conclusion of a book or play' the opposite being Prelude meaning 'the event or action that serves as a beginning of a story or play'.
An epilogue is the final segment of a story and effectively serves as one final chapter. An afterword is a statement on the entire narrative, and it is frequently told from a different perspective and period of time.
While a cliffhanger ending may involve a twist, it shouldn't come completely out of the blue. Rather, you should plant the seeds throughout your story. For instance, if your story ends on the protagonist discovering a shocking piece of information, you'll want to leave clues for the reader earlier on.
Cliffhangers are writing devices that serve three important purposes: They keep readers from putting the book down at the end of a chapter. They hold the book together, creating bridges across the gaps between chapters. They provide momentum, keeping readers moving forward to the end of the book.
While every story has to end its own way, there are six general types of ending. Which one you go for will depend, of course, on the story you're telling, and maybe also on the tropes or conventions of the genre you're working within (if you're working within a genre at all).
In fiction, an epilogue is a nifty literary device used at the end of a book that gives additional, but separate, details that are part of the main story. Epilogues often reveal the fates of the characters and wrap up any loose ends.
On this page you'll find 83 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to ending, such as: closure, completion, denouement, finale, outcome, and period.
Closing A Manuscript
An epilogue: An epilogue appears in fiction. An afterword: An afterword can be used for fiction and non-fiction. An appendix: An appendix is usually reserved for non-fiction, to add resources or definitions.
/ (deɪˈnuːmɒn) / noun. the final clarification or resolution of a plot in a play or other work. the point at which this occurs.
The prologue is used to provide additional information to the audience, which facilitates them to understand the plot better. On the contrary, the epilogue is presented after the story is complete, to add the final touch.
An epilogue is generally shorter than any of the chapters of the novel, but this isn't a hard-and-fast rule. They're usually set after the climax or the falling action. They're a great place to reflect on the characters' lives in one concluding scene.
The coda of a work usually restates and summarizes the themes contained in text. An epilogue is a concluding statement. An epilogue is the opposite of a prologue, which introduces a play. Many books have introductions written by colleagues, critics, or friends that introduce the work to the reader.
Keep your epilogue short, and to the point — ideally an epilogue should be no more than the length of a short chapter, around 5-8 pages. In other words, as editor Allister Thompson puts it: “If there's nothing else to say, don't be tempted to say it!”
The best epilogues have a sense of finality, yet they also have a flash of something new that makes the reader curious about what happens next. The way you accomplish this is by using a flashback or flash forward—a scene set in the future that gives readers just enough information to make them hungry for more.
Just like prologues, epilogues aren't always necessary — and adding one might spoil a great story that should have ended sooner. To determine if you really need an epilogue, ask yourself these questions: Will your book have a sequel? An epilogue can be a great tool to hook readers into the next book in your series.
Considering the various functions prologues can perform is perhaps one of the most important things if you're going to include one in your novel. Many writing experts say there are four main types of prologue, involving a future protagonist, past protagonist, a different point of view and one which presents background.
An epilogue can have a title, but it is not necessary. An example can be "20 years later," to show how your characters have developed in those 20 years. Do I finish with "The End" and then the epilogue? No, the epilogue is part of the story.