Prologue or Epilogue - What Comes First?

angrytiger610

Many books have both a prologue and an epilogue, but which one should come first? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?

Prologues and epilogues are both important elements of a book, but there is no definitive answer as to which should come first. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. For example, a prologue can provide the reader with important context and set the tone for the rest of the book, while an epilogue can provide closure and a sense of resolution. On the other hand, a prologue can be confusing for readers and an epilogue can be anticlimactic. Ultimately, it's up to the author to decide which is best for their particular book. I'm interested to hear what others think and why they prefer one over the other.

myrtle_cooper

The order of a book often depends on the author’s intentions and preferences, but the convention is that a prologue should come before an epilogue. A prologue typically provides the reader with background information or insight into the novel while setting the stage for the rest of the story. An epilogue, on the other hand, is meant to provide the reader with closure and hints or clues into what could happen in the future.

tl;dr: A prologue should typically come before an epilogue.

gerald_grant

It is important to distinguish between a prologue and an epilogue when you are structuring a narrative. Generally speaking, a prologue comes before the main story and an epilogue comes after it.

A prologue is usually used to provide the reader with some important information about the setting or characters before the main action begins. For example, the prologue of a story could include a brief explanation of the world's history or an introduction of the protagonists and antagonists.

An epilogue, on the other hand, usually provides resolution and closure to the story after the main action has been concluded. It can explain what happened to the characters after the end of the plot and show the results of their journey.

In summary, a prologue typically comes before the main body of a story, and an epilogue comes after it. This order is important since it allows the writer to provide crucial and relevant information to the readers while also bringing closure to the story.