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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Defining a Prologue



Definition of prologue 1 : the preface or introduction to a literary work. 2a : a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play. b : the actor speaking such a prologue. 3 : an introductory or preceding event or development.

What should a prologue include?

A good prologue should set the scene for the story to come.



This may include:

  • Introducing important characters and themes.
  • Setting out backstory required to follow the main narrative.
  • Telling the reader something about the story world.


What is the literary definition of a prologue?





prologue, a preface or introduction to a literary work. In a dramatic work, the term describes a speech, often in verse, addressed to the audience by one or more of the actors at the opening of a play.

What is an example of prologue?

The prologue sets up what is about to happen in the narrative. What is this? The opening lines of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer are an example of a classic prologue.

What is the main purpose of the prologue?

The definition of prologue introduce important information—such as background details, or characters—that have some connection to the main story, but whose relevance is not immediately obvious.

How long is a prologue supposed to be?

The length of a prologue depends on the nature of the story, but it’s best to keep it trim. One to five pages should suffice. “I don’t mind prologues if they fit the story, and I do like them fairly short,” says agent Andrea Hurst, president of Andrea Hurst & Associates.



What does a prologue look like?



The prologue should read like a short story in every aspect, except for its ending. Rather than resolving all conflict, the end should leave the reader intrigued. Any conflict created in the prologue, however, must be resolved somewhere along the plot.

How many words should be in a prologue?

Some sites suggest no more than 1,000 words while others say up to 3,000 words is an adequate number. If it helps, my average chapter is about 1.5K words.

What is the difference between a preface and a prologue?

The main difference between preface and prologue is that preface serves as an introduction to the literary work whereas the prologue serves an introduction to the story in the literary work.

How do you make a prologue?

A prologue is always written from a character or narrator’s point of view. Only add a prologue if your purpose is one of the following: You need to provide background information or a backstory that doesn’t fit in the main text. You want to set the tone for the rest of the work.

Does a prologue come before an introduction?

You absolutely can have both an introduction and a prologue. Both are concepts which are well-familiar to readers; they will not be confused by it. If you do have both, the Introduction comes first, before any of the fiction begins.

Is a prologue necessary?

If you have the information you must convey to the reader that can’t be worked into the main novel, you may need a prologue. If the story doesn’t make sense without the prologue. If you can remove the prologue (or a reader can skip it), and their understanding is not damaged, a prologue is not necessary.

What is a prologue and an epilogue?

A prologue is an independent front matter of the novel, which gives an opening hint to the reader, as to what the story is all about. On the contrary, an epilogue implies a literary device, which is an additional and independent part of the literary work, which concludes the story.



What is the synonym of prologue?

nounintroduction to a document. exordium. overture. preamble. preface.

What is the difference of prologue to introduction?

Prologue — A prologue is similar to an Introduction, and in my view it is really exactly the same. The difference is simply that if you write a Prologue, it makes sense to also write an Epilogue, while with an Introduction you don’t expect any type of closing to the book other than the last chapter.

What is the purpose of a prologue in Romeo and Juliet?

The Prologue does not merely set the scene of Romeo and Juliet , it tells the audience exactly what is going to happen in the play. The Prologue refers to an ill-fated couple with its use of the word “star-crossed,” which means, literally, against the stars.

How many lines does the prologue have?

The Sonnet Form



Shakespeare wrote the prologue of “Romeo and Juliet” in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet, which means that the prologue is a poem with 14 lines written in iambic pentameter.

Who reads the prologue?

The prologue in a book is always written by the author of the book. In the prologue, the author gives an introduction that sets the scene for the story to come. It is part of the book and should be read before chapter 1.