Acan serve
many purposes in a book or play. Sometimes a prologue tells you what is going to happen before
it happens. An example of this is the prologue of Romeo and Juliet, which
lays out the story in broad strokes.
Two households, both
alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge
break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth
the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life €¦ (Act
1, Prologue)
We all know the story of Romeo and Juliets
sad end. Why does Shakespeare tell us everything that happens before the play even starts?
There are a couple of reasons. First of all, knowing what will ultimately happen does not give
us all of the details. It increases suspense, rather than diminishing it. It also helps us
focus on the whys of what happened, not just the whats. Romeo and Juliet killed themselves, but
why? What happened to make this feud turn so tragic for a pair of young lovers?
Sometimes a prologue gives you important background information that helps you
understand the story. This might be true of historicalor science fiction, or even fantasy. If
there is a lot of information a reader needs to know to fully appreciate a story, a prologue is
a good place to put it.
Prologues are not very common, and when an author
uses a prologue it is a specific choice. It means that the author wants the reader to delve
deeper. Do not skip a prologue. It is more than just an introduction. Prologues are important
parts of a book. They help identify themes and important background. Some books also have
epilogues, which appear at the end of the book. These often tell you what happens to the
characters after the events of the book, or give further information about the time period or
place.
No comments:
Post a Comment