foreword

Literature

2022

We explain what a prologue is, its function, types, characteristics and how to write it. Also, differences with an epilogue.

The prologue advances the aspects necessary to enrich the reading of the book.

What is a prologue?

A prologue is one of the preliminary texts of a book, usually of a literary work, in which the author or another person (known as a prologue) gives the reader a introduction to the work. In other words, it advances certain aspects necessary to enrich the reading, gives an opinion or frames the content of the book in a context determined that it facilitates its understanding.

The word prologue comes from the Greek term prologues ("The one who speaks before"), made up of the voices pro- ("before" or "in favor of") and logos ("Word", "speech"). Initially, it designated one of the characters from the Greek theater, who at the beginning of the play gave the audience an account of the initial situation, so that they understood where the representation began.

Subsequently, it was called a prologue to said text explanatory, and that use was the one that survived the centuries. In fact, nowadays, forewords are quite common in the literary and bibliographic world, and they are often valuable pieces in their own right, especially when they are written by a prominent writer.

It is common for a younger writer to want to be endorsed by a consecrated one, and to do so by requesting a foreword for his book, for example. Although on certain occasions the prologues can become texts equal to or more important than the prologue work itself.

Characteristics of a prologue

In general, prologues are characterized by the following:

  • They are always found at the beginning of the work or text, as an introduction or prelude.
  • They have a specific author, who may or may not be the same as the prologue work.
  • They are usually short, concise and subjective, written in the first person or from an impersonal point of view.
  • They are texts in a fairly free form: they can consist of essays, reflections, Chronicles or even narrations.
  • They fulfill an informative or expository function, and also argumentative, in favor of reading the work, or highlighting its importance.
  • They are always written after the work.
  • They are part of the paratexts (according to Gerard Genette) of a work, such as the title, subtitle, dedication, motto, epilogue or side notes, etc.

Types of forewords

Prologues are classified according to their content, more or less freely. Thus, for example, we can talk about:

  • Analytical foreword. When it comes to a brief systemic study of the work, that is, a formal and academic prologue.
  • Literary prologue. When in itself the prologue is a literary work with an aesthetic value.
  • Author prologue. When the prologue is written by the author himself, he feels compelled to warn the readers of something. It may also be called a "letter to the reader" or "author's warning."
  • Editorial foreword.When it is written by the editors of the work, generally when it comes to the rescue of an old or lost work in the history.

How to make a prologue?

There is no formula or method unique to write a prologue, since it is very personal and free texts, in which the prologue addresses the prologue work as he sees fit, arguing in favor of reading the work. However, the most common of a prologue is that it proceeds to:

  • Narrate the way in which the prologue learned about the work and what he thought when reading it for the first time, or the importance it has had in his life, of being a classic.
  • Emphasize the importance of the work, explaining its historical validity or its immortal aspects.
  • Highlight the relevance of the current edition of the work (especially if it is a new edition).
  • Comment on the life of the author of the work and provide the reader with a necessary historical context to understand it more fully.
  • Interpret the work, analyze it or study it briefly, relying on critical quotes and fragments of it.

Prologue and epilogue

The difference between a prologue and an epilogue is simple: while the prologue is located at the beginning of the book, as a prelude to reading, on the other hand, the epilogue is located at the end of it, as an additional text that concludes or gives the final stitch to the work.

Generally, the epilogues address the events of the play, but from a different narrative point of view, like that last text of a film that continues at the end of the film. plot, and that provides information to viewers regarding the events that would happen later, but that are not represented in the film.

The epilogues, unlike the prologues, are usually the work of the author himself.

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