The role of the Prologue (And Epilogue) User NameRemember Me?Password
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06-09-2006, 08:42 AM Sc00t vbmenu_register("postmenu_636138", true);
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The role of the Prologue (And Epilogue)
It's a simple question really. I can see the need for a prologue (and/or epilogue) in a novel... I can understand the role of it, but i just can't explain it to myself in the context of writing rather than reading.
When approaching a novel the first thing you write, presumably, is the prologue. Now, does this act as a hook, or does it act as an introduction top the protagonist or what? I don't know why (heaven knows I've read enough of the sodding things!) but i just cant say to myself "this prologue does this." the way that i would say "this light switch turns that light bulb on." if you understand my analogy.
thanks a lot.
-sc00t
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06-09-2006, 09:04 AM smiley10000 vbmenu_register("postmenu_636196", true);
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I know Uncle Jim talks a lot about prologues. You may want to check the index and see what he has to say. He makes the role of a prologue very clear...
Good Luck!
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06-09-2006, 09:14 AM JerseyGirl1962 vbmenu_register("postmenu_636214", true);
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sc00t
It's a simple question really. I can see the need for a prologue (and/or epilogue) in a novel... I can understand the role of it, but i just can't explain it to myself in the context of writing rather than reading.
When approaching a novel the first thing you write, presumably, is the prologue. Now, does this act as a hook, or does it act as an introduction top the protagonist or what? I don't know why (heaven knows I've read enough of the sodding things!) but i just cant say to myself "this prologue does this." the way that i would say "this light switch turns that light bulb on." if you understand my analogy.
thanks a lot.
-sc00t
Carolyn Jewel has this to say on her website (http://www.carolynjewel.com/craft/prologue.shtml):
"Prologues are, by their very nature, backstory. It's stuff that happened before your story actually starts."
Now, when you say "When approaching a novel the first thing you write, presumably, is the prologue," that's not necessarily true. My current WIP doesn't have one, and neither does another WIP that is currently shelved.
You'll get people going back and forth about whether prologues are any good, but I'm not going to debate that because it's not a big deal to me. Suffice to say that if you feel your story would benefit from having one, then go for it.
Hope that helps.
~Nancy
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Publish America would be a cardboard box you sit in while you say "vroom vroom!" and pretend it's a car.
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06-09-2006, 09:30 AM Sc00t vbmenu_register("postmenu_636250", true);
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That helps substansially. Thank you very much. "A prologue is a backstory, outlining what happened before the current event that the novel intends to focous on." I guess would be a fair description.
Are there any specific credentials to a prologue? Must they include the protagonist? Must they be under two pages? Must they do this, or exclude that? (I do understand that nothing must do anything in literature, that rules are there to be broken, and break them indeed we do... but conventionally speaking...)
-sc00t
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06-09-2006, 10:08 AM MadScientistMatt vbmenu_register("postmenu_636325", true);
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I've often seen prologues in published fiction that do not include the protagonist (and frequently do not include any characters who are living at the time of the story) and run for considerably longer than two pages. The only rule is that what happens must somehow be important to the main story.
I left out the prologue from my current WIP. I want to keep most of my backstory secret - or remembered incorrectly - until it surprises the readers.
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06-09-2006, 10:38 AM chaostitan vbmenu_register("postmenu_636388", true);
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Here are a couple of past discussions on the subject of prologues and epilogues.
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/...ight=prologues
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/...ight=prologues
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/...ight=prologues
In my second novel, I started with a prologue, but realized it could simply be a chapter later in the novel.
In another novel, my first chapter could have been labeled a prologue, although it's really more of a flash-forward. It builds up to something. In the next chapter, we go back twenty-odd months to where the story begins.
People have strong feelings on using or not using a prologue. If you can't explain to yourself how to write it, perhaps you don't need it?
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06-09-2006, 11:03 AM Sc00t vbmenu_register("postmenu_636442", true);
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It was more a curious thought when reading a novel. Just wondered "Why?" and figured it would make a good topic here.
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06-09-2006, 10:25 PM Puma vbmenu_register("postmenu_637662", true);
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Since you also mentioned epilogue in your original post and no one has mentioned it, it should be what happened after the story concluded. Puma
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06-10-2006, 11:16 AM Jenan Mac vbmenu_register("postmenu_638152", true);
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My novel is primarily 1st person, but has a prolog written from the POV of another character, who is psychotic. It's a distinct counterpoint to the voice of the protagonist, and it works pretty well for me-- but dayum, was it draining to write.
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The role of the Prologue (And Epilogue)
It's a simple question really. I can see the need for a prologue (and/or epilogue) in a novel... I can understand the role of it, but i just can't explain it to myself in the context of writing rather than reading.
When approaching a novel the first thing you write, presumably, is the prologue. Now, does this act as a hook, or does it act as an introduction top the protagonist or what? I don't know why (heaven knows I've read enough of the sodding things!) but i just cant say to myself "this prologue does this." the way that i would say "this light switch turns that light bulb on." if you understand my analogy.
thanks a lot.
-sc00t
Board fanatic
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Here
Posts: 101
I know Uncle Jim talks a lot about prologues. You may want to check the index and see what he has to say. He makes the role of a prologue very clear...
Good Luck!
10000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sc00t
It's a simple question really. I can see the need for a prologue (and/or epilogue) in a novel... I can understand the role of it, but i just can't explain it to myself in the context of writing rather than reading.
When approaching a novel the first thing you write, presumably, is the prologue. Now, does this act as a hook, or does it act as an introduction top the protagonist or what? I don't know why (heaven knows I've read enough of the sodding things!) but i just cant say to myself "this prologue does this." the way that i would say "this light switch turns that light bulb on." if you understand my analogy.
thanks a lot.
-sc00t
Carolyn Jewel has this to say on her website (http://www.carolynjewel.com/craft/prologue.shtml):
"Prologues are, by their very nature, backstory. It's stuff that happened before your story actually starts."
Now, when you say "When approaching a novel the first thing you write, presumably, is the prologue," that's not necessarily true. My current WIP doesn't have one, and neither does another WIP that is currently shelved.
You'll get people going back and forth about whether prologues are any good, but I'm not going to debate that because it's not a big deal to me. Suffice to say that if you feel your story would benefit from having one, then go for it.
Hope that helps.
~Nancy
__________________
Let the beauty we love be what we do. - Rumi, 13th Century poet
Since my childhood I have been creative in weird ways. When I see a gadget, say a blender, I imagine how I can use it for something else. - Isabelle Allende
Each one sees what he carries in his heart. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Publish America would be a cardboard box you sit in while you say "vroom vroom!" and pretend it's a car.
Esteemed New Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 18
That helps substansially. Thank you very much. "A prologue is a backstory, outlining what happened before the current event that the novel intends to focous on." I guess would be a fair description.
Are there any specific credentials to a prologue? Must they include the protagonist? Must they be under two pages? Must they do this, or exclude that? (I do understand that nothing must do anything in literature, that rules are there to be broken, and break them indeed we do... but conventionally speaking...)
-sc00t
Empirical Storm Trooper
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: near Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 1,432
I've often seen prologues in published fiction that do not include the protagonist (and frequently do not include any characters who are living at the time of the story) and run for considerably longer than two pages. The only rule is that what happens must somehow be important to the main story.
I left out the prologue from my current WIP. I want to keep most of my backstory secret - or remembered incorrectly - until it surprises the readers.
__________________
Matthew Cramer
My blogs:
Mad Scientist Matt's Layer: Do it yourself car mods and other insanity
Covington - Conyers Restaurants: small town Georgia dining
I took the 2006 Rejection Pledge!
My score so far: 8/50
Not the main course.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Corner of No and Where
Posts: 999
Here are a couple of past discussions on the subject of prologues and epilogues.
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/...ight=prologues
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/...ight=prologues
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/...ight=prologues
In my second novel, I started with a prologue, but realized it could simply be a chapter later in the novel.
In another novel, my first chapter could have been labeled a prologue, although it's really more of a flash-forward. It builds up to something. In the next chapter, we go back twenty-odd months to where the story begins.
People have strong feelings on using or not using a prologue. If you can't explain to yourself how to write it, perhaps you don't need it?
__________________
ABBOTT: Super Duper Computer Store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on "Start"...
Organized Chaos. <--My Blog.
Esteemed New Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 18
It was more a curious thought when reading a novel. Just wondered "Why?" and figured it would make a good topic here.
Board fanatic
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: near Columbus Ohio
Posts: 197
Since you also mentioned epilogue in your original post and no one has mentioned it, it should be what happened after the story concluded. Puma
nope, not a Gorgon
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Southeastern US
Posts: 248
My novel is primarily 1st person, but has a prolog written from the POV of another character, who is psychotic. It's a distinct counterpoint to the voice of the protagonist, and it works pretty well for me-- but dayum, was it draining to write.
__________________
I took The 2006 Rejection Pledge: 11/30
1 short story submitted/accepted