We explain what a prologue is, how it is classified and what it is used for. We also explain its general characteristics, structure and examples.
What is a prologue?
A prologue is a more or less brief text found at the beginning of a literary work, and that gives the reader an introduction to its content. They are always located at the beginning of the work, because if they are found at the end of it they are called epilogues, even though they fulfill the same functions.
Generally It is written by someone other than the author of the bookbut who knows it thoroughly and is capable of providing the reader with information that improves his reading experience or that helps him understand the context of the work, among other things. The person who writes a prologue is called prologue.
It is possible for a work to contain several different prologues. in the same edition, which may or may not be by the same prologuist. In these cases, they are usually kept with a clarification of which edition they belong to (“prologue to the second edition”, for example) to document the historical way in which the work was perceived over time.
Works with several prologues They are usually classic works with many editions, reprints and that occupy a central place in culture. But even when it is just one, along with the prologue there are usually various previous parts of the work, such as dedications, epigraphs and other initial or explanatory texts, such as letters to the reader or prefaces.
The prologues are part of literary criticism. On rare occasions they can even be more important than the prologued work itself.
See also: Paragraph
Meaning of “prologue”
The word “prologue” comes from Greek Pro“before” or “in favor of”, and logos“word” or “speech”.
Its origin comes from Greek theatre, especially comedy, in which one of the actors would come forward before the start of the play to say a few words to the audience.
in them slightly detailed the plot and the initial situation of the events. This preamble was known as prologues.
Types of prologue
There are not really types of prologue as such, but prologues can be differentiated by their context and intentions. For example:
- literary prologue. It forms a literary piece in itself.
- Analytical prologue. Offers technical, academic or specialized information.
- Personal prologue. Of a rather intimate or confessional nature.
In this sense, there could be as many types of prologue as the intentions of the prologuist. There may even be prologues written by the author of the work himself (authorial prologue).
Purpose of a prologue
The prologues, in general, They serve the function of providing additional information to the work prologue. This is an explanatory text, optional reading, which can be read separately from the work, since it generally constitutes a contribution in itself.
May be useful to the reader to fully understand the work or so that you know how to interpret your difficult or dark moments. On the other hand, it can inform about its origins or point out its virtues, why it was written and for what purpose.
In certain musical works, there is also an initial phase called prologue.which plays a less clear introductory role and belongs to the composer himself. It is also often called a “prelude”.
Structure of a prologue
Prologues are generally pieces of sole authorship, which obey the criteria of the prologue writer and They do not usually have a fixed or unique structure, nor mandatory partsHowever, as it is an essay-like text, in prose, it usually consists of the ordinary structure of any writing of this nature:
- Introduction. In which the reader is given prior information, necessary to be able to continue reading the rest of the prologue. For example: where he met the author, how he came across the work, why the work is important, how he first came into contact with it, etc.
- Development. The middle part of the writing, where the prologue writer presents his arguments to support his appreciation of the work, generally resorting to textual quotes or comments from third parties.
- Closing. Where the prologuist ends his exposition, often with the ideas, comments or images with which he wishes the reader to begin the work, or with some type of encouragement to begin reading it.
Elements of a prologue
Prologues can draw on almost anything, but the most common elements in them are:
- Textual quotes. Fragments extracted from the work to be read, which demonstrate what was said or serve as “proof” for some explanation of the work.
- Third party references. Comments made by other critics, authors, opinionators or authorities on the subject, about the work with the introduction.
- Personal appreciations. The prologuist may express an opinion, make judgments or judge elements of the work that he or she considers interesting, controversial or curious.
- Chronologies. It is not unusual for prologues to contain chronologies of the author’s career, the composition of the work or its publishing history, whether it is a classic or a controversial book, such as banned books.
How to write a prologue?
To make a prologue, some essential conditions:
- Read the entire work. It seems obvious, but you cannot prolong something that is unknown. If one is going to write a prologue, one must be clear about what the work is about.
- Research about the work and the author. A prologuist cannot fail to know important elements about the author’s life, about the publication of the work, about its critical reception, especially if it is a classic or an important work.
- Choose the relevant information. To write the prologue it is essential to have something to say, and to do so you must assume a position towards the work. What contextual details were important for us to know when reading the work? What information would we have appreciated having before reading it? What parts of it were the most meaningful to us?
- Choosing critical support. Once we have decided on our position, we can turn to the work, to criticism or to history to obtain evidence to support our point of view, choosing quotes, references and other elements that come to hand to begin to say what we have to say about the work.
- Start writing. The prologue works like any text, so it must be well written, clear, friendly, and satisfy the expectations it generates in the reader.
How to start a prologue?
If the dilemma is how to start the prologue, it is advisable review the steps detailed in the previous point and make sure first of all that none are missing.
Once this is done, it’s a good idea review the chosen materialthe quotes taken, and order everything according to its importance, to know what will be the focus, the axis, of what we have to say. All of this will serve as a guide for us to begin.
A technique that many prologue writers use is start with something anecdotal: a recollection of your friendship with the author, of the first time you heard about him or her, of your first reading of the work, or of why the topic is particularly important to you. These are effective methods for creating a personal introduction to the work.
Works that are usually prolonged
All kinds of works tend to be extended: novels, stories, poetry books, anthologies (by the same author or by several authors), essay theses, chronicle books, compilations of correspondence, film scripts, academic books, scientific studies… any type of text that can be considered and that requires some type of presentation.
Epilogues
The epilogues are Comments and reflections offered to the reader after he has read the workThey function as a conclusion, as a closure, taking advantage of the fact that it has just finished and there is no risk of spoiling any surprises. They can be considered prologues located at the end of the work.
Examples of prologue
Some examples of prologue are:
“Idle reader: you can believe without an oath that I would like this book, as a child of understanding, to be the most beautiful, the most gallant and the most discreet that could be imagined. But I have not been able to contravene the order of nature, in which each thing engenders its similar. And, so, what could my sterile and poorly cultivated genius engender, but the story of a dry, hazel-headed, capricious child full of various thoughts that have never been imagined by anyone else, just like someone who was engendered in a prison, where every discomfort has its seat and where every sad noise makes its home? (…)
- Prologue by José Martí to the “Niagara Poem” by Juan Antonio Pérez Bonalde (1882) (fragment):
Passenger, stop! This man I am holding by the hand is not a mender of rhymes, nor a repeater of old masters – which they are because they never repeated them to anyone – nor a teller of love, like those who turned the dark breasts of the treacherous gondolas of Italy into magical zithers, nor a professional moaner, like so many who force honest men to hide their sorrows as faults, and their sacred complaints as childish trifles! This man who comes with me is great, although he is not from Spain, and he comes dressed: he is Juan Antonio Pérez Bonalde, who wrote the Poem of Niagara (…).
