An epigraph is
a short standalone quote, line, or paragraph that appears at the beginning of a book
. … Epigraphs are most commonly a short quotation from an existing work. Epigraphs usually appear offset by quotation marks at the beginning of a text, but there are no set rules dictating how writers use them.
Should my novel have an epigraph?
Should you include epigraphs in your stories? This choice is
completely up to you
, writer. Simply put, epigraphs aren’t often unnecessary, but they can serve many purposes and prove to be an exciting way to open your novel.
What is an example of an epigraph?
An epigraph is a short statement (a sentence, a paragraph, a poem) that comes at the beginning of a literary text, but the words belong to a different author. Examples of Epigraph: …
At the beginning of The Sun Also Rises
, Ernest Hemingway quotes Gertrude Stein: “You are all a lost generation.”
What is an epigraph at the end of a book called?
A colophon
is text (sometimes with a graphic design attached) at the end, usually saying who wrote or printed what you just read.
How do you format an epigraph in a novel?
The text of
the epigraph is indented from the left margin in the same way as
a block quote. On the line below the end of the epigraph, the author’s name (and only the author’s last name if he or she is well-known) and the source’s title should be given. This credit line should be flush right, preceded by an em dash.
What are examples of epithets?
A girl’s name is Marilynn, but her parents call her Lynn. Her sister calls her Mary. And her friends call her Merry-go-round when she’s being silly.
Lynn, Mary, and Merry-go-round
are all epithets, or special nicknames that replace the name of a person and often describe them in some way.
Can a book have two epigraphs?
Epigraphs are most common in longer works, like novels and books of poetry. Some writers love epigraphs so much they put them at the beginning of each chapter.
Some books have more than one epigraph
, placing two or more quotations in dialogue with one another.
What is the difference between a preface and a forward?
A foreword is
written by someone other than the author
and tells the readers why they should read the book. A preface is written by the author and tells readers how and why the book came into being.
Can you write your own epigraph?
You can use anything as an epigraph
, but if you’re going to quote copyrighted material in full (e.g., an entire poem), make sure you have permission. Alternatively, you can write your own epigraph to fit the world or theme of the book (e.g., a fictional quotation from a character in the story).
What is the quote at the front of a book called?
A short quotation at the beginning of a chapter or article is called
an epigraph
. The quote is treated like an extract and indented from the left margin. Only the author’s name (and only the author’s last name if he or she is well-known) and the book’s title should be given in italics.
Where does an epigraph go in a book?
Epigraph: A quotation
for the front of the book comes next
. It could also appear facing the Table of Contents or facing the first page of text. Sometimes epigraphs are used at the beginning of each chapter.
What is the beginning of a book called?
A
preface, prologue
, and foreword are all a part of a book’s front matter, the introductory pages of a book before the main text—often numbered with Roman numerals—that include the title page and table of contents.
What is the difference between epigraph and Epitaph?
An epigraph is a brief quotation used to introduce a piece of writing (see this example from Shakespeare) or the inscription on a statue or building. An epitaph is the inscription on a tombstone or some other tribute to a dead person.
What Is the Purpose of an Epigraph? … Whether a literary work is fiction or nonfiction,
epigraphs serve to clue readers in to some element of the work they are about to read
. Sometimes authors use epigraphic quotes to set up larger themes they will explore later in their books.
How do you insert a epigraph?
MLA Formatting
Write your epigraph one double space beneath your title. Indent 2 inches on both sides of the epigraph, so it’s 1 inch further from the standard margin. Use single spacing for the epigraph, and center the text on the page.
Put quotation marks around the text
.
What is a preface in a book?
Preface: Most often found in nonfiction books or academic writing, a preface is
written from the point of view of the author
. This short introductory statement reveals information about why the author wrote the book. A writer might also talk about themselves and why they are qualified to write about this topic.
