What is an Epigraph An Authors Guide

What is an Epigraph An Authors Guide What is an Epigraph? An epigraph is a quote, paragraph, or short excerpt typically found at the beginning of a book. It usually serves as a preface or introduction to your story before any character makes an appearance or the action begins. Most often, they are quotes from writers or other influential people, but this is not always the case.The rules surrounding the use of epigraphs are pretty flexible. We’ll dive deep into them later in this post - but first, let’s take a look at why you might want to consider using epigraphs in the first place.Why use an epigraph?An epigraph probably won’t make or break your book. However, it can serve as a way to introduce readers to your story - or at least to elements of it - before they get into the meat of the matter. When the correct quote is chosen, it can be the crumb that makes them want to eat the whole cake.Although the epigraph is an optional feature in the front matter of a book, it can serve many different purposes within the story . Here are four. Does your book need an epigraph? See 4 ways they can help your story 1) Set the themeThe theme is the central idea the story conveys and the epigraph can help kick it off it in a very concise manner.Let’s take a look at one of the three epigraphs from Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. Genesis 30:1-3 This particular quote from the Bible deals directly with the issue of children, fertility, and the idea of bringing someone outside the marriage to produce children: all points of great importance in the novel.2) Set the moodIn just a few words, an epigraph can show readers whether they can expect an exciting, happy, or sad story. Take this example from The Night Circus:A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. Oscar Wilde, 1888 What are some of your favorite epigraphs? Let us know in the comments below!