What is a Prologue, and why use it when writing Fiction?
Have you ever been invited to dinner with friends, to a restaurant you have never seen or heard of?
You might be told it’s ‘pub-grub’ or South American cuisine, but I am sure that will not stop you from sneaking online to give the menu it’s proper due diligence.
Well, a prologue, described perfectly by BBC Masterclass; is essentially the amuse bouche of a story. Its existence gives you a taste of the story’s theme. It provides any prior knowledge that could be beneficial for the reader before entering into the author’s world. A literary ‘palette teaser’ if you will.
“Just as an amuse bouche prepares restaurant diners for a meal and offers a glimpse of the chef’s style, a prologue is a literary device that arouses the reader’s interest and provides a hint of what’s to come.”
BBC Masterclass, #Writing 101
(If you ever need help understanding literature, be sure to draw parallels with food. We seem to tend to make these comparisons as if we can not help but sink our teeth into both. Either that or we must all be starving.)
The use of a Prologue in a story is optional, but my preference will always be to make use of one. It is an indispensable tool, especially if your story involves complicated themes or you are creating a completely different world or reality. Remember that you are drawing from a world inside your own head and that it is difficult to give the reader the same picture without explaining too much in your first chapter. This is the point where we need to captivate the reader enough to keep them going with the story.
What are the benefits?
When I try to write the first page or even the first line of my story, I am often at a loss. Capturing the reader’s attention and really drawing them into the story with the first page is one of the biggest challenges we face. We want to be able to ‘show-not-tell’ in our text, whilst also establishing a theme within a short space of time.
The preface gives me the option of having, essentially, two openings to my book. As such, there is the opportunity to foreshadow nuggets, secrets, and breadcrumbs that might aid the reader in solving our mystery (planning a huge plot twist maybe?). We could have given them a back story, as well as getting another opportunity to give the reader that exciting first line. -The ‘Wow’ Factor.
I prefer to write my narrative in the first person, therefore the prologue can provide:
- Another narrative, from a different character.
- A relevant scene from the past or future.
- Leave clues/ blueprints to aid in uncovering a plot.
You must be careful not to give away too many essential breadcrumbs, or at least it doesn’t mean you can leave it out of the story. You don’t want to give too much away before the book has even started.
What is the downside?
Daring to criticise one of the greatest plays of all time, an example of uncovering a plot in the prologue is shown in Romeo & Juliet:
Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare has essentially uncovered the entire plot arc from the get-go. But this is as far as I’m qualified to give criticism to a literary hero… Gods smite me down.
In my experience, successful prologues aren’t too long, needing perhaps a page or so. We want just enough to tantalise the reader… not give too much away. In my opinion, if used properly, there really is very little down-side.
What is your preference?
