Comparison workshop
PrologueversusEpilogueWhat's the Difference?
A prologue appears before the principal narrative to introduce, frame, or provide context; an epilogue follows it to provide aftermath, closure, or final reflection.
Read the pair
How They Differ
First idea
Prologue
A prologue appears before the main work and provides setup, background, framing, or another kind of opening context.
versus
Second idea
Epilogue
An epilogue appears after the main work and provides closure, later outcomes, reflection, or another kind of ending context.
See the signal
Examples
Prologue
Before chapter one, a brief prologue shows the storm that separated the two families years earlier.
Epilogue
After the final chapter, an epilogue shows the town rebuilding five years later.