Prologue
noun /ˈprəʊ.lɒɡ/ — An introductory section before the main narrative
Definition
An introductory section or preliminary discourse at the beginning of a literary or dramatic work — setting up context, tone, or situation before the main story begins.
Beyond the definition
The clearing of the throat before the thing itself. A prologue creates the expectation into which the work steps.
Origin & history
From Greek 'prologos' — 'pro' (before) + 'logos' (word, speech). The speech that comes before the speech.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The prologue established the narrator's voice so precisely that the novel had already begun.
Some writers use the prologue to show you the ending — creating dramatic irony from the first page.
A good prologue makes the reader lean forward. A bad one makes them wonder when the story will start.
Synonyms
preface, introduction, preamble, foreword, prelude
Antonyms
epilogue, conclusion, denouement
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Entering the ancient forest
An adult stands at the entrance of an ancient forest, one foot on a path and one in shadow.
Standing at the entrance of the forest sets the context and tone for the experience that will follow. It acts as a prologue, providing the necessary setting for the journey, before the story of what happens within the woods actually begins.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration