A prologue is a part of a book that comes before the main story. It usually foreshadows what will happen in the story and does not usually belong to the timeline described in the book. When used effectively, it can add to the book’s content and build anticipation for what lies ahead. A prologue is, therefore, not just an introduction. If skipped, the reader may fail to identify and understand the goal of the book and the significant events happening in the novel.

A good prologue reveals significant information that aids the reader in understanding the plot. Since it is usually derived from a different timeline than that covered in the story, it helps define and explain parts of the story. This may range from the reason for a certain character’s point of view or action to how they found themselves in their current circumstances.

The prologue should be brief, revealing just enough information to build curiosity in a reader and add to the reader’s knowledge of the content of the book. Prologues should be surprising and also removed from the sequence of events in the book. If they fit in the story, then the prologue should be excluded at the beginning and incorporated into the part where it fits into the novel. The reader should feel compelled to read it before going straight for the main story and hence the reason it should be brief and surprising.

Remember, a dull prologue could make the reader assume that the rest of the book is written in the same manner. Hence, another reason it should be captivating is that it appears at the beginning. Before including a prologue it is, therefore, important to consider whether it adds to the book and whether without it the novel may not be adequately understood by the reader.

One of the reasons why some authors choose to use a prologue, and of course, part of the reason it is important, is that it establishes the focus of the book. The prologue aids an author in directing the reader’s attention to the main themes or events of the book. The prologue gives direction to the reader before they start reading the main story. It gives the reader an idea of what to expect. The reader begins to ask questions in their mind and they begin the story with the anticipation of finding answers to the questions.

A prologue also allows the author to tell the story from a different point of view than the one used in the main story. It can touch on undisclosed information. It also broadens the reader’s outlook on a story since they view scenes and characters from a different angle.

Some authors use prologues to establish the tone of the story. Even before getting into the content of the novel, the reader becomes familiar with the tone that is used in the main story. In the prologue, the tone should not vary since this could be confusing and prologues are meant to be brief.