In literary, a lot of writers actually use Epigraph to give impact in the beginning of a novel, document or other forms of written work. Epigraph is an accepted method of introducing the literary work. It has also played an important role in the world of literature because most of the popular books and novels actually use Epigraph to trigger the readers’ interest more effectively.

Writing the Epigraph

Epigraph actually has different purposes and relevance. Some authors use it as an introduction to their work. Others incorporate the Epigraph to give the reader a slight hint of the reference for the material that they are about to read. There are also some writers who take advantage of the use of Epigraph so that they can give a short summary.

There is no exact structure when it comes to writing the Epigraph. Since it conveys different messages, depending on the desire of the writer or author, Epigraph can also vary in form. Other writers actually use poetry which has an underlying message tat is related to the contents of the book or the material. In some cases, Epigraph can be just as short as several phrases or sentences. Sometimes, the Epigraph can actually be based on the actual material, maybe an excerpt or a quotation. Doing the epigraph is an art based on the message that the author would like to convey.

Importance Of An Epigraph

For the readers, some may find the Epigraph to be quite irrelevant at first. Yet, after reading the entire literary work, there will suddenly be an urge to go back and read the Epigraph. This is a common thing—to not recognize the importance of the Epigraph at first. Then, once the entire material has conveyed the message and lesson, the Epigraph suddenly makes more sense. Actually for those who do read the Epigraph at before proceeding to the actual literary work, it may sound confusing sometimes but will eventually make sense.

The Perfect Epigraph

Epigraph does not simply add complexity and sophistication to a book, novel or any written literary work. It is also important in setting the mind of the reader. It prepares the reader to what is up ahead. It may not give the entire sense of the literary work but it can provide the gist or a hint. So, when reading a book or a novel, it is a good thing to read the Epigraph. It is an effective literary tool that can trigger interest.

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