If you’ve ever read a book, you must have, at some point, encountered an epigraph, even if at the time you didn’t know what it is. In simple words, an epigraph is a short sentence at the beginning of the book – but why is it placed there? And what are some most popular examples of an epigraph? We’ll talk more about it below.
Epigraph – What Is It?
As mentioned, an epigraph is usually no longer than a few sentences long – usually 1 to 2 sentences is preferred. It can be a quote from another author, a sentence, or a poem placed at the beginning of a literary work, typically found in a novel or a poem, but can also be included in short stories, essays, and more.
When included in a book, an epigraph page is usually placed right before the title page. However, it can also be added at the beginning of a specific chapter – or chapters. If it fits the story you’re trying to tell, you can actually have an epigraph at the start of every chapter. There’s no strict limit, although you should also think about the reader’s experience.
But what’s the purpose of it? Why would anyone include someone else’s work in their piece? The main reason behind it is to introduce the reader to the themes and subjects that the author will touch upon in their book or other piece of writing. It also provides context so the reader can better interpret what they’re about to read.
Is Dedication an Epigraph?
Knowing where an epigraph usually appears, you might be thinking that a dedication is also a type of an epigraph. However, that’s not actually the case. A dedication and an epigraph are two separate entities, often appearing alongside each other.
Does a Book Need an Epigraph?
Technically no, it does not need it – however, adding it can be valuable to improving your reader’s experience with your book. Especially since they are not just random quotes the author liked; instead, they have a specific purpose.
Typical Sources of Epigraphs
There are a few main sources authors typically turn to when looking for the perfect epigraph for their book or other literary work. These include:
Literature or Poetry
If you think about epigraphs, you’re most likely to find them in literature or poetry in the form of quotes from classic literary works, as well as more modern creations.
A great example of someone who used this source is Richard Adams, who wrote his book Watership Down. There are over 50 epigraphs from all kinds of authors. Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamozov or Jane Austen’s Northanger Abby are just a few examples of works that found their place in the story.
Several books, not all of them concerning religion, have also used quotes from the Bible as an epigraph. For example, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale has three epigraphs, one of which is a quote from Genesis.
Historical or Popular Figures
Another very popular way to look for a book epigraph is to reach for works of legendary figures – philosophers, world leaders or generally well-known and respected people, either from a long time ago or contemporary ones. In fact, it is not surprising these days to see an epigraph that comes from a celebrity that is still very much alive.
For example, if you look at Kwame Alexander’s novel He said, She said, published in 2013, you will find two epigraphs – one coming from Barack Obama, and the other from Adele.
Movies or Songs
Finally, popular culture is also a common source of epigraphs. While we already talked about literary works, we need to mention movies. There are plenty of books that use movie quotes as epigraphs, and one such example is Beautiful People – Simon Doonan’s memoir, which contains a quote from Wizard of Oz. More specifically, the sentence was said by Dororthy, a character portrayed by Judy Garland, which carries significance when it comes to why this quote was used.
Songs are another example. However, you need to be careful when trying to use song lyrics – usually, they’re copyrighted and can only be used when you have permission from whoever owns the rights to it. If you don’t do it, you might not be able to publish your book (many publishers require you to have permission before greenlighting the publication of a book that contains song lyrics), or, even worse, get sued. So, while you can use them, better use them properly.
Author’s Own Words
While usually an epigraph involves using someone else’s words, there are some instances where it is possible to use your own words. There are a few examples, but probably the most noteworthy is the one from The Great Gatsby. The author – F. Scott Fitzgerald – instead of using an already written poem, wrote one just for this purpose and credited a character from another one of his books as the author. Thomas Parke D’Invilliers is not an actual person – he’s a fictional character from his novel This Side of Paradise.
Other Sources
In today’s world, there are many more available sources of epigraphs – some of which you wouldn’t even think are suitable for this role. For example, in Michael Martin’s novel, the Nintendo’s “Quit Screen” message (“Everything not saved will be lost.”) was used. Government publications, advertisements, political speeches, or even viral videos can provide inspiration for an epigraph.
How to Choose an Epigraph
When choosing an epigraph to use in your literary work, there are several things you need to consider, some more important than others. How do you choose the perfect one? Take into account:
- Relevance – An epigraph is not only there to look pretty – it has a function, and that function is to provide the reader with an insight into your work of art, whether that be talking about a topic you will touch upon later on, foreshadowing a plot point, or introducing an important character. When you find a quote you would like to use as an epigraph, ask yourself – Is it valuable to my reader?
- Brevity – Try to keep your epigraphs rather short. They don’t have to be limited to one or two words, but at the same time, they also shouldn’t be too long, as that might overwhelm the reader. Up to 5 lines will be more than enough.
- Copyright – While most works should be fine to use, you should always check with a legal expert before you send it to your publisher – look particularly for those specializing in copyright and intellectual property.
- Connection to the story – Remember that the important thing is not the source where the epigraphs comes from – it’s about the value it brings to your readers. It doesn’t have to come from classic literature to be the perfect match for your book. Even if the quote you believe will work well comes from a less-known source, don’t worry about it – use it anyway.
After choosing your epigraph, you can ask beta readers to review whether it fits your work or if you should look for another one. While, ultimately, the decision is up to you, it is a good insight into how readers might feel about it when reading the official publication.
Well-Known Examples of Epigraphs
Here are some well-known examples of epigraphs that you might have encountered before.
The Bottom Line
So, what is an epigraph in a book? It’s pretty simple – an epigraph is a quote, usually from a literary work (but not only), that introduces some major aspect of the book, be it a plot point, a character, or context. While it is not an absolutely necessary part, adding it can be very beneficial to your reader. Epigraphs come from a variety of sources – from other literary works like books and poems, words of legendary figures, and popular culture, or religious texts and other miscellaneous sources.
When to look for an epigraph? There’s no ideal time to do it. You might encounter the perfect quote without even trying, or you might do research when editing your book. However, when that happens is not really as important as making sure it is suitable for your book or other piece of literature.
All in all, the final decision regarding an epigraph is completely in your hands as the author, but it is definitely something worth considering.
