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"What's the Point of Epigraphs Anyway?"
Oct. 15th, 2024 07:52 pmThe Walrus weighs in on the value and purpose of epigraphs.
I know that many readers view an epigraph (along with the rest of the front matter of a book--foreword, introduction, acknowledgments) not as a tasty amuse-bouche but as an annoying intrusion that delays the serving of the main course.
Personally, I like epigraphs. When well-chosen, they express something important about the overarching theme and plot points of the story, and they can be an effective means of foreshadowing.
My default assumption is that the author selected the epigraph with care, and that it has a meaningful relationship to the text. Clearly, some of the people quoted in the Walrus article would disagree!
I know that many readers view an epigraph (along with the rest of the front matter of a book--foreword, introduction, acknowledgments) not as a tasty amuse-bouche but as an annoying intrusion that delays the serving of the main course.
Personally, I like epigraphs. When well-chosen, they express something important about the overarching theme and plot points of the story, and they can be an effective means of foreshadowing.
My default assumption is that the author selected the epigraph with care, and that it has a meaningful relationship to the text. Clearly, some of the people quoted in the Walrus article would disagree!
