What You Need to Know about the Epilogue

March 22, 2024 - By Mackenzie Curry

There you are, finishing up the last chapter of your story. However, the work doesn’t feel quite done yet. Somehow, there’s still more to be said beyond the falling actions of your story. Enter the epilogue.

All great stories require a great conclusion that leaves readers stirring on the implications of the narrative and feeling fulfilled with their time spent reading. No one likes to be left hanging!

What Is an Epilogue?

An epilogue is “a concluding section that rounds out the design of a literary work.”¹In layman’s terms, it’s a section separate from the final chapter of a fiction book that helps to bring closure to the story and tie up loose ends.

An epilogue is not the same thing as an “afterword.”

Who Uses Epilogues?

Many people believe that epilogues are reserved for fiction writers only, but this is not the case.

Both narrative nonfiction and fiction writers can find value in using an epilogue in their work, but the keyword here is narrative nonfiction. This word suggests that the author is telling a story of some sort, and there is a narrator involved.

Strictly nonfiction works without a clear narrator and storyline do not typically include one.

Epilogues in Nonfiction

Though it’s less common, narrative nonfiction pieces, such as biographies and personal memoirs, also utilize epilogues. In these cases, an epilogue ties a neat bow on the manuscript, offering key details and sentiments to provide the narrative with closure and drive any themes home.

Consider you’ve written a personal memoir detailing your life before, during, and after a tragic and life-altering accident. The final chapter of your narrative describes the upswing of your healing as you finally get your life back in order.

Now comes the epilogue. For the sake of this example, the epilogue would likely reflect on the themes carried throughout the manuscript (i.e., facing adversity, faith in Christ, etc.) to remind readers what the story is really about. The epilogue, in this case, would also suggest forward movement: Where is the author going from here? What does life look like for them today?

Epilogues in Fiction

Epilogues function differently for fiction pieces. In fiction, an epilogue often:

Hints to a sequel
Provides insight into the protagonist’s life years into the future
Provides closure / reflects on the events of the narrative
Drives the theme home

Many times, epilogues accomplish two or more of these tasks. However, the task at hand is always to ensure that each piece of the puzzle is accounted for, and that readers are not left hanging or wanting more at the close of the story.

Final Thoughts

Epilogues are integral parts of narratives, but if you are still unsure if using one is right for your book, consider looking into works similar to yours to see how the author resolved their story.