Proloog

A proloog, or prologue, is the introductory section of a narrative work, placed at the beginning before the main plot. It can present background information, set the tone, introduce key characters, or present a scene from a different time or vantage point. Proloogs appear in novels, plays, and films, and may vary in form from a short scene to a longer narrative frame.

Etymology: The term proloog comes from Dutch; English prologue derives from French prologue, from Greek prologos, literally "before the word." In Dutch usage, "proloog" is the standard term, while "foreword" translates to "voorwoord," and is typically written by someone other than the author.

Function and form: A prologue is part of the work and is intended to illuminate the setting or premise, provide essential backstory that would interrupt the main narrative if included there, or establish foreshadowing and thematic tension. It may be chronological or non-linear, and may use a different point of view or time frame from the main narrative. In film and television, a prologue can be a pre-credits sequence or an opening scene that draws the viewer in.

Relation to other elements: A prologue differs from a foreword, which is an introductory essay by another person, and from an epigraph, which is a quotation placed at the start. It also differs from an epilogue, which closes the work after the main events.

Usage and reception: Proloog are common across genres, especially in fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction. Authors and editors weigh their usefulness against pacing; a prologue should add value and not merely delay the start of the story.