What is an Epilogue? And How to Write One For Your Novel

You may have noticed that some of your favorite books have an extra section at the very end of the story: the epilogue. An epilogue is the final narrative section that comes after the main story, showing the aftermath of the plot, answering lingering questions, and sometimes opening the door to a new adventure. And now you’re wondering if your book needs one, too!

If you’re an aspiring or published writer trying to structure a novel, that decision can feel a little overwhelming. Not to worry—we’ll show you what an epilogue is, how it differs from a prologue, denouement, and afterword, when and why to use one, what effective epilogues look like in books and film, and how to write your own so it gives readers satisfying closure, strengthens character arcs, ties up loose ends, or sets up a sequel the right way.

A good example of this is the infamous ending to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final installment of the Harry Potter series. The epilogue takes place a generation following the final battle, and shows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as older adults, revealing where each main character ended up. It also sets up new stories and adventures for the younger characters.

The word epilogue comes from the Greek epilogos, which means “concluding word”. An epilogue gives the reader one last chance to say goodbye to the story. In film, it’s often used to set up the next movie and get the audience interested in seeing what happens next. In video or digital media, that kind of ending can work a bit like an outro.

Epilogue vs. prologue

Epilogues and prologues are two closely related concepts that often get confused, but they are not interchangeable. And they serve similar functions—but prologues come at the beginning of a novel, and epilogues come at the end.

Unlike an epilogue, which always takes place after the events of a story, the prologue can take place before or during the main plot. But it’s always the first thing a reader reads, just before Chapter One. Sometimes the prologue and epilogue will share common characters or events. A great prologue introduces context without unnatural explaining or overloading readers with enough information all at once.

While many editors are cautious of prologues, the same suspicion doesn’t exist with epilogues—possible because coming in at the end makes the epilogue feel more earned. Writers can use these differences to determine whether their book needs a prologue, an epilogue, or neither.

Epilogue vs. denouement

Epilogue and denouement also have a lot in common, and they can be especially confusing because both come at the end of a story. The difference is that the epilogue is separate from the book’s main events, while the denouement occurs at the very end of the story.

All good stories, intentionally or not, follow a narrative arc with a beginning, middle, and end. The denouement is the final scene or collection of scenes in this arc, and the last stage of the novel’s structural journey. Once that journey is completed, then the writer can move onto the epilogue.

In other words, the epilogue is like optional bonus content; the denouement is essential.

Epilogue vs. afterword

An epilogue and an afterword both appear at the end of a book. The difference is that an epilogue is part of the fictional narrative, and the afterword is a nonfictional reflection by the author on their work. You’ll often see afterwords in historical fiction novels, called the “Author’s Note”. It’s where the author discusses their inspiration, and outlines what they may have changed or added for the story that didn’t really occur in history.

In other genres, it may be where the author explains where they got their idea and why certain themes are important. For example, a novel about endangered animals might have an afterword offering some stats about these animals, why they’re important to the author, and ways the reader can support them.

Does every novel need an epilogue?

You may have noticed that some novels have an epilogue after the final chapter, and some don’t. What’s the deal?

An epilogue isn’t a necessary part of a book. In fact, if your epilogue feels necessary to the story, it’s probably not an epilogue at all—but a denouement (see above). An epilogue enriches the story, but it doesn’t complete it. A strong epilogue should be brief and not replace a solid ending.

You can use an epilogue if there’s more to say about your characters, if you want to show the reader the repercussions or rewards of their choices, or if you want to set up a possible sequel. But if you feel like your story has reached a solid, satisfying conclusion and there’s nothing more to say, you can just leave the epilogue out. Deciding whether to include one can be tricky, and a weak or unnecessary epilogue can ruin an otherwise satisfying conclusion.

The function of an epilogue in a book

So with that in mind, why would you want to include one? Here are a few ideas.

You want to go beyond “Happily Ever After”

Once you’ve reached the explosive conclusion of your magnum opus, you might be wondering how the characters were affected by the story in the longer term. The epilogue is a great place to explore this and give the reader a glimpse into their future. For example, it can show how characters grow after the main conflict, especially in stories shaped by love or family bonds.

You can look at the aftermath of an amicable breakup (is there hope for the future?), the repercussions of a final battle, how the world looks for a new generation, and so on. If the events of the main narrative have changed the characters’ world (as any good story does), the epilogue shows what that new world looks like and how a central relationship changes over time.

You have a sequel in mind

Made famous by action film post-credits scenes, these epilogues set up another conflict or development to come. Your story has come to a conclusion, the main characters have emerged victorious, they’re heading home for a celebratory cup of tea… until??

The epilogue reveals that the story isn’t over yet. There’s another adventure on the way, but the reader will have to wait until the next installment to see it.

You’re cheering on your supporting characters

Ensemble stories can have a lot going on. If you use your denouement to wrap up the journey of your main characters, you might have some secondary or tertiary characters that could use some closure.

This can be an effective way to test the waters for a possible spinoff. Or, you might just want to give a fan-favorite supporting character some more screen time. This can work especially well when a supporting woman has an unresolved thread worth revisiting from a fresh perspective. In either case, an epilogue can be a fun way to look at how the plot has affected the characters at the periphery of the story.

You need to tie up loose ends

Great novels will often have a main plot and at least one subplot. But while the climax and resolution are devoted to giving the main plot a satisfying ending, you might still have some threads to tie up in the subplot.

You can use the epilogue to create another, secondary ending for your secondary plotline. It’s not absolutely essential to the story, as the main plot has been wrapped up; but, it will add another layer to the reader’s experience.

Famous epilogue examples in literature and film

To see how these techniques can be used to great effect, let’s look at a few famous epilogue examples from popular culture.

Epilogue in The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

The Dictionary of Lost Words is a historical novel about the inception of the Oxford English Dictionary. It follows a young girl, the daughter of one of the dictionary editors, who collects cut out “lost words” that fall under a table or behind filing cabinets. The novel spans several years, following the real-life story of the first major English dictionary.

The epilogue takes place more than one hundred years after the events of the story, centering on the main character’s granddaughter. Through the epilogue, the author reveals the ultimate fates of the characters, and gives some real-world context to how the women in Oxford were treated at the time. It provides closure and brings all the novel’s themes together in one conclusive scene.

Epilogue in Marvel’s Iron Man

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is riddled with epilogues, not least the famous “shawarma” scene. But it’s arguably the epilogue to the first Iron Man film that pulls the most narrative weight.

Iron Man premiered all the way back in 2008 as a standalone film, which later became part of the larger Avengers cycle. After the story reaches its conclusion, the main character returns home, and the credits run, Tony Stark is greeted by a figure from the shadows. Who is it? Nick Fury, director of operations and mastermind behind the Avengers. This epilogue invites both the protagonist and the viewer into the next stage of the adventure.

Epilogue in Moby Dick, by Herman Melville

Herman Melville’s classic seafaring adventure novel Moby Dick features an epilogue that explains what happens to the narrator, and how he survived the adventure that led the rest of the ship’s crew to their doom. It also hints at why he felt the need to tell this story in the first place.

Although the epilogue isn’t part of the book’s narrative structure, it is essential to the overall story. Why? Because without it, it seems like the story is being told by someone who can’t possibly be alive to tell it—and this is exactly what happened in the book’s first printing, which was released without the epilogue. The book only makes sense because of the epilogue. Having this extra scene makes the narrative feel more believable to the reader.

How to write an epilogue for your story

Ready to add an epilogue to your very own magnum opus? Here’s how to get started.

Decide on your time period

The biggest question when crafting an epilogue is when it’s going to be set. But unlike the prologue, which can take place at any time, the epilogue always takes place in the future. This could be near or distant future, days or decades later.

Choose your point of view

Who is telling the story of this epilogue? It might be your protagonist, looking back from a place of nostalgic wisdom; or, it might be the next generation, or a historian looking back on the events of the story. Think about why you’re focusing on this person at this time, and how they’re connected to the main narrative.

Build around a concrete setting

It may be tempting to build a whole new world around your last chapter, but a great epilogue is like a piece of flash fiction. It should take place in one scene, one time and place. If you move the story around too much, it dilutes the impact. Choose one moment to represent everything you’re trying to say with your epilogue.

Close on your story’s core theme

The epilogue ties the key message of your story together. It’s a good place to land on a thematic image or idea. For instance, if your theme is freedom from oppression, your epilogue can show what that freedom looks like now that it’s finally won. The closing image can still leave some questions open, as long as the thematic resolution feels complete. Your epilogue hammers home the point of the story. It should sharpen the subject of the story rather than describe every future detail.

An epilogue gives your story a strong ending

Even a great novel can be sunk by a weak ending. Your readers want to close the book feeling satisfied: the primary conflict is resolved, the characters all get what they need, and their actions reverberate across time. Whether you’re using your final pages to examine future events or simply the next stage of your characters’ journey, an epilogue can provide the closure your book needs.