You may have noticed that in some novels, there’s a bonus chapter after the main story called the “epilogue.” But, not all novels have them, and some have other things at the end like afterwords or author’s notes. What gives?
Not to worry. We’ll take you through everything you need to know about why some authors include an epilogue in their novel, the difference between epilogues and other kinds of end matter, and some tips for writing your own.
What is an epilogue in a novel?
An epilogue is a “bonus chapter” at the end of the novel that happens after the story is complete. It ties off any lingering loose ends, reveals the fate of the characters beyond the main story, and examines the repercussions of what happened in the plot, hinting at possible future installments of the larger story.
The word epilogue comes from the Greek epilogos, which means “concluding word.” An epilogue isn’t exactly part of the main plot, but offers the writer and the readers a glimpse into the wider story world. We’ll look at why and how to do this below.
Reasons to include an epilogue
Epilogues can enhance your story’s theme theme
The epilogue is your last chance to cement the key message of your story. For example, if your theme is “love conquers all,” you might show your characters happily married in the future, their differences having been resolved. Or if your theme is “disloyalty never pays,” you might show your turncoat characters living an unrewarding, possibly dangerous life.
Through these final scenes, you can stealthily whisper to your reader, See? I told you.
Epilogues can hint at a sequel
If you have ideas for where your characters and world will go after the story ends, the epilogue is a good place to start exploring these.
While it shouldn’t necessarily end on a cliffhanger (because this can be frustrating for the reader), it should convey the idea that there’s more to this world and more stories to tell. You might show the direction a secondary character is taking, or revisit a key location from your plot.
Epilogues expand characterization
If you use your epilogue to explore your main character or characters, you can reveal more about who they are in the long term. If your protagonist overcame a major inner weakness (this would be the dramatic arc) or learned something new about themselves, you can examine how this affected them throughout the rest of their journey.
Epilogues let you say goodbye
Finally, epilogues allow both the writer and the reader to say one last goodbye to the world you’ve been living in for the entire book. They can act as a cathartic release for all the tension and suspense you’ve been driving across the plot. While not necessary to telling a whole story, an epilogue is a nice moment in which you can send your characters off into the world beyond the page.
Epilogues vs. afterwords vs. author’s notes
Sometimes new writers confuse epilogues with other types of closing material, particularly afterwords and author’s notes. So what’s the difference?
An epilogue, as we’ve looked at above, is an extension of the narrative. It’s told through the voice and eyes of the characters and dominant narrator, just like the rest of the novel. The only difference is that an epilogue happens after the structural completion of the larger story and gives the reader a glimpse into the characters’ future.
An afterword is not part of the novel; it’s a nonfiction account, usually by a scholar or another author, about the book’s creation, edition, and any useful trivia that will give the reader context for why it’s been published right now. You don’t need to read the afterword to understand the story, but it will give you some wider context about how the book fits into the world.
An author’s note is similar to an afterword, but it will always be written by the author from the author’s point of view. It will often explain why they made certain choices or what they were trying to achieve. You’ll see these a lot in historical fiction; the author uses this space to talk about which elements were based on real people or events, and what was changed to create a more cohesive story.
Do all novels need an epilogue?
You might be wondering if an epilogue is a necessary part of a book, like the title or the copyright page. The truth is that not all novels need epilogues. It’s sort of like “bonus content” final chapter for the reader outside the main narrative, and it can allow you to have some fun with your story world. But it’s not necessary, and a novel isn’t unfinished without one.
Epilogues in film
Epilogues are becoming more and more common in movies, too. But they’re generally not referred to as “epilogues” (except by the occasional film critic); more often, they’re called “post-credits scenes.”
These are bonus scenes that occur part way through or after the rolling credits at the end of a film. It might surprise you to know this is exactly the same as an epilogue—it’s just called something different in contemporary vernacular.
Filmmakers know that not everyone in the audience is going to stay in their seats until the end of the credits, so they make sure the extra scene isn’t necessary to understand the story. It’s just something fun that gives the story another layer or hints at a possible next installment.
Tips for writing your own epilogue
If you’re thinking about writing an epilogue for your own novel or work in progress, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Determine if an epilogue is necessary
Remember that epilogues aren’t always essential. If your novel is perfectly contained and there’s nothing more to say, an epilogue might feel like a performer who’s a bit too reluctant to leave the stage.
But if this world is bigger than what you could fit into an 80,000 word novel, and you have some sense of where your characters are going to go beyond the page, an epilogue might be a nice addition to the story.
Decide when your epilogue is set
Epilogues always take place after the main events of the novel. But this after could be a few weeks, a few years, or decades later when the main characters are reaching the end of their long and happy lives. When you set your epilogue all depends on the story you’re trying to tell.
You might brainstorm a few ideas and create a rough timeline of what happens next before deciding on which one to focus on. Part of what informs this choice will be what kind of ending you want your reader to land on. That’s what we’ll look at next.
Choose a closed ending or an open ending
A closed ending means there’s not much more to say: And they lived happily ever after. An open ending means the door is left open to a future installment. The most dramatic type of open ending is the cliffhanger.
You’ll probably use an open ending if you want to write a sequel, or even if you think you might want to someday. These usually occur a bit closer to when the novel ends, although you can also use this kind of ending to look at the next generation.
A closed ending is a chance to look back over the period of time between the novel and the epilogue. Characters might reflect on what they experienced and learned after they went on to live the rest of their lives, and leave your readers with some ruminations on theme.
Show how your characters have grown
This might be the most important part of writing an epilogue: showing a sense of progression.
A good epilogue hints at how your characters have been affected by what they’ve experienced in the story, and how this changes them as they move forward. For example, a greedy character who learns compassion might then go on to join a humanitarian cause. Or, a shy character who learned confidence might end up running a business, or singing on stage.
This is another sneaky place where you can incorporate your book’s main themes. By showing your readers where your characters end up, you can communicate why this theme is so important.
Examples of epilogues in literature
To see how this literary device has been used effectively, check out these popular examples.
Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
Stardust is in many ways a traditional fairy tale (and in almost as many ways not). After the story concludes with a final battle and subsequent homecoming, the protagonist and his new bride decide that inheriting a kingdom can wait. Instead, they go off to have many adventures while the main character’s mum handles things as Queen Regent.
This epilogue is effective because it expands the story world with hints of new adventures, but doesn’t end on a frustrating cliffhanger. It makes the reader feel as though they’re listening to a master storyteller gently wrapping up their tale.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling
The final installment of the Harry Potter franchise has perhaps one of literature’s most famous epilogues, due to its film portrayal. This scene takes place 19 years following the “Battle of Hogwarts,” or the final climactic scene of the story. It shows that despite all the horror and loss the characters experienced in the final chapters, life goes on.
The epilogue explores what happens to all the central characters in the future, and hints at more adventures to come in the next generation of wizards.
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
The epilogue of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel pulls a sneaky trick by turning the novel into a nested narrative: a story within a story. It takes place long after the events of the story and proposes that everything the reader has read so far has been an account from someone long dead, used to help contemporary academics understand the past.
Atwood’s narrative choice helps expand the world of the story very drastically very quickly, and gives the readers more context about the effects of the main characters’ battles during the novel. The epilogue ties everything together in an unexpected yet satisfying way.
An epilogue elevates your story world
While epilogues aren’t essential to writing a great novel, they can be a fun tool to play with while developing your setting, characters, and themes. Epilogues can help provide closure to your readers, and deepen the reader’s understanding of what you’re really trying to say through your work.
