Having completed a work of art, the author usually critically evaluates the result of his work. In the course of revising the text, sometimes you want to give the book more expressiveness in order to convey to the reader the main idea and features of the idea. A short and figurative epigraph can help with this.
What is epigraph
An epigraph is usually called a capacious aphorism, a dictum, a quote from a work of a famous author or a proverb with which the work begins. Such an insert is placed at the very beginning of the essay or in front of each of its individual parts. A correctly selected epigraph reflects the meaning of the work, indicates its spirit, expresses the author's attitude to his creation.
The use of epigraphs in literary works is not a mandatory norm. Public moods, literary traditions changed, and with them epigraphs came into fashion or went out of wide use. The right to use this short preceding text is entirely at the discretion of the author. Only he can decide whether the epigraph is able to help the reader better understand the thoughts that are embedded in the essay.
The epigraph is usually made out entirely on the right side of the sheet or with a significant indent on the left side, without using quotation marks. It is considered that this part of the text should not occupy more than half of the page width. If the epigraph, which is in the form of a quotation, has the surname and initials of the author, a full stop is usually not put after them. The size of the font used for typing the epigraph should correspond to the main text of the work or be slightly smaller in size.
How to choose the right epigraph
Quotations from the works of other authors are most widely used as epigraphs to works. When choosing such a passage, one should strive to ensure that it is extremely short and concise, but at the same time accurately reflects the author's thought. It hardly makes sense to quote extensive and lengthy quotations. The advantage of the epigraph is the brevity and accuracy of the expression of thought.
Very wide opportunities are provided by the use of aphorisms, which are most often understood as figurative sayings of great people. The aphorism of a scientist, eminent writer or public figure combines expressiveness and completeness of thought. However, no one forbids the author to come up with an aphorism on his own. If the dictum is successful, the reader will not demand from the author a certificate certifying that he is world famous, famous and respected in society.
Proverbs, sayings, jokes and other small forms of folk art can also be widely used in the design of the epigraph. The range of such sayings is quite wide, so each author can choose for his work a folk epigraph that most reflects the features of the text that the reader will have to familiarize himself with. It is only important that a proverb or a saying should be combined with the general style of writing and not get out of the semantic range.
