An epigraph is a short quotation or phrase at the start of a book or at the start of a chapter within a book.
An epigraph might be a quotation of a well-known author or philosopher – particularly one from antiquity. It can also be a quotation from a character within the book, or an important phrase that appears within the book. (This can be particularly powerful in fiction, as it can be a way to reveal the essence of the story or world while creating suspense.)
Epigraphs are entirely optional. If an epigraph is for the entire book, then it will often appear on its own page. If an epigraph is just for one chapter, it will often appear beneath the chapter heading.
In fiction, the epigraph (if it’s for the entire book) might appear just before the prologue or first chapter. In other books, it might appear earlier in the front matter.
An epigraph is distinct from a dedication, which is the people to whom the author has dedicated the book.
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