prologue

/ˌproʊˈlɔg/

/ˈprʌʊlɒg/

Other forms: prologues; prologs

With the lines, "Two households, both alike in dignity," Shakespeare begins the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, setting up the idea of two families who hate each other before introducing the lovers in the opening scene.

Like its buddy epilogue, which tells you what happens after the end of a story, a prologue is concerned with setup of a story. "As a prologue to what happened in the gym, I'll tell you about the food fight in the cafeteria earlier that day."

Definitions of prologue

1. noun

   an introductory section of a novel or other literary work
   antonyms:

   epilogue

   a short section added at the end of a literary work

   type of:

   introduction

   the first section of a communication
2. noun

   an introduction to a play
   type of:

   introduction

   the first section of a communication
3. noun

   something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
   synonyms: overture, preliminary, prelude

   type of:

   inception, origin, origination

   an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events