Is there a term for a fiction piece that goes after the prologue but before the epilogue?

Question

I'm writing a long non-fiction text that describes a fictional setting.

I came up with a fiction piece for that setting, to include as further illustration.

I decided it would work best if I split it up in three ways.

One part to go in the beginning (as a prologue); One part to go in the middle; And one part to go in the end (as an epilogue.)

But, what should I call the part that goes in the middle?

I'm writing it all in Spanish (my native language), but so far I've been unable to find a proper or even vaguely accurate term, regardless of language.

Any help in either English or Spanish would be appreciated.

Answer 1

The part of a book that comes between the prologue and the epilogue is normally called "the story"!

Ok, I take it you mean you have some explanatory material that you want to put in the middle, that is not part of the story itself?

Perhaps "interlude" is what you are looking for.

Answer 2

I believe you mean an "interlude". It's a piece of writing that comes after the prologue, before the epilogue, but not necessarily part of the story. Interludes can be excerpts of another character, or other things. I read a book where they used interludes to describe what a different character was doing at the same time the story was taking place, so I think an interlude would work for you.

Answer 3

The short answer is: use 'epilogue' (var. 'epigraph') regardless of where you place something that is not quite part of the text of the body of the work. It's an 'off-label' use, but then if one is a writer they have license to do just that - especially where no other good devices or terms are provided. Language is inherently flexible in that respect and for good reason.

The longer answer: It happens that "official definitions" of terms often conflict with the actual utility of a word or the lack of substitutes for an 'off-label' application. Professional writers run into this problem all the time and generally ignore the constraints some think are written in stone and not to be violated. But we do it with reason and careful consideration. Bottom line, coinage of usage as well as coinage of terms is an oft used tool on any writer's workbench.

'prologue' (var 'prologomena/-on') unfortunately has been saddled with other formula that require it be some kind of "introductory descriptive" text related to the remainder of a work and, therefore be put at the beginning of a work. The Greek root, 'pro-'/ 'before', supports this constraint.

In the case of the term 'epilogue', the constraint that holds it is only appropriate to use at the end of a work defeats one of its more valuable applications as a general 'meta-textual' indicator that might appear anywhere in a text - something that is merely aside, above or near to the main text of a work, but not quite within it. 'metalogue' might be a good substitute coinage, but it has other uses that are not relevant. 'paralogue' might be another good coinage, but I find it a bit awkward as well. My solution is to simply call these little above-the-text asides (which are mainly used at the beginning of a chapter or section within a work) 'epilogues' as well. The Greek roots of the word ('epi' + 'logos') would support this usage, 'epi-' simply meaning something not within a text, but close to or near to it; 'logos' simply meaning 'saying' or 'thought'.

an example: I have a long work with the following structures:

• A title page
• a number of prefacing pages (index, forward, cast of characters, etc.)
• a one page prologue that contains some descriptive and mood setting material and is a proper part of the body of the work.
• after that follows a page with a brief epilogue, absolutely vital to the work, but not quite a part of it either.
• several other epilogues appear throughout the work (generally, but not always, at the beginning of a new chapter).
• at the end of the work there is also a final chapter that is titled "Epilogue - Auld Lang Syne".

All of which works for me and, more importantly, works for the work itself. Keep in mind as a writer, reality is what you say it is, not what "They" say it must be.

[ps - those who provide sarcasm or 'uhm-duhs' for responses to a question are generally little more than ego-wavers who have nothing to say, but say it anyway. Pay them no mind.]

Answer 4

http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2009/09/parts-of-a-book/

I'm not familiar with this page, but it seems accurate from what I remember of my technical studies in that regard. You've got frontmatter, main body, and backmatter. Prologue is frontmatter, epilogue is part of the main body, as are all the other chapters of your story.