Epilogue Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RL.6.3

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

This is a written section found at the end of a book that takes place outside the setting of the work itself. It often serves as a comment or explanation on what has happened over the course of the work itself. Most authors include an epilogue if they feel that their work may have loose ends or feel a need for further closure. Readers will often get invest in a character or group them and this is a good way for authors to frame the narrative beyond the scope of the book. This staple of worksheets will help students learn what epilogues are and understand when and how they should be written.

Epilogue Worksheets:

True of False - We take a dive into this part of a book and see what students know about it.

Complete the Thoughts - See what it will take to complete all of these sentences.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - How long after the action of the main story ends does the epilogue take place?

Animal Farm - Why do you feel that George Orwell felt that it was necessary to include this with his work?

The Handmaid's Tale - Another work work where you felt that this section of the book was important to include.

Introduction - This covers the basics of the concept what needs to be included.

As You Like It - This is a work where it may not actually be required to add it, but the author does.

The Hunger Games Catching Fire - What two main purposes does this section of the novel serve? Support your answers with text evidence.

Moby Dick - How does Melville use the epilogue of the novel to release tension?

Evaluation - This is an organizer that you would use to evaluate if it would be necessary to add some further explanation to the work.

A Comparison - Compare and contrast the epilogues of two different novels or works of your choice.

Comments? - This is great to think about with students on any work you just spent sometime reading.

Template - This will help you put your very own section together.

What's It Say? - Evaluate what you learned from an actual written example.

Different Forms - In plays they are often presented as a form of a speech. In a novel, it can be a series of scenes, exposition, or a combination of these.

What Is Epilogue In Literature?

An "epilogue" functions as a supplementary note at the end of a book, novel, or story. It isn’t part of a story’s narrative but is used in a supporting capacity. This section often reveals the fate of some main characters and wraps up the tale by tying any loose ends.


You can also think of epilogues as the "ever-after" (but not necessarily happy!) of a story. This is why they’re always set in the future after all the main incidents and experiences within a tale have happened. Moreover, this section of novels may also be used to give readers a hint about the next installment in a literary series. This is especially the case in genre fiction.


The term "epilogue" originates from the Greek "epilogos." It means "conclusion word." As already stated, it always comes at the end of a piece of work. Hence, it’s the opposite of a prologue, which tends to be present at the beginning of most books, novels, plays, etc.


3 Signs of a Good Epilogue


The necessity and utility of an epilogue have been a hot topic of debate within literary circles for some time. There’s a general agreement that writers should only create them when they absolutely have to. In other words, you shouldn’t use an epilogue as a substitute for a solid, satisfying, and nail-biting ending.


Furthermore, like prologues, epilogues should only contain information that complements the main plot and theme. To put it another way, they should aid the reader’s understanding of what happened and why it happened.
Following are some telltale signs of a good epilogue.


Character Development Beyond the Story


A high-quality epilogue tells the readers about what happened to their favorite character(s) after a story has reached its conclusion. When a tale is compelling and engaging enough, your readers will be more invested in the plot and characters. Hence, it is a good way to let them know what happened. It’s also an opportunity for the author to depict how the events within a tale affected the characters, what lessons they learned, and how much they grew from these experiences.


The Possibility of a Sequel


For authors planning a sequel or a book series, an epilogue can give their readers a hint about the next installment of a story. Some writers go a step further and introduce a major cliffhanger or twist in the epilogue itself. This is a nice way to build up your readers’ excitement so that they eagerly await the release of the next portion.
However, setting up a twist or cliffhanger within this section can be tricky business. You can’t just spring it on the readers out of nowhere. Well, you can, but then your narrative will appear disjointed.


Therefore, just like the story itself, a good cliffhanger within the postscript has to be built up in a subtle manner without giving too much away!


Reiterating the Importance of a Story


An epilogue is another opportunity for the author to reiterate the significance of the story. You can summarize the main themes and remind your readers about the lessons they should take away from your tale.


Lastly, since this is a standalone section and not a "chapter" within a book or novel, you can let your creative juices flow. Don’t hesitate to play around with the structure and create something unique for the readers to take away!