Final answer:
A prologue in literature serves multiple purposes, including introducing background information, engaging the audience, and providing a preview of the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
A prologue serves several purposes:
- Introducing key background information or context that helps the audience understand the story
- Engaging the audience and creating interest from the very beginning
- Providing a preview or hint of what is to come, setting the stage for the main narrative
For example, in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, the prologue sets up the tragic love story and foreshadows the eventual fate of the two young lovers.