Epigraphs and Ontology: Divergent Paratextual Functions in Postmodern Novels versus Science Fiction and Fantasy

This study explores the divergent ontological functions of epigraphs in late-20th-century Anglophone fiction, contrasting their roles in postmodern literary novels versus science fiction and fantasy. Postmodern epigraphs often destabilize fictional worlds, fostering ontological hesitation and irony, as seen in works by Pynchon and McEwan. Conversely, science fiction and fantasy employ epigraphs – frequently fictitious or intra-world quotes – to consolidate and authenticate their fictional universes, as exemplified by Frank Herbert’s “Dune”. This contrast reflects broader genre tendencies regarding narrative authority and immersion, highlighting epigraphs as critical paratextual devices that shape readers’ ontological engagement with fictional worlds.