The majority of epilogues have traditionally appeared at the end of fictionalized tales, such as those told in novel form or through the medium of a stage play. Epilogues in novels will typically be marked out as such by the use of a special chapter at the story's end simply entitled "Epilogue" in many cases. When used in a play, the epilogue is generally presented by a specific character or a narrator figure, who appears on-stage after the action is over. Epilogues also appear as part of TV shows, at the end of an episode, or at the end of a series, sometimes during the show's end credit sequence. Epilogues can also be added to factual stories, such as features in magazines.
Epilogues are used to add a sense of closure to a piece of storytelling. They provide clarity if the story's first ending is in some way vague or sudden; thus, they complete the tale so that the audience is left satisfied by wrapping up remaining plot strands. Sometimes the epilogue can add extra facts that actually shift how the audience sees the story's end, while at other times the epilogue simply presents an account of where the characters are in the future. Epilogues may suggest a sequel, or conversely, prevent others from adding to the tale in the future.
Although the reasons why an epilogue appears vary, a few rules are generally accepted for how it should read. Epilogues tend to be set in the future, and may even be set in a different location; thus, they may feature new characters, such as the children of the story's main characters. Epilogues should also add something fresh to the story rather than repeat the primary ending, as the Writer's Digest website states; the author may provide a new insight or the viewpoint of a minor character, for example.
Many stories feature epilogues, but some pieces of work and TV serials have become well-known for their successful --- or controversial --- use of an epilogue. The TV series "Arrested Development," for instance, featured an epilogue at the end of each episode, which usually updated viewers on the progress of the activities characters had engaged in during the show. The novel "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling contains an epilogue set 19 years after the close of the main story. It revealed what had happened to several main characters.