Question

What are the purposes of a prologue in a play?

Answer 1

To set the mood and tone of the play and provide background information

Answer 2

The correct answer is: To set the mood and tone of the play and provide background information.

"Prologue" comes from the Greek term prologos, that means "before words", that gives us an inicial clue. In the prologue the author gives us information to better undestand the play, to know when and why things will happen. In other words, "they set the mood and tone". Prologues especifically explain or set the stage for what happens next, this information is important to differentiate it from regular openings, In some movies the prologue can be identified easily as it apears like an explanatory text before the movie, for example post apocalyptic movies: "In the year 2300 Earth is devastated and the only humas alive live underground..."