Epigram | Creative Writing, Definition & Examples
An epigram is a short, clever, and memorable statement. It often comes with a surprising or funny twist. It can be a short poem or a single line of prose, and it usually expresses an idea about human nature in as few words as possible.
Epigrams date back to ancient Greece, where they began as inscriptions on monuments. Today, the term describes any short, witty saying.
- “I can resist everything except temptation.” —Lord Darlington in Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde.
- “To err is human, to forgive divine.” —An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope.
- “What is an epigram? A dwarfish whole, its body brevity, and wit its soul.” —Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in a poem that defines the form itself.
Key takeaways
- An epigram is a short, witty statement that’s built to be remembered. It expresses an idea about human nature in as few words as possible, often with a surprising or funny twist.
- The word comes from the Greek for “inscription,” because the first epigrams were brief poems carved on tombs, statues, and offerings.
- Epigrams usually come as short rhyming poems, as standalone prose sayings, and as sharp lines spoken by characters in fiction and drama.
- A well-placed epigram can reveal a character’s wit or capture a big idea in a single, quotable line.
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What is an epigram?
An epigram is a concise and witty statement that expresses an idea in a striking, memorable way. The word comes from the Greek epigramma, meaning “inscription.”
In ancient Greece, epigrams were short poems carved on tombs, statues, and offerings to the gods. Because space on stone was limited, the writing had to be short. Over time, poets began writing epigrams, and the form became known for humor and sharp observation.
- Short: An epigram is usually one sentence or a few lines long.
- Wit: It aims to amuse or surprise through clever phrasing.
- A twist: Many epigrams build an expectation and then overturn it.
- Insight: It usually makes a meaningful point about life.
- Memorability: It is designed to be quoted.
The Roman poet Martial, writing in the first century CE, made the epigram famous as a satirical form. He published more than a thousand short poems mocking the greed and hypocrisy of Roman society. English writers such as Ben Jonson, Alexander Pope, and Oscar Wilde later carried the tradition forward.
The adjective of epigram is epigrammatic. A novelist might be praised for their epigrammatic style if their prose is full of cleverly phrased lines.
Forms of epigrams
Epigrams generally appear in three forms: as short poems, as prose sayings, and as lines within longer works of fiction and drama.
Epigram poems
The original epigram was a short poem, often just two to four lines long. Verse epigrams usually rhyme, and they save their punchline for the final line. Rhyme and rhythm make them especially easy to remember.
This is an epigram written by Alexander Pope in the 1730s known as “Epigram Engraved on the Collar of a Dog Which I Gave to His Royal Highness.”
In two rhyming lines, the dog’s collar turns a simple question back on the reader.
Prose epigrams
A prose epigram is a single witty sentence that stands on its own. Many appear in collections of sayings or essays. Prose epigrams often overlap with aphorisms, but they lean more toward humor and surprise.
Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack (1735)
The sentence opens like practical advice about trust, then delivers a dark punchline that reveals its message. People cannot keep secrets.
Epigrams in fiction and drama
Writers often deliver epigrams through their characters or use them in narration. A well-placed epigram can reveal a character’s wit or sum up a theme in a single line. Oscar Wilde’s comedies are famous for characters who speak almost entirely in epigrams.
Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (1895).
The structure sets up a sympathetic remark and then twists it into an absurd accusation.
Frequently asked questions about epigrams
- What does epigrammatic mean?
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Epigrammatic is an adjective that describes writing or speech that is stylistically similar to an epigram because it is concise, clever, and memorable.
For example, a critic might describe an author’s style as epigrammatic if it is full of sharp, quotable lines.
Looking for examples of epigrammatic works? Ask Quillbot’s AI Chat.
- What is the difference between an epigram and an aphorism?
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An epigram and an aphorism are both short, memorable statements, but they differ in their purpose.
An epigram is witty and often ironic, usually ending with a twist. An aphorism states a general truth plainly and more seriously.
For example, “Life is short, art long” from Hippocrates is an aphorism, because it presents a straightforward observation.
In contrast, Oscar Wilde’s “I can resist everything except temptation” is an epigram, because it uses humor and surprise to make its point.
Ask Quillbot’s AI Writer to rewrite an aphorism as an epigram.
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