The 'incipit' (Latin for "it begins") is the opening phrase or sentence of a text, particularly of medieval manuscripts, liturgical chants, or other works where the beginning is stylistically marked or significant. It serves to identify the work and is sometimes used as its title or a key search term. Often, the incipit includes the work's first words, melody, or symbolic element. It helps distinguish one work from another and provides a point of reference for cataloging and referencing. It also denotes a text's point of origin, providing context of its origin and authorship.
Incipit meaning with examples
- The 'incipit' of *Beowulf*, "Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon", immediately establishes the epic's scope and heroic subject matter, drawing the reader into the ancient world. Scholars often use it to refer to different manuscript versions. The incipit's use of alliteration and its elevated tone exemplify the work's poetic style.
- When cataloging medieval illuminated manuscripts, librarians and scholars routinely rely on the incipit, like the ornate initial letters and first few words, of each text to uniquely identify its content. Finding a specific sermon within a collection is greatly simplified by using the opening phrases. This approach is particularly helpful since full titles may not always be present.
- In music, the 'incipit' of a chant might consist of the first few notes or a short melodic fragment. This acts as a sonic fingerprint allowing identification of the piece. The notation and specific shape of the notes are key. By knowing a chant's incipit, researchers and performers can readily locate corresponding variations or related pieces.
- Film scholars might analyze the 'incipit' sequence of a movie, like the opening credits or first few minutes of scenes, to understand how the director sets the tone, introduces the main characters, and previews the narrative's core themes and visual style. These initial scenes frequently provide a condensed form of the entire narrative.