The art of writing epitaphs for gravestones, monuments, and memorial markers, requiring extreme compression while conveying essence of a life or death's meaning. Must function both as text and carved inscription, enduring through time and weather. Can be serious, as in Ben Jonson's moving epitaphs for his children, or witty, like Benjamin Franklin's humorous self-composed epitaph comparing himself to old book being rebound. Effective epitaph composition balances brevity with meaningfulness, public readability with personal significance, and timeless relevance with specific historical particulars.

The art of writing epitaphs for graves and monuments. Requires extreme compression while conveying essence of a life. Can be serious or witty; Benjamin Franklin wrote a humorous epitaph comparing himself to an old book. Ben Jonson's epitaphs for his children are moving examples. Must work carved in stone and read centuries later.