A quotation from a literary work placed at the beginning of another is called?

A quotation from a literary work placed at the beginning of another is called an epigraph.

An epigraph can serve various purposes, such as:

* Setting the tone or theme of the work.

* Providing a contrasting viewpoint to the main text.

* Alluding to a specific literary tradition or influence.

* Giving the reader a clue to the story's meaning or message.

It's a common literary device used by authors to add depth and complexity to their writing.