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Exergue

Structure
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A short concluding inscription or stanza that follows the main body of a poem, often reflective or dedicatory.

Detailed Definition
An exergue is a brief quotation, motto, or epigraph placed at the beginning of a poem or poetic sequence to frame its thematic concerns, establish tone, or invoke intertextual dialogue; often drawn from classical, religious, or literary sources, the exergue acts as a conceptual lens—such as Eliot’s use of Petronius in "The Waste Land"—guiding interpretation while creating a palimpsestic relationship between the borrowed text and the new poetic work, enriching meaning through allusive resonance.
Example
Example in poetry:
Exergue: "‘All that is solid melts into air’ — Marx" (epigraph in Auden); "‘The unexamined life is not worth living’ — Socrates" (intro to Glück); "‘Even the darkest night will end’ — Hugo" (preface to Dove); "‘Beware the ides of March’ — Shakespeare" (used in modern sonnet)
Additional Notes
Space at poem's end for inscription or commentary. From numismatic term. Related to envoi. Study tip: Look for concluding space that stands apart, offering reflection or dedication.
Also Known As
postscript stanza afterword stanza
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