proem

Proem is a term used to describe the opening portion of a literary work, especially in epic poetry, that introduces its subject, setting, and tone. It is derived from the Greek prooímion, often rendered as “before the poem.” In classical epic, the proem frequently includes an invocation to the Muses or deities and a brief statement of the poem’s theme or scope, serving to frame what follows.

In broader literary criticism, proem can refer to the introductory material of a work, whether in verse or prose. It may establish background, outline the author’s aims, or signal the stylistic approach of the text. The use of proem is commonly contrasted with the modern notion of a prologue; while both precede the main narrative, a proem is a more formal or technical label that emphasizes the opening’s role in prefiguring the work’s content and method.

Etymologically, proem is related to Latin prooemium and—through Latin and Greek sources—appears in discussions of rhetoric and poetry as a preface or prelude. In contemporary literary use, the term is often found in scholarly writing about ancient epics and in discussions of textual openings more generally, though it is less common in everyday prose than prologue or introduction.

See also: prologue, preface, invocation, incipit. In discussing a poem or narrative’s opening, scholars may refer to a proem when emphasizing the introductory framework established before the main narrative begins.