Point of View

“The Curator Speaks in the Department of Dead Languages” is told in the first-person point of view using the pronoun “I”. This choice is referenced in the poem’s title, which explains that the poem is a monologue spoken by the titular character. Yet it’s not until the fourth line, “and ask me what they mean” (Line 4), that the speaker is directly revealed. The poem’s voice fluctuates between the objective and the intimate, letting the speaker’s thoughts and feelings come in flashes between the listed facts. Some feelings are stated outright, while others are hinted at or left to interpretation. In parts of the poem the speaker seems to be directly addressing the reader, while other parts are directed more introspectively. These rhythms allow the reader an intimate look into the speaker’s consciousness and their individual way of thinking.

Language and Meaning