Kubla Khan Essay - 4320 Words

Kubla Khan If a man could pass thro Paradise in a Dream, have a flower presented to him as a pledge that his Soul had really been there, found that flower in his hand when he awoke -- Aye! and what then? (CN, iii 4287) Kubla Khan is a fascinating and exasperating poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (. Almost everyone who has read it, has been charmed by its magic. It must surely be true that no poem of comparable length in English or any other language has been the subject of so much critical commentary. Its fifty-four lines have spawned thousands of pages of discussion and analysis. Kubla Khan is the sole or a major subject in five book-length studies; close to 150 articles and book-chapters (doubtless I†¦show more content†¦Christabel, an unfinished gothic ballad, evokes a sinister atmosphere, hinting at evil and the grotesque. In his poems Coleridges detailed perception of nature links scene and mood, and leads to a contemplation of moral and universal concerns. In his theory of poetry Coleridge stressed the aesthetic quality as the primary consideration. The metrical theory on which Christabel is constructed helped to break the fetters of 18th-century correctness and monoton y and soon found disciples, among others Walter Scott and Lord Byron. Opium and the Dream of Kubla Khan Coleridges use of opium has long been a topic of fascination, and the grouping of Coleridge, opium and Kubla Khan formed an inevitable triad long before Elisabeth Schneider combined them in the title of her book. It is tempting on a subject of such intrinsic interest to say more than is necessary for the purpose in hand. Since the medicinal use of opium was so common and wide-spread, it is not surprising to learn that its use involved neither legal penalties nor public stigma. All of the Romantic poets (except Wordsworth) are known to have used it, as did many other prominent contemporaries. Supplies were readily available: in 1830, for instance, Britain imported 22,000 pounds of raw opium. Many Englishmen, like the eminently respectable poet-parson George Crabbe, who took opium in regular but moderate quantity for nearly forty years, were addicts in ignorance, and led stable andShow MoreRelatedKubla Khan1621 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Kublah Khan† Samuel Coleridges poem â€Å"Kubla Khan† is an example of romantic creative thought which uses idealistic process to capture a dream of another world. Through the use of strong imagery, Coleridge produces a paradise like vision of a rich landscape, which is surrounded by a dome built by the main character named for the title, Kublah Khan. This alludes to an important aspect of the poems theme, man verses nature. The overriding theme of the work contains extensive imagery that allows forRead MoreThe Paradoxes Of Kubla Khan1658 Words   |  7 PagesThe Paradoxes of â€Å"Kubla Khan† The Romantic poem â€Å"Kubla Kahn† by Samuel Taylor Coleridge contains many paradoxes in its description of a certain euphoric scene. Coleridge claimed that he dreamt the poem â€Å"Kubla Kahn† while in an altered state of consciousness due to an opium high. When he went to write it down, he was disrupted in the middle, and as a result was not able to complete the poem. However, when analyzing the poem that resulted, although it may not have been complete, it serves as a greatRead MoreEssay on Samuel Coleridges Poem Kubla Khan1122 Words   |  5 PagesSamuel Coleridges Poem Kubla Khan In the poem Kubla Khan by Samuel Coleridge, language is used to convey images from Coleridge’s imagination. This is done with the use of vocabulary, imagery, structure, use of contrasts, rhythm and sound devices such as alliteration and assonance. By conveying his imagination by using language, the vocabulary used by coleridge is of great importance. The five lines of the poem Kubla Khan sound like a chant or incantation, and help suggest mystery and supernaturalRead MoreKubla Khan: A Dream, or Something Greater Essay2208 Words   |  9 Pages and so borrow as to repay by the very act of borrowing. Examine nature accurately, but write from recollection, and trust more to the imagination than the memory.† Coleridge followed his own advice in the crafting of Kubla Khan; which presents his interpretation of the Kubla Khan court when under the influence of opiates. Due to the complexity of the poem, many have found that the poem lacks a true theme but instead focuses on â€Å"the nature and dialectical process of poetic creation.† Coleridge createdRead More Poetic Inspiration in Kubla Khan and Rime of the Ancient Mariner2238 Words   |  9 PagesPoetic Inspiration in Kubla Khan and Rime of the Ancient Mariner      Ã‚  Ã‚   An examination of the characters that Coleridge presents in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan and the situations in which they find themselves reveals interesting aspects of Coleridges own character that are both similar to and different from the characters named in the titles of these poems. In particular, an examination of these characters with an eye toward Coleridges conception of poetic inspirationRead MoreCritical Analysis of Kubla Khan by S.T. Coleridge1627 Words   |  7 PagesIn the poem Kubla Khan by Samuel Coleridge, language is used to convey images from Coleridges imagination. This is done with the use of vocabulary, imagery, structure, use of contrasts, rhythm and sound devices such as alliteration and assonance. By conveying his imagination by using language, the vocabulary used by Coleridge is of great importance. The five lines of the poem Kubla Khan sound like a chant or incantation, and help suggest mystery and supernatural themes of the poem. Another importantRead MoreKubla Khan Essay1578 Words   |  7 Pagesof Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s paradoxical poem â€Å"Kubla Khan,† we see an approach to literacy that is far different than his predecessors. This is partly due to his role as one of the founders of the Romantic Era. Coleridge, along with William Wordsworth, published an anthology of poems entitled â€Å"Lyrical Ballads.† This collection was the beginning of an overwhelming movement to praise the power of imagination rather than that of reason. While â€Å"Kubla Khan† was not a part of this work, it is still a clearRead More Coleridges Kubla Khan and the Process of Creativity Essay1922 Words   |  8 PagesColeridges Kubla Khan and the Process of Creati vity Coleridges Kubla Khan is an extremely enchanting poem which is based around the stately pleasure dome of the emperor, Kubla Khan. Although the poem is set around this pleasure dome, it can be noticed that the poem had profound depth to it. If one is able to understand the hidden symbols and meanings within the poem, it becomes clear that Coleridges Kubloa Khan does not simply describe a pleasure dome, it is also a prolongedRead MoreContrast and Comparison of Wordsworths Tintern Abbey and Colderidges Kubla Khan1591 Words   |  7 PagesContrast and Comparison of Wordsworths Tintern Abbey and Colderidges Kubla Khan When comparing William Wordsworths Tintern Abbey, and Samuel Colderidges Kubla Khan, one notices a distinct difference in the use of imagination within the two poems. Even though the two poets were contemporaries and friends, Wordsworth and Colderidge each have an original and different way in which they introduce images and ideas into their poetry. These differences give the reader quite a unique experience whenRead MoreKubla Khan Analysis Essay1103 Words   |  5 PagesSamuel Coleridges poem Kubla Khan is a supremely beautiful example of the Romantic belief regarding creative thought and the creative process. It is a whimsical peek at the nature of the unconsicious and at the art of inspiration and holding on to imagination that has captivated many for its musical and lyrical nature. Although deemed largely unfinished and incomplete by some scholars and by the author himself, Kubla Khan has held its ground as a literary masterpiece of its time for its impeccable