Kubla Khan or a Vision in a Dream

KUBLA KHAN or A VISION IN A DREAM

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE - 1797/1798

This visionary poem is one of the most famous poems of the Romantic Period. A manuscript copy of COLERIDGE'S "fragmentary vision" is a permanent exhibit at the British Museum (London).

The poem contrasts a man-made, earthly paradise, which proves unable to resist demonic forces and is doomed to be annihilated, with a "true" form of Paradise.

This theme is connected with the themes of the "commanding genius" and the "absolute genius"[BEER, p. 165; see BIBLIOGRAPHY] Kubla aspires to break eternal rules by decreeing heaven on earth, whereas the reign of the dominating figure of the last part of the poem is a legitimate and lasting one and remains unchallenged by dark powers.

"How far drugs contributed to the calling up of dreamlike and nightmarish atmospheres" [BLAMIRES, p. 281] is a question frequently raised in connection with this poetic vision (cf modern "psychedelic art").

I hope the detailed analysis given below will appeal to lovers of esoteric literature and music, and will be of academic use for students & teachers of English, music and arts. Teachers may use this and my other material as a basis for interdisciplinary project work. When quoting from this page please make reference to it

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Hans Juergen Matthias Schroeder, Duelmen, Germany, 2003-2004

> DETAILED

ANALYSIS

[below]

see also

> A MULTI-

MEDIA

VOYAGE

along the

lines of the

original poem

[extra page]

> BACKGROUND

facts and tales

[start page]

> BIOGRAPHY

S.T. Coleridge

1772-1834

[start page]

> BIBLIOGRAPHY

[below]

PART 1 comprises

a detailed analysis of

themes, motifs & words

within a paraphrase

of the original text

> PART 2

below includes:

contrast

repetition

capitalisation

punctuation

syntax

configuration

metre

sound

atmosphere

point of view

transfer

PART 1: THEMES, WORDS, MEANING

organisational structure / division of the poem

SECTION I paradise decreed

(1-5) an introduction - the ruler, the place, the decree

(6-11) fulfilment of the decree

SECTION II "the demonic re-asserts itself" [BEER, p. 165]

(12-16) spot of mystery - the woman and the demon's rendezvous

(17-24) eruption and (25-28) a flow of lava etc. - paradise lost

(29-30) war prophecies

SECTION III considerations

(31-36) images of a waning paradise - evaluation

SECTION IV "vision of paradise regained" [BEER, p. 165]

(37- 43) a heavenly maid with a zither

(42-43) lingering impression

(44-54) a visionary concept of a "true" paradise

explanation of lexemes / paraphrase of the text

(1) Title: Kubla Khan is a man of great power, bearing the title of an Asian ruler (see background; also for information on the subtitle).

(1-5) Kubla's resides in Xanadu, a place, town, area, country, etc. of great natural beauty and of mystery (s.b). According to his decree (a sovereign's formal order) a pleasure dome is built, i.e. a large vaulting edifice providing room for all kinds of physical, mental etc. enjoyment (see background). Both the dome and the decree are stately (meanings: grand in size, style etc.; formal or ceremonious). The central element of an "underground scenery" is Alph (associations: Alpha = first letter of the Greek alphabet; according to mythological speculations, the beginning of life and language, "Eden", was located in Abyssinia; Alpheus = the classical underground river; [cf KERMODE et al, VOL. II, p. 256; cf BACKGROUND], the sacred river. The Latin origin of the word sacred has two meanings: sacer = 'holy' or 'connected with a god of the underworld', i.e. 'cursed'; the surroundings of the river perhaps suit the second meaning best: at least a considerable stretch of the river runs underground, through