Kubla Khan - Poetry Questions:
1) In what ways does the poem accurately represent the Romantic movement?
Authentic feelings, Reverence for nature, Admiration for the sublime, Challenges conventions
The poem expresses authentic feelings, as evident in Coleridge’s use of exclamations such as
“oh!” which shows uncontained emotion. This poem places imagination as a priority for
escapism for example when the poet states that “[he] would build that dome in air”.
Imagination is seen as powerful for ideal creation. This poem also shows reverence for the
natural world as it describes “caverns measureless to man”, thus illustrating the respect for
what is beyond man’s comprehension which is another aspect of the Romantic movement.
He describes the river as sacred which further shows how vast, complex and exquisite nature
is. The poet also displays the need for the sublime, the fear and admiration for the world as
evident in his description of the Earth as “seething” and alive as he is in awe witnessing
Earth’s raw power. This poem also diverges from the traditional poetic conventions of
structure & form. The free verse and unstructured nature symbolises the new ideas of the
Romantic movement and also reinforces the sense of disorientation which reminds the
reader that this was a fragmented dream.
2) Coleridge uses an inconsistent metre and rhyme scheme. Why do you think he has
not simply written the poem in free verse?
The poem has an inconsistent rhyme scheme, an uneven division of stanzas and irregular
rhythm. This inconsistent structure mirrors the sense of disorientation that Coleridge
experiences as he tries to make sense of his dream. The form and rhythm show his
disordered attempt at structure which emphasizes his attempt to structure his own thoughts.
The poem has a consistent rhythm but shifts in line 10.
3) Identify the point in the poem at which you think Coleridge was disturbed.
After the third stanza which ends with: “a sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice”. There is a
sudden shift with no obvious link between his description of Xanadu and the next vision of
the damsel which he describes.
,4) Identify and discuss the effect of a simile in the poem.
The poet compares the forests to being as “ancient as the hills”. It compares the lifespan of
the forests to being as old as the hills. Just as the forest is evidently old, so too have the hills
been around for a long time. This shows how long nature has been in existence which far
exceeds man’s time on Earth. This creates a sense of appreciation for nature and a sense of
awe for its beauty and longevity, yet also shows its power in comparison to man.
The poet compares the eruptions from a crack in a hill in Xanadu to a person panting. A
panting person is generally quite loud, could be aggressive and creates steam if the person is
in cold weather. Similarly, the eruptions of the chasm are noisy, dangerous and create smoke.
The poet compares the crack in the hill to a place where a heartbroken woman would go to
mourn for her lost demon lover. This shows the purity of emotion but also the overwhelming
emotion of such a place. It creates an admirable image of mourning yet the fact that her lover
was a demon creates an uneasy sense and this feeds into the idea of the sublime which is
what the poet interrogates
5) There is debate as to whom the figure of the final stanza is with some believing it
is Kubla Khan, other believing it to be Coleridge and other believe it is the
embodiment of imagination. Provide a possible explanation for each of these
suggestions.
Kubla Khan – The final stanza makes use of the pronouns “his” and “he” which can be seen as
a description of Kubla Khan from the perspective of the poet. The stanza speaks of this
powerful & frightening person by the description of him having “flashing eyes” and “floating
hair”. This Godly appearance is the image that Kubla Khan wanted for himself when he
created Xanadu so that he would be seen as all powerful and that “all those who heard
should see them there and all should cry, Beware! Beware!”.
Coleridge – The final stanza makes use of the pronoun “I” , whereby Coledridge refers to
himself. The poet states that if he could just recall the “Abyssinian maid’s” song then he
would possess inspiration and so too the potential of imagination. He says that by recalling
this he would be able to re-create Xanadu in his mind and as this image would never be
destroyed he would possess infinite power. As Coleridge is unable to fully recall what he tries
to remember he becomes frustrated as if he was able to do so he would have a God-like
power.
Embodiment of imagination – As imagination is eternally powerful it’s unrestrained energy is
infinite. Imagination is powerful and perhaps what Coleridge aspires to. Imagination itself is a
Godly power which allows for infinite imagination. The figure of imagination is described as
powerful and God-like which could have created a “sunny dome”. The power of imagination
could also be seen in its ability to immortalise images in the mind. Imagination becomes a
godly, frightful device that has drunk the “milk of paradise” and deserves to be worshipped
forever.
, 6) Discuss the depiction of nature in the poem. In what way does this depiction
accord with the image of nature evoked in “Hadedah”?
Nature in both is depicted as invasive and powerful. In both there is also a sense of a lack of
respect for nature
Kubla Khan
- Nature is depicted as unpredictable, sublime & worthy of worship by man which can be seen
in its power in bursting a “mighty fountain momentarily”. Coleridge warns all who experience
its power to “beware” as nature is godly having drunk “the milk of paradise”
- Nature is also presented as violent, “worthy of holy dread”. Nature is depicted as invasive,
sublime, violent & worthy of worship. It is described as “a savage place” yet Kubla Khan exerts
his power over nature with little respect.
Hadedah
- Nature is a secondary focus. Although there are “dunes”, “rivers”, “bougainvillaea” and
other elements that are beautiful and powerful such as the hadedah itself, the people in the
poem do not celebrate the natural resources as they are too focused on the “gold towns” and
material gain.
- There is a disregard for nature and its power. Natural edens become “neon paradises” &
“private Edens were not always good”
- Some aspects of nature are described as powerful and invasive such as the image of the
Hadedah who is a “flower-bed predator” and able to “fly on and upwards and out of the
world”. The invasive nature is illustrated through the imagery of foreign/ alien plants such as
the Jacaranda. The jacaranda can be seen as a symbol of colonisation as a once foreign
species is able to take over
1) In what ways does the poem accurately represent the Romantic movement?
Authentic feelings, Reverence for nature, Admiration for the sublime, Challenges conventions
The poem expresses authentic feelings, as evident in Coleridge’s use of exclamations such as
“oh!” which shows uncontained emotion. This poem places imagination as a priority for
escapism for example when the poet states that “[he] would build that dome in air”.
Imagination is seen as powerful for ideal creation. This poem also shows reverence for the
natural world as it describes “caverns measureless to man”, thus illustrating the respect for
what is beyond man’s comprehension which is another aspect of the Romantic movement.
He describes the river as sacred which further shows how vast, complex and exquisite nature
is. The poet also displays the need for the sublime, the fear and admiration for the world as
evident in his description of the Earth as “seething” and alive as he is in awe witnessing
Earth’s raw power. This poem also diverges from the traditional poetic conventions of
structure & form. The free verse and unstructured nature symbolises the new ideas of the
Romantic movement and also reinforces the sense of disorientation which reminds the
reader that this was a fragmented dream.
2) Coleridge uses an inconsistent metre and rhyme scheme. Why do you think he has
not simply written the poem in free verse?
The poem has an inconsistent rhyme scheme, an uneven division of stanzas and irregular
rhythm. This inconsistent structure mirrors the sense of disorientation that Coleridge
experiences as he tries to make sense of his dream. The form and rhythm show his
disordered attempt at structure which emphasizes his attempt to structure his own thoughts.
The poem has a consistent rhythm but shifts in line 10.
3) Identify the point in the poem at which you think Coleridge was disturbed.
After the third stanza which ends with: “a sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice”. There is a
sudden shift with no obvious link between his description of Xanadu and the next vision of
the damsel which he describes.
,4) Identify and discuss the effect of a simile in the poem.
The poet compares the forests to being as “ancient as the hills”. It compares the lifespan of
the forests to being as old as the hills. Just as the forest is evidently old, so too have the hills
been around for a long time. This shows how long nature has been in existence which far
exceeds man’s time on Earth. This creates a sense of appreciation for nature and a sense of
awe for its beauty and longevity, yet also shows its power in comparison to man.
The poet compares the eruptions from a crack in a hill in Xanadu to a person panting. A
panting person is generally quite loud, could be aggressive and creates steam if the person is
in cold weather. Similarly, the eruptions of the chasm are noisy, dangerous and create smoke.
The poet compares the crack in the hill to a place where a heartbroken woman would go to
mourn for her lost demon lover. This shows the purity of emotion but also the overwhelming
emotion of such a place. It creates an admirable image of mourning yet the fact that her lover
was a demon creates an uneasy sense and this feeds into the idea of the sublime which is
what the poet interrogates
5) There is debate as to whom the figure of the final stanza is with some believing it
is Kubla Khan, other believing it to be Coleridge and other believe it is the
embodiment of imagination. Provide a possible explanation for each of these
suggestions.
Kubla Khan – The final stanza makes use of the pronouns “his” and “he” which can be seen as
a description of Kubla Khan from the perspective of the poet. The stanza speaks of this
powerful & frightening person by the description of him having “flashing eyes” and “floating
hair”. This Godly appearance is the image that Kubla Khan wanted for himself when he
created Xanadu so that he would be seen as all powerful and that “all those who heard
should see them there and all should cry, Beware! Beware!”.
Coleridge – The final stanza makes use of the pronoun “I” , whereby Coledridge refers to
himself. The poet states that if he could just recall the “Abyssinian maid’s” song then he
would possess inspiration and so too the potential of imagination. He says that by recalling
this he would be able to re-create Xanadu in his mind and as this image would never be
destroyed he would possess infinite power. As Coleridge is unable to fully recall what he tries
to remember he becomes frustrated as if he was able to do so he would have a God-like
power.
Embodiment of imagination – As imagination is eternally powerful it’s unrestrained energy is
infinite. Imagination is powerful and perhaps what Coleridge aspires to. Imagination itself is a
Godly power which allows for infinite imagination. The figure of imagination is described as
powerful and God-like which could have created a “sunny dome”. The power of imagination
could also be seen in its ability to immortalise images in the mind. Imagination becomes a
godly, frightful device that has drunk the “milk of paradise” and deserves to be worshipped
forever.
, 6) Discuss the depiction of nature in the poem. In what way does this depiction
accord with the image of nature evoked in “Hadedah”?
Nature in both is depicted as invasive and powerful. In both there is also a sense of a lack of
respect for nature
Kubla Khan
- Nature is depicted as unpredictable, sublime & worthy of worship by man which can be seen
in its power in bursting a “mighty fountain momentarily”. Coleridge warns all who experience
its power to “beware” as nature is godly having drunk “the milk of paradise”
- Nature is also presented as violent, “worthy of holy dread”. Nature is depicted as invasive,
sublime, violent & worthy of worship. It is described as “a savage place” yet Kubla Khan exerts
his power over nature with little respect.
Hadedah
- Nature is a secondary focus. Although there are “dunes”, “rivers”, “bougainvillaea” and
other elements that are beautiful and powerful such as the hadedah itself, the people in the
poem do not celebrate the natural resources as they are too focused on the “gold towns” and
material gain.
- There is a disregard for nature and its power. Natural edens become “neon paradises” &
“private Edens were not always good”
- Some aspects of nature are described as powerful and invasive such as the image of the
Hadedah who is a “flower-bed predator” and able to “fly on and upwards and out of the
world”. The invasive nature is illustrated through the imagery of foreign/ alien plants such as
the Jacaranda. The jacaranda can be seen as a symbol of colonisation as a once foreign
species is able to take over
