Kubla KhanKubla KhanSamuel Taylor ColeridgeSamuel Taylor Coleridge

Aaron Aaron ColeColeLukeLuke

DeVaughnDeVaughn

Why?Why? We should continue to read Kubla We should continue to read Kubla

Khan but it contains a large amount Khan but it contains a large amount of both literary and emotional of both literary and emotional appeal. The imagery the Coleridge appeal. The imagery the Coleridge uses is beautiful and satisfies the uses is beautiful and satisfies the emotions that he was trying to emotions that he was trying to convey. This type of poetic sense convey. This type of poetic sense should be studied to realize the full should be studied to realize the full range of poetic possibilities.range of poetic possibilities.

Biographical factsBiographical facts Read a lot as a child; responded powerfully to Read a lot as a child; responded powerfully to

literature.literature. Wasn’t fond of his mother; negatively affected his Wasn’t fond of his mother; negatively affected his

future relationships to women.future relationships to women. Attended Cambridge University; befriended Attended Cambridge University; befriended

Robert Southey and began studying radical Robert Southey and began studying radical politics. politics.

With Southey, Coleridge dreamt of creating a With Southey, Coleridge dreamt of creating a Unitarian society (in order to spread faith and Unitarian society (in order to spread faith and universal brotherhood).universal brotherhood).

Coleridge’s children and friendship with William Coleridge’s children and friendship with William Wordsworth added to his creativity.Wordsworth added to his creativity.

SummarySummary Kubla Khan begins by describing a very distinct Kubla Khan begins by describing a very distinct

setting. The "pleasure dome" is an oasis-like area setting. The "pleasure dome" is an oasis-like area where the people are peaceful and the scenery is where the people are peaceful and the scenery is lush and green. In stark contrast, Coleridge puts lush and green. In stark contrast, Coleridge puts what is essentially a volcano on the edge of the what is essentially a volcano on the edge of the pleasure dome. He then describes the process by pleasure dome. He then describes the process by which the volcanic section erupted and brought which the volcanic section erupted and brought “prophecies of war” to the pleasure dome. Then “prophecies of war” to the pleasure dome. Then he explores the ice caves in the pleasure dome, he explores the ice caves in the pleasure dome, which is normally sunny. In the caves he hears a which is normally sunny. In the caves he hears a woman playing so beautifully that he would not woman playing so beautifully that he would not mind dying. Then he warns other not to listen too mind dying. Then he warns other not to listen too it.it.

Cont.Cont. Lyrical BalladsLyrical Ballads by Coleridge and by Coleridge and

Wordsworth showed their conflicting ideas Wordsworth showed their conflicting ideas about Romanticism. about Romanticism.

Coleridge grew sick as he became famous.Coleridge grew sick as he became famous. Wrote our poem, Wrote our poem, Kubla KhanKubla Khan during an during an

opium trip. (Woke up from deep sleep and opium trip. (Woke up from deep sleep and transcribed his dream).transcribed his dream).

Younger Romantic writers, like Mary Younger Romantic writers, like Mary Shelly, used Coleridge as inspirationShelly, used Coleridge as inspiration

Coleridge used his work to simultaneously Coleridge used his work to simultaneously explore truth and imagination.explore truth and imagination.

InterpretationInterpretation In In Kubla Khan Kubla Khan there was a stark there was a stark

contrast between the lush “Pleasure contrast between the lush “Pleasure dome” and the volcanic area. The dome” and the volcanic area. The eruption of the volcanic area eruption of the volcanic area represents the war. This outside war represents the war. This outside war effects the people inside the pleasure effects the people inside the pleasure dome. True isolation is not possible.dome. True isolation is not possible.