"Kubla Khan" : Literary devices
"Kubla Khan" is a notable literary work by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of "Kubla Khan".
Literary devices
Symbols
Nature: The poem is rich in natural imagery, referencing gardens, rivers, and forests. These elements can symbolize the untamed, sublime aspects of nature.
The Dome: The dome or palace that Kubla Khan ordered to be built represents his power and authority. It can also symbolize the human desire to create and control.
The Abyssinian Maid: This figure can symbolize the muse or inspiration for the poet. She is a source of creativity and artistic inspiration.
The River Alph: The river running through the poem symbolizes the flow of creativity and the passage of time.
“Sunless Sea” and “Sunless River: The description of a “sunless sea” and a “sunless river” can symbolize a sense of loss or an unattainable ideal, such as the Garden of Eden.
Figures of Speech
Metaphor: The “sunless sea” and “caverns measureless to man” are metaphors that create an atmosphere of mystery and awe.
Simile: Coleridge uses similes to make comparisons, as seen in “As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted by woman wailing for her demon-lover!”
Hyperbole: Coleridge exaggerates the grandeur of the palace and its surroundings. For instance, “twice five miles of fertile ground” exaggerates the domain’s vastness.
Personification: The river Alph is personified when described as “sacred” and “meandering.”
Symbolism: The river Alph, the chasm, and the dome carry deeper meanings, representing various elements of creativity, nature, and power.
Imagery: Coleridge employs vivid and detailed imagery to create a sensory experience for the reader. For example, “A sunny pleasure dome with caves of ice” paints a striking visual picture.