"Kubla Khan" : Summary

Summary

We can easily know the complete summary in just two points.

Decision to Build Kubla Khan’s Palace: Kubla Khan was a mighty emperor of Mongolia. He had a beautiful capital called Xanadu. He once contemplated building a palace or pleasure house over a large area. Accordingly, Kubla Khan ordered his men.

Full Design and Description of the Palace: He planned how the palace would be built. He planned that the palace be built where the ” Alph ” river flows underground and meets the dark sea. That boundary must extend over 10 miles. His palace will be surrounded by fertile land and high walls and buildings. A beautiful garden full of fragrant flowers will be between the walls. There will be some open fields where the sun shines on the forest and green grass, enhancing the beauty of the grass.

Then there will be a forest full of evergreen “Cider” trees. Awe-inspiringly beautiful, all mysterious, romantic places and fountains. At night there will be the haunt of fairies and devils. However, it is about a witch/fairy who is devastated by the loss of her lover. Thousands of uncountable pieces of stone are falling in the flowing stream of the fountain. They look like grains. Thus the curve passes through the forest for about 5 miles and merges with the Alph River. Then the sacred river entered a mysterious canyon-like place in the underworld and began making waves. After that, they went to the sea and met.

Again sitting far away from that wave, Kubla Khan could hear the voices of his lost ancestors. He knows them. Again he hears the predictions of war from them and realizes that war is imminent. Now he saw the shadow of his house or palace in the midst of that sacred river Alph. This means his palace was massive. Again he mentions that this is a palace where there is no lack of comfort. Because the warmth of the sunlight and the coolness of the ice cave can be found there whenever needed.

Coleridge says he now sees an Abyssinian maid who plays three of his distinctive musical instruments and sings of the hill country of “Mount Abora.” Now the poet says with a bit of extra giddiness, if he can remember that girl and the song she sings, he will build a magnificent palace like that emperor, which will be completely floating in the air by some unknown magic. And whoever hears the maiden’s song and sees her terrible beauty will be frightened. And then tell others to beware of him. Then they will say, “Be careful,” and form a 3-layered protection circle (by magic) around the poet because the poet has drunk the honey of dew and the holy milk of heaven.