“Kubla Khan” is a Product of Romanticism/Sheer Fancy/Dream Poem- Discuss.

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“Kubla Khan” is a product of romanticism/ sheer fancy/ dream poem- Explain.

Or, comment on “Kubla Khan paradigm of romanticism/product of poetic creation.”- Discuss.

“Kubla Khan” is a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772 – 1834) in 1797. It is considered one of the greatest examples of Romantic poetry. Its rich and complex imagery has fascinated readers for over two centuries. The poem describes a vivid and fantastical dream Coleridge had while taking opium. Many critics have argued that “Kubla Khan” is a dream poem. In this discussion, we will examine the evidence for this claim.

The poem’s origins: According to Coleridge, “Kubla Khan” was inspired by a dream he had while taking opium. He wrote in the preface to the poem that he had fallen asleep while reading a book about Xanadu. This is the summer palace of the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan. In his dream, he saw the palace and the surrounding landscape in vivid detail. When he awoke, he immediately began to write down what he could remember.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree:

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran.

This sets the scene for the poem’s imaginative and exotic landscape.

The language of the poem: The language of “Kubla Khan” is highly imaginative and full of strange and exotic images. Coleridge uses a variety of poetic devices like alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, etc., to create a rich and musical texture. 

But oh, that deep romantic chasm which slanted

Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!

Coleridge describes a picturesque and romantic landscape—a deep chasm cutting through a lush green hill covered with cedar trees. This imagery paints a vivid and enchanting scene in the reader’s mind. Again, the poem is full of references to Eastern mythology and religion, which gives it a dreamlike quality.

The symbolism of the poem: The poem is full of vivid and imaginative images and symbols that suggest a dream-like quality. For example,