Kubla Khan Analysis
... the Alph River which represents, “a process of thoughts, then this section of river clearly parallels the conscious mind where ruminations run readily apparent” (“Vagaries of the Generative Process” 1). I believe this is true because the river is like a stream of consciousness, plus Coleridge adds that it is a, “sacred river” (3). Thoughts, be what they are always sacred because the come from ones mind. Even though Kubla Khan is the creator of this paradise it still is a “savage place” (14). One could say it is a “savage place” because even though Kubla Khan is the creator, he is still very much not in control. Mahony focuses on this when she states, “The first four lines of the poem, written in perfect iambic tetrameter, describe Kubla Khan's carefully ordered paradise, which has been built to his specifications. Ultimately, however, he cannot control the nature around him, specifically the caverns that are described in the fourth line as ‘measureless to man’ ” (4). Thus, this makes one see that even though one is the creator and creating things, there are things that are “measureless to man” (27). It is best said by the article “Vagaries of the Generative Process” which states: “Whether his tale of genesis of “Kubla Khan” stands true or not, creation remains an evident theme of the poem” (2). Thus through the use of creation in “Kubla Khan” as one of Coleridge’s poetic elements one could say “Kubla Khan” is a work of genius. Not just because creation was used in “Kubla Khan” makes it a great poem, but also through the manipulation of its rhyme scheme and meter. Mahony believes that, “The unpredictable end-rhyme scheme forces the reader or listener to focus on the words of the poem. At the same time, it reinforces the poem's themes.” (4) I agree with this statement because first of all the poem is very complex and difficult to understand, thus adding an unpredictable end-rhyme scheme will allow the readers to focus on the poem instead of the end rhyme scheme. Another point made about the rhyme scheme is that, “Establishing a rhyme scheme and then breaking or embellishing that pattern provides yet another example of creation that initially stays within formal limits, but eventually surpasses its boundaries” (Mahony 4). This is true for “Kubla Khan” because it is also the same concept as the when it goes from a “formal garden and the sumptuous realm of nature” (Mahony 4). Coleridge as just as any other respected poet put to use the elements of meter and rhythm to support the theme of the poem. Mahony analyzed that, “The first four lines of the poem, written in perfect iambic tetrameter, describe Kubla Khan's carefully ordered paradise, which has been built to his specifications” (4). Thus, Coleridge perfectly weaves the use of meter and creation into one perfect melody. Coleridge at the same time is also using the tool of meter to create disorder in the creation process. Coleridge displays this disorder when it says, “Down to the sunless sea” (5). The fifth line, “reinforces this [disorder] with its abrupt change in meter and syllable count” (Mahony 4). In the second stanza this theory of using meter and rhyme to support his theme is also apparent because Mahony states: “In the second stanza describing the savage chasm, the shifts in meter become even more apparent. The lines are longer, usually varying between ten and twelve syllables” (4). One example in which Coleridge displays this technique is when he states “fast thick pants” (18). The syllables are short because I believe Coleridge is trying to make the reader have full understanding the image the he is displaying. Another technique that Coleridge implements is using the meter and rhythm in a way that it makes the reader slow down. One critic analyzed this technique and stated: “the first seven lines of [the second] stanza mirror the rhythm of the first seven lines of the poem. The very flow of the lines encourages the reader to recognize the relationship between the poet's vision and Kubla Khan's paradise” (5). I believe this is a great technique that Coleridge implemented along with the rest of the rhyme scheme, and meter elements. Because of these techniques Coleridge could be noted as a sumptuous poet. Another poetic element that Coleridge implements in “Kubla Khan” is the use of music. Maybe the music is to add to the theme of the poem, which is in my opinion to create a paradise. One could first begin analyzing the music by bringing up, “the function of the Abyssinian maid and her music, remembering that in so many of Coleridge's poems music is associated with poetic inspiration and, as noted above, female figures of one kind or another are included in the inspirational experience” (Bigchalk eLibrary 1). I do believe that the Abyssinian woman did serve as an inspiration to Kubla Khan. The reason why I say this is because at the end of the second stanza it seems that there is no more hope in created this pleasure-dome because there are, “Ancestral voices prophesying war!” (30). Thus, in stanza three Kubla Khan hears this Abyssinian woman playing her dulcimer, which would add passion to his creation. One critic would agree the statement about creating passion because the critic stated, “The music that the poet heard in the vision of the Abyssinian maid, could he recover it (note the su...