“Kubla Khan,” a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, stands as a seminal piece in the Romantic era of literature and has often been categorized as ‘dream poetry’ due to its surreal and ethereal nature. Its creation story, wherein Coleridge supposedly penned it after waking from a drug-induced dream, enhances its dreamlike character. The analysis of “Kubla Khan” as a dream poetry involves a deep exploration of its imagery, themes, and narrative structure, all of which contribute to the poem’s dreamlike quality.
The poem’s opening lines introduce the reader to the dreamlike landscape of Xanadu, the summer palace of Kubla Khan. Coleridge’s detailed and vivid description of the landscape forms the central imagery of the poem. It is here where the dreamlike quality starts to manifest. The ‘stately pleasure-dome’ erected by Kubla Khan, the ‘sunny spots of greenery,’ and the ‘deep romantic chasm’ are all images that are at once tangible and elusive, like objects in a dream.
In the depiction of the chasm and the tumultuous fountain that violently emerges from it, there is a sense of the uncanny – a common element in dreams. The chasm, described as ‘a savage place’ and ‘holy and enchanted,’ embodies the paradoxical nature of dreams, where the familiar can become strange and vice versa. The fountain, representing an eruption of unconscious desires and fears, echoes the unpredictability and uncontrollability of dreams.
As the poem progresses, it demonstrates a shift from a third-person narrative to a first-person narrative, mirroring the fluidity of perspectives in dreams. The narrative veers into the speaker’s personal experience, recounting his vision of a damsel with a dulcimer. This abrupt shift from the description of the external world to the internal consciousness of the speaker further strengthens the dreamlike quality of the poem.
Coleridge’s use of language and rhythm also contributes to the poem’s dreamlike atmosphere. The poem’s lyrical quality, with its rhythm and rhyme mimicking the lulling cadence of a dream, transports the reader into a trance-like state. The language used is rich, ornate, and sensuous, reminiscent of the highly symbolic and emotive language of dreams.
Thematically, “Kubla Khan” explores the intersection of dreams and creativity, suggesting that the process of artistic creation is similar to dreaming. Just like a dream, the creative process involves tapping into the subconscious, allowing for the emergence of suppressed desires and fears. The speaker’s yearning to ‘revive within him’ the damsel’s song and recreate Kubla Khan’s pleasure-dome reflects the desire of a poet to capture and convey the essence of his dreams through his poetry.
Additionally, “Kubla Khan” grapples with the fleeting and ephemeral nature of dreams. The speaker’s lamentation that he ‘would build that dome in air’ underscores the elusive quality of dreams and the frustration experienced when unable to remember or recreate them accurately.
In conclusion, “Kubla Khan,” as a dream poetry, encapsulates the essence of the dream state through its vivid imagery, thematic exploration, narrative structure, and lyrical language. It not only depicts the dreamlike landscape of Xanadu but also delves into the dreamlike nature of the creative process itself. The poem stands as a testament to the power of dreams as a source of inspiration and a conduit for exploring the depths of human consciousness. It serves as a reminder of the intertwined relationship between the world of dreams and the realm of artistic creation, emphasizing the power of the human imagination in shaping both.