The poem is a narrative of the once Mongol emperor of China’s theoretical construction of what is called the Pleasure Dome.
The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves. (Coleridge 343)
The poem is very descriptive of the dome, despite it having never existed. The device seems to have been constructed as a way to strike fear into Khan’s enemies. I cannot interpret a reason behind the poem aside from the desire of Coleridge to write a narrative.
Apparently, this poem helped to revive historical interest in the empire of Kubla Khan, who used to rule over one fifth of the populated world. It also was transposed into lyrical form as the song “Xanadu” by the rock band Rush. The lyrics, like the poem, are very ethereal. They are meant to invoke sensual imagery, it would seem. In the case of the song, the instrumentation gives a sense of one being in an environment untainted by the hands of man.
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drank the milk of Paradise.
Ross,
Great choice of a poem to analyze, but you really don’t go very deeply into it. It seems you get off onto a tangent in discussing the Mongol empire, and don’t really have much to say about Coleridge. I like that you quote passages and phrases, but hen you do be sure to discuss the quotations; otherwise they can seem irrelevant, or like mere padding to lengthen your post. Don’t end a post with a quotation, but rather with your response to it.