World Literature 2

Lecture Notes 6

“Kubla Khan” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Coleridge was an opium addict, and one night while reading about travels in foreign lands in a book by Samuel Purchas entitled The Pilgrimage, the poet fell asleep and had a vivid dream about the place he was reading about in the book. Upon awakening, he composed this poem which is based on his dream. He was interrupted, however, by a visitor, and when the visitor left, Coleridge could not remember the rest of his dream. Although this poem is fragmentary, it is considered one of the outstanding examples of romantic poetry. Be sure to visit each of the three links listed in the assignment. The first link includes the poem and the second two links include the lecture notes on this poem.

"Kubla Khan" online study guides:

http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/coleridge/section5.rhtml (Links to an external site.)

http://www.gradesaver.com/coleridges-poems/study-guide/summary-kubla-khan-1798 (Links to an external site.)

"Kubla Khan" poem:

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173247 (Links to an external site.)