Kubla Khan summary explains the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It is a fragment of a dream he has after reading about Kubla Khan from a book. He very beautifully imagines and describes a palace he read about.
The first stanza begins with the poet imagining Kubla Khan in the city of Xanadu. He sits there while commanding from his lavish palace dome. A huge river of Alph is flowing through the enormous chambers and mixing into the sea.
Tall towers and walls protect the capital that has stunning gardens with a streamlet and aromatic plants. Kubla Khan summary also describes the old forests covered with green trees with sunlight shining on them.
Further, the second stanza takes us through a deeper imagination describing divine creativity. The sloping hill having green plants also has a rift and the mosses are covering them.
He compares it to the wild and natural love of a woman crying in the memory of her demonic lover. This rift has an endless commotion as if the earth is breathing furiously though it.
Moreover, there is also a holy river which flows through the woods as well as the valley in a zigzag manner. The next stanza now combines human creativity and divine creativity.
Thus, it results in artefacts. Kubla Khan can hear the voices of his deceased ancestors foretelling about the future war. Further, the poem describes the shadow of the luxurious palace dome floating in the air.
The poet also describes it as a miracle because of the sunny location and ice cave co-exist. Finally, the last stanza tells us about a dream the poet has. He sees a damsel playing a musical instrument.
She is a black girl probably belonging to Ethiopia. While playing her instrument, she is singing for Mount Abora. This impresses the poet as he says he is not capable of reviving her symphony and sound in him.
This is rare as he considers her superior, which was uncommon back then. He hopes he could have the same symphony as the girl so as to build the dome-like pleasure dome. Thus, this would make him more attractive and appealing to the audience.
He wishes that it would result in the audience appreciating his poetry and praising him. Thus, they will be able to imagine things deeply as he does. Thereby, would achieve paradise by building the dome and having the symphony.
Conclusion of Kubla Khan Summary
Kubla Khan summary takes us through the beautiful land of Xanadu through its vivid description. It explores the theme of man along with nature. It’s a highly romantic poem focusing on humans and natural forces beautifully.
