关于《忽必烈汗》 柯勒律治的诗作《忽必烈汗》以其狂放不羁的想象力和浓郁幽婉的异国情调，为后世留下了 部神秘、魔幻的诗作，被《大不列颠百科全书》誉为“英国文学中最伟大的诗作”。 柯勒律治有着天赋的想象力。在他的文艺论著《文学传记》中，关于想象力有这样一段阐述： “最理想的完美诗人能使人的全部灵魂活跃起来，使各种才能互相制约，然而又发挥其各自 的价值与作用。他到处散发着一种和谐一致的情调和精神，促使各物混合并进而溶化为一 所依靠的则是一种善于综合的神奇力量。”《忽必烈汗》就是这“综合的神奇力量”的结晶。 《忽必烈汗》是柯勒律治吸食鸦片后的一个奇幻梦境。据说1797年夏天，他因病在英国乡 间休养。一日因病发疼痛难忍吸食了鸦片，此时他正坐在椅中阅读英国地理学家撒缪尔·帕 切斯的东方游记，读罢“忽必烈汗敕命在此处营造豪华宫殿，并开辟御苑，将方圆十哩沃土 俱囊括在四周墙垣之内”一段后，药力攻心，酣然入睡。梦中赋诗二、三百行，醒来时还依 稀记得全诗，于是急忙提笔追忆，不幸的是一名商人忽然来访，当客人离去后他再要续写时， 梦中的其余诗句已飘然而逝。柯勒律治几次试图补续，无奈总不满意，就此作罢，为世人和 他本人留下了一片遗憾。 《忽必烈汗》虽是残篇，却依然美妙绝伦，为当时的西方人描绘出一幅绚烂的东方景观。诗 中对上都和对忽必烈汗的描写，并不旨在描摹现实，而是借中国题材作为驰骋想象力，和渲 染异国情调的艺术空间。 柏拉图在《伊安篇》里说：“但凡高明的诗人，无论在史诗或抒情诗方面，都不是凭技艺 作成他们的优美的诗歌，而是因为他们得到灵感，有神力附着。”抒情诗人在作诗时，“心 理都受一种迷狂支配”，“（他们）飞到诗神的园里，从流蜜的泉源吸取精英，酿成他们的 诗歌。”柯勒律治的这首诗正如柏拉图所言，似乎是神灵附体时的代言，然而它并不是凭 空而来的“神来之笔”，而是诗人丰厚的文学素养、诗歌功底，和浪漫气质的瞬间升华. From Cummingsstudyguide Type of Work and Publication Year .......Samuel Taylor Coleridge's"Kubla Khan"is a lyric poem centering on the author's response to a dream.According to the author's introduction to the poem,he had the dream in the summer of 1797 and composed the poem after waking up.(The author's grandson,Ernest Harley Coleridge,maintained that his grandfather wrote the poem in 1798 but mistakenly recorded 1797 as the year of composition.)Coleridge published the poem in 1816. Background and Point of View .......In the introduction to "Kubla Khan,"Samuel Taylor Coleridge says he received inspiration for the poem while sojourning at a farmhouse in southwestern England in the summer of 1797.Here is what happened.Feeling a"slight indisposition,"he says,he took a prescribed medicine containing opium and fell asleep at the very moment that he was reading a passage about Kubla Khan(1215-1294)from a travel book by Samuel Purchas (1577-1626).The passage says,in part,"Here the Khan Kubla commanded a palace to be built,and a stately garden thereunto.And thus ten miles of fertile
关于《忽必烈汗》 柯勒律治的诗作《忽必烈汗》以其狂放不羁的想象力和浓郁幽婉的异国情调，为后世留下了 一部神秘、魔幻的诗作，被《大不列颠百科全书》誉为“英国文学中最伟大的诗作”。 柯勒律治有着天赋的想象力。在他的文艺论著《文学传记》中，关于想象力有这样一段阐述： “最理想的完美诗人能使人的全部灵魂活跃起来，使各种才能互相制约，然而又发挥其各自 的价值与作用。他到处散发着一种和谐一致的情调和精神，促使各物混合并进而溶化为一， 所依靠的则是一种善于综合的神奇力量。”《忽必烈汗》就是这“综合的神奇力量”的结晶。 《忽必烈汗》是柯勒律治吸食鸦片后的一个奇幻梦境。据说 1797 年夏天，他因病在英国乡 间休养。一日因病发疼痛难忍吸食了鸦片，此时他正坐在椅中阅读英国地理学家撒缪尔•帕 切斯的东方游记，读罢“忽必烈汗敕命在此处营造豪华宫殿，并开辟御苑，将方圆十哩沃土 俱囊括在四周墙垣之内”一段后，药力攻心，酣然入睡。梦中赋诗二、三百行，醒来时还依 稀记得全诗，于是急忙提笔追忆｡不幸的是一名商人忽然来访，当客人离去后他再要续写时， 梦中的其余诗句已飘然而逝。柯勒律治几次试图补续，无奈总不满意，就此作罢，为世人和 他本人留下了一片遗憾。 《忽必烈汗》虽是残篇，却依然美妙绝伦，为当时的西方人描绘出一幅绚烂的东方景观。诗 中对上都和对忽必烈汗的描写，并不旨在描摹现实，而是借中国题材作为驰骋想象力，和渲 染异国情调的艺术空间。 柏拉图在《伊安篇》里说：“但凡高明的诗人，无论在史诗或抒情诗方面，都不是凭技艺 作成他们的优美的诗歌，而是因为他们得到灵感，有神力附着｡”抒情诗人在作诗时，“心 理都受一种迷狂支配”，“(他们)飞到诗神的园里，从流蜜的泉源吸取精英，酿成他们的 诗歌。”柯勒律治的这首诗正如柏拉图所言，似乎是神灵附体时的代言，然而它并不是凭 空而来的“神来之笔”，而是诗人丰厚的文学素养、诗歌功底，和浪漫气质的瞬间升华. From Cummingsstudyguide Type of Work and Publication Year .......Samuel Taylor Coleridge's “Kubla Khan” is a lyric poem centering on the author's response to a dream. According to the author's introduction to the poem, he had the dream in the summer of 1797 and composed the poem after waking up. (The author's grandson, Ernest Harley Coleridge, maintained that his grandfather wrote the poem in 1798 but mistakenly recorded 1797 as the year of composition.) Coleridge published the poem in 1816. Background and Point of View .......In the introduction to "Kubla Khan," Samuel Taylor Coleridge says he received inspiration for the poem while sojourning at a farmhouse in southwestern England in the summer of 1797. Here is what happened. Feeling a “slight indisposition,” he says, he took a prescribed medicine containing opium and fell asleep at the very moment that he was reading a passage about Kubla Khan (1215-1294) from a travel book by Samuel Purchas (1577-1626). The passage says, in part, “Here the Khan Kubla commanded a palace to be built, and a stately garden thereunto. And thus ten miles of fertile
ground were inclosed with a wall."Coleridge then dreamed about the abode of the Mongol leader,usually referred to in history books as Kublai Khan .......Kublai became emperor of China in 1260 and proclaimed the establishment of his own Yuan dynasty in 1271.His capital was Ta-tu (present-day Beijing),but he maintained a summer residence in southeastern Mongolia at K'ai P'ing,also known as Shang-tu or Shangdu and,in Coleridge's poem,as Xanadu. ........After Marco Polo visited Xanadu in 1275,he wrote, There is at this place a very fine marble Palace,the rooms of which are all gilt and painted with figures of men and beasts and birds,and with a variety of trees and flowers,all executed with such exquisite art that you regard them with delight and astonishment. .......Round this Palace a wall is built,inclosing a compass of 16 miles,and inside the Park there are fountains and rivers and brooks,and beautiful meadows,with all kinds of wild animals (excluding such as are of ferocious nature),which the Emperor has procured and placed there to supply food for his gerfalcons and hawks,which he keeps there in mew. .......The Lord abides at this Park of his,dwelling sometimes in the Marble Palace and sometimes inthe Cane Palace for three months of the year,to wit, June,July,and August;preferring this residencebecause it is by no means hot; in fact it is a very cool place.(translated from Italian by Henry Yule) .......After waking up,Coleridge began writing in third-person point of view what was to be a long poem aboutthe dream.However,a visitor interrupted him at line thirty-six and occupied his time for about an hour.When Coleridge resumed writing,he forgot the rest of the details of the dream.As all of us are well aware,dream images are elusive.When we awake from a dream,its images often fade away unless we immediately write down what we experienced. .......Line 37 of the poem shifts from third-person to first-person point of view and expresses Coleridge's wish that he could recall the rest of the dream. .......The poem,therefore,centers in part on the dream itself and then on the author's response to the disappearance of its images. Complete Title .......The complete title of the poem is "Kubla Khan,or a Vision in a Dream.A Fragment."Fragment here indicates that the poem presents a description of only part of the images in the dream. Summary .......Coleridge dreams about the great Mongolian ruler Kubla(Kublai)Khan's construction of a stately palace in Xanadu.Upon awakening,he begins writing a poem about the dream.He says walls and towers enclose the Khan's palace and grounds,made up of"twice five miles"(line 6)of land abounding with gardens and winding streams,as well as trees with fragrant blossoms.Down
ground were inclosed with a wall.” Coleridge then dreamed about the abode of the Mongol leader, usually referred to in history books as Kublai Khan. .......Kublai became emperor of China in 1260 and proclaimed the establishment of his own Yuan dynasty in 1271. His capital was Ta-tu (present-day Beijing), but he maintained a summer residence in southeastern Mongolia at K'ai P'ing, also known as Shang-tu or Shangdu and, in Coleridge's poem, as Xanadu. .......After Marco Polo visited Xanadu in 1275, he wrote, There is at this place a very fine marble Palace, the rooms of which are all gilt and painted with figures of men and beasts and birds, and with a variety of trees and flowers, all executed with such exquisite art that you regard them with delight and astonishment. .......Round this Palace a wall is built, inclosing a compass of 16 miles, and inside the Park there are fountains and rivers and brooks, and beautiful meadows, with all kinds of wild animals (excluding such as are of ferocious nature), which the Emperor has procured and placed there to supply food for his gerfalcons and hawks, which he keeps there in mew. .......The Lord abides at this Park of his, dwelling sometimes in the Marble Palace and sometimes inthe Cane Palace for three months of the year, to wit, June, July, and August; preferring this residencebecause it is by no means hot; in fact it is a very cool place. (translated from Italian by Henry Yule) .......After waking up, Coleridge began writing in third-person point of view what was to be a long poem aboutthe dream. However, a visitor interrupted him at line thirty-six and occupied his time for about an hour. When Coleridge resumed writing, he forgot the rest of the details of the dream. As all of us are well aware, dream images are elusive. When we awake from a dream, its images often fade away unless we immediately write down what we experienced. .......Line 37 of the poem shifts from third-person to first-person point of view and expresses Coleridge's wish that he could recall the rest of the dream. .......The poem, therefore, centers in part on the dream itself and then on the author's response to the disappearance of its images. Complete Title .......The complete title of the poem is “Kubla Khan, or a Vision in a Dream. A Fragment.” Fragment here indicates that the poem presents a description of only part of the images in the dream. Summary .......Coleridge dreams about the great Mongolian ruler Kubla (Kublai) Khan's construction of a stately palace in Xanadu. Upon awakening, he begins writing a poem about the dream. He says walls and towers enclose the Khan's palace and grounds, made up of "twice five miles" (line 6) of land abounding with gardens and winding streams, as well as trees with fragrant blossoms. Down
from Xanadu the sacred river Alph runs through caverns on its way to the sea. .......A ravine that opens into these caverns cuts a path through cedar trees on a green hill.The ravine reveals a dark and foreboding underworld,like a place where a woman wails "for her demon-lover"(line 16).From this chasm a fountain bursts intermittently,sending up huge rock fragments.Through the chasm runs the sacred river,Alph,down to the "lifeless ocean"(line 28) .......In his palace,Kubla hears--through the din of the tumbling waters and the spewing fountain--the voices of ancestors foretelling war.(One may conclude from the historical background that this part of the poem refers to the time when the Kubla begins to prepare for the battles that would make him emperor of China and the founder of its Yuan dynasty.) .......The shadow of the palace casts itself down upon the waves,a shadow that will soon cast itself figuratively over all of China as Kubla Khan extends his sovereignty.How strange it is that the sun bathes the palace while ice encrusts the caves below. .......At this point in writing his dream poem,Coleridge receives a visitor,who occupies him for an hour.By the time Coleridge returns to his writing,he has forgotten the rest of his dream.Consequently,he ends the poem by comparing his dream to a song he heard a woman sing,a song which he has also forgotten.This much he does remember:She was singing about Mount Abora to the accompaniment of music she played on a dulcimer.If he could remember her song and her dulcimer sounds,he would build--to their accompaniment--his own Xanadu and pleasure palace in the air.All who heard the song would shout,"Beware!Beware!"Then they would say of him that he is a redoubtable personage who,unlike other men,has "drunk the milk of paradise"(line 54), Text of the Poem In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph,the sacred river,ran Through caverns measureless to man ....Down to a sunless sea................... .5 So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,1 Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills,.......10 Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. But oh!that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn2cover! A savage place!as holy and enchanted
from Xanadu the sacred river Alph runs through caverns on its way to the sea. .......A ravine that opens into these caverns cuts a path through cedar trees on a green hill. The ravine reveals a dark and foreboding underworld, like a place where a woman wails "for her demon-lover" (line 16). From this chasm a fountain bursts intermittently, sending up huge rock fragments. Through the chasm runs the sacred river, Alph, down to the "lifeless ocean" (line 28). .......In his palace, Kubla hears--through the din of the tumbling waters and the spewing fountain--the voices of ancestors foretelling war. (One may conclude from the historical background that this part of the poem refers to the time when the Kubla begins to prepare for the battles that would make him emperor of China and the founder of its Yuan dynasty.) .......The shadow of the palace casts itself down upon the waves, a shadow that will soon cast itself figuratively over all of China as Kubla Khan extends his sovereignty. How strange it is that the sun bathes the palace while ice encrusts the caves below. .......At this point in writing his dream poem, Coleridge receives a visitor, who occupies him for an hour. By the time Coleridge returns to his writing, he has forgotten the rest of his dream. Consequently, he ends the poem by comparing his dream to a song he heard a woman sing, a song which he has also forgotten. This much he does remember: She was singing about Mount Abora to the accompaniment of music she played on a dulcimer. If he could remember her song and her dulcimer sounds, he would build--to their accompaniment--his own Xanadu and pleasure palace in the air. All who heard the song would shout, "Beware! Beware!" Then they would say of him that he is a redoubtable personage who, unlike other men, has "drunk the milk of paradise" (line 54), . Text of the Poem In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man ....Down to a sunless sea....................................................5 So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,1 Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills,.........................10 Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn 2cover! A savage place! as holy and enchanted
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted.....................15 By woman wailing for her demon-lover! And from this chasm,with ceaseless turmoil seething, As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing, A mighty fountain momently was forced: Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst..............................2o Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail. Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail: And'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever It flung up momently the sacred river. Five miles meandering with a mazy motion.........................25 Through wood and dale the sacred river ran, Then reached the caverns measureless to man, And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean: And'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far Ancestral voices prophesying war!................... 30 The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves; Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves It was a miracle of rare device,... .35 A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice! A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw: It was an Abyssinian maid, And on her dulcimer she played,..............................4o Singing of Mount Abora.s Could I revive within me Her symphony and song, To such a deep delight 'twould win me, That with music loud and long, .45 I would build that dome in air, That sunny dome!those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry,Beware！Beware！ His flashing eyes,his floating hair!........ .50 Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise 忽必列汗（屠岸翻译） 萨缪尔·柯勒律治(Samuel Coleridge)
As e’er beneath a waning 3moon was haunted.....................15 By woman wailing for her demon-lover! And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething, As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing, A mighty fountain momently was forced: Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst...............................20 Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher’s flail: And ’mid these dancing rocks at once and ever It flung up momently the sacred river. Five miles meandering with a mazy motion..........................25 Through wood and dale the sacred river ran, Then reached the caverns measureless to man, And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean: And ’mid this tumult Kubla heard from far Ancestral voices prophesying war!.......................................30 The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves; Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. It was a miracle of rare device,.............................................35 A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice! A damsel with a dulcimer4 In a vision once I saw: It was an Abyssinian 5maid, And on her dulcimer she played,........................................40 Singing of Mount Abora.6 Could I revive within me Her symphony and song, To such a deep delight ’twould win me, That with music loud and long,..............................................45 I would build that dome in air, That sunny dome! those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair!.........................................50 Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise. 忽必列汗(屠岸 翻译) 萨缪尔·柯勒律治（Samuel Coleridge）
忽必列汗在上都曾经 下令造一座堂皇的安乐殿堂： 这地方有圣河亚佛流奔， 穿过深不可测的洞门， 直流入不见阳光的海洋。 有方圆五英里肥沃的土壤， 四周给围上楼塔和城墙： 那里有花园，蜿蜒的溪河在其间闪耀， 园里树枝上鲜花盛开，一片芬芳： 这里有森林，跟山峦同样古老， 围住了洒满阳光的一块块青草草场。 但是，啊！那深沉而奇异的巨壑 沿青山斜裂，横过伞盖的柏树！ 野蛮的地方，既神圣而又着了魔一一 好象有女人在衰落的月色里出没， 为她的魔鬼情郎而凄声嚎哭！ 巨壑下，不绝的喧嚣在沸腾汹涌， 似乎这土地正喘息在快速而猛烈的悸动中， 从这巨壑里，不断迸出股猛烈的地泉： 在它那断时续的涌迸之间， 巨大的石块飞跃着象反跳的冰雹， 或者象打稻人连枷下一撮撮新稻： 从这些舞蹈的岩石中，时时刻刻 进发出那条神圣的溪河。 迷乱地移动着，蜿蜒了五英里地方， 那神圣的溪河流过了峡谷和森林， 于是到达了深不可测的洞门， 在喧嚣中沉入了没有生命的海洋： 从那喧嚣中忽必列远远听到 祖先的喊声预言着战争的凶兆！ 安乐的宫殿有倒影 宛在水波的中央漂动： 这儿能听见和谐的音韵 来自那地泉和那岩洞。 这是个奇迹呀，算得是稀有的技巧， 阳光灿烂的安乐宫，连同那雪窟冰窖！ 有一回我在幻象中见到 一个手拿德西马琴的姑娘： 那是个阿比西尼亚少女， 在她的琴上她奏出乐曲， 歌唱着阿伯若山
忽必列汗在上都曾经 下令造一座堂皇的安乐殿堂： 这地方有圣河亚佛流奔， 穿过深不可测的洞门， 直流入不见阳光的海洋。 有方圆五英里肥沃的土壤， 四周给围上楼塔和城墙： 那里有花园，蜿蜒的溪河在其间闪耀， 园里树枝上鲜花盛开，一片芬芳； 这里有森林，跟山峦同样古老， 围住了洒满阳光的一块块青草草场。 但是，啊！那深沉而奇异的巨壑 沿青山斜裂，横过伞盖的柏树！ 野蛮的地方，既神圣而又着了魔－－ 好象有女人在衰落的月色里出没， 为她的魔鬼情郎而凄声嚎哭！ 巨壑下，不绝的喧嚣在沸腾汹涌， 似乎这土地正喘息在快速而猛烈的悸动中， 从这巨壑里，不断迸出股猛烈的地泉； 在它那断时续的涌迸之间， 巨大的石块飞跃着象反跳的冰雹， 或者象打稻人连枷下一撮撮新稻； 从这些舞蹈的岩石中，时时刻刻 迸发出那条神圣的溪河。 迷乱地移动着，蜿蜒了五英里地方， 那神圣的溪河流过了峡谷和森林， 于是到达了深不可测的洞门， 在喧嚣中沉入了没有生命的海洋； 从那喧嚣中忽必列远远听到 祖先的喊声预言着战争的凶兆！ 安乐的宫殿有倒影 宛在水波的中央漂动； 这儿能听见和谐的音韵 来自那地泉和那岩洞。 这是个奇迹呀，算得是稀有的技巧， 阳光灿烂的安乐宫，连同那雪窟冰窖！ 有一回我在幻象中见到 一个手拿德西马琴的姑娘： 那是个阿比西尼亚少女， 在她的琴上她奏出乐曲， 歌唱着阿伯若山
如果我心中能再度产生 她的音乐和歌唱， 我将被引入如此深切的欢欣， 以至于我要用音乐高朗而又长久 在空中建造那安乐宫廷， 那阳光照临的宫廷，那雪窟冰窖！ 谁都能见到这宫殿，只要听见了乐音。 他们全都会喊叫：当心！当心！ 他飘动的头发，他闪光的眼睛！ 织一个圆圈，把他三道围住， 闭下你两眼，带着神圣的恐惧， 因为他一直吃着蜜样甘露， 一直饮着天堂的琼浆仙乳。 屠岸翻译 Notes 1....rills:Small streams,rivulets 2....cedarn:Having to do with cedar trees. 3....waning:Said of the moon when the size of its lighted face gradually decreases after a full moon. 4....dulcimer:Musical instrument with strings that the player strikes with two small hammers. 5....Abyssinian:Having to do with Abyssinia,a former name of Ethiopia. 6....Mount Abora:Coleridge may have been referring to Amba Geshen,a mountain in northern Abyssinia(Ethiopia). Theme .......The theme of the poem is the author's fascination with a dream vision and with its rendering into poetry.The poem describes the dream,a vision of Kubla Khan's summer residence and its environs,and then centers on the poet's desire to remember all the details of the dream. End Rhyme .......End rhyme occurs throughout the poem.Sometimes successive lines rhyme,as lines 6 and 7.Sometimes alternating lines rhyme,as lines 8 and 10 Notice,too,that more than two lines may occur between rhymes.For example, line 2 rhymes with lines 5 and 9.The highlighted words in the first eleven lines demonstrate the irregular rhyme scheme of the poem. In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree:
如果我心中能再度产生 她的音乐和歌唱， 我将被引入如此深切的欢欣， 以至于我要用音乐高朗而又长久 在空中建造那安乐宫廷， 那阳光照临的宫廷，那雪窟冰窖！ 谁都能见到这宫殿，只要听见了乐音。 他们全都会喊叫：当心！当心！ 他飘动的头发，他闪光的眼睛！ 织一个圆圈，把他三道围住， 闭下你两眼，带着神圣的恐惧， 因为他一直吃着蜜样甘露， 一直饮着天堂的琼浆仙乳。 屠岸 翻译 Notes 1....rills: Small streams, rivulets. 2....cedarn: Having to do with cedar trees. 3....waning: Said of the moon when the size of its lighted face gradually decreases after a full moon. 4....dulcimer: Musical instrument with strings that the player strikes with two small hammers. 5....Abyssinian: Having to do with Abyssinia, a former name of Ethiopia. 6....Mount Abora: Coleridge may have been referring to Amba Geshen, a mountain in northern Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Theme .......The theme of the poem is the author's fascination with a dream vision and with its rendering into poetry. The poem describes the dream, a vision of Kubla Khan's summer residence and its environs, and then centers on the poet's desire to remember all the details of the dream. End Rhyme .......End rhyme occurs throughout the poem. Sometimes successive lines rhyme, as lines 6 and 7. Sometimes alternating lines rhyme, as lines 8 and 10. Notice, too, that more than two lines may occur between rhymes. For example, line 2 rhymes with lines 5 and 9. The highlighted words in the first eleven lines demonstrate the irregular rhyme scheme of the poem. In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph,the sacred river,ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea................... .5 So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills,................... .10 Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. Internal Rhyme .......Internal rhyme also occurs in the poem,as in the following lines. So twice five miles of fertile ground(line 6) With walls and towers were girdled round (line 7) But oh!that deep romantic chasm which slanted(line 12) Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!(line 13) And from this chasm,with ceaseless turmoil seething (line 17) As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing(line 18) Floated midway on the waves (line 32) .......Sometimes a syllable within one line echoes the sound of a syllable (or syllables)within a previous line.Note,for example,the following: Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless.sea.(line 4-5) So twice five miles of fertile.ground With walls and towers were girdledround(lines 6-7) Meter .......The poem opens with four lines in iambic iambic tetrameter.The first line demonstrates the pattern. 12.3.4 In XAN..J..a DU.|..did KUB..|..la KHAN The poem then shifts to lines of varying length,usually with iambic feet.For example,line 10 is in iambic pentameter. .1.23.4 5 And HERE...were FOR....ests AN....cient AS...the HILLS Line 43 is in iambic trimeter. 123 Her SYM..|..phon Y....and SONG Inversion .......Like other poets,Coleridge frequently uses inversion to fashion rhymes and achieve musicality.The following lines are examples: In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree (lines 1-2)
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea....................................................5 So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills,.........................10 Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. Internal Rhyme .......Internal rhyme also occurs in the poem, as in the following lines. So twice five miles of fertile ground (line 6) With walls and towers were girdled round (line 7) But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted (line 12) Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover! (line 13) And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething (line 17) As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing (line 18) Floated midway on the waves (line 32) .......Sometimes a syllable within one line echoes the sound of a syllable (or syllables) within a previous line. Note, for example, the following: Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless.sea. (line 4-5) So twice five miles of fertile.ground With walls and towers were girdledround (lines 6-7) Meter .......The poem opens with four lines in iambic iambic tetrameter. The first line demonstrates the pattern. ...1..............2...............3............4 In XAN..|..a DU.|..did KUB..|..la KHAN The poem then shifts to lines of varying length, usually with iambic feet. For example, line 10 is in iambic pentameter. .......1..................2................3...............4................5 And HERE..|..were FOR..|..ests AN..|..cient AS..|..the HILLS Line 43 is in iambic trimeter. ......1..............2...............3 Her SYM..|..phon Y..|..and SONG Inversion .......Like other poets, Coleridge frequently uses inversion to fashion rhymes and achieve musicality. The following lines are examples: In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree (lines 1-2)
Normal prose wording:Kubla Khan decreed a stately pleasure dome in Xanadu. A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw:(lines 37-38) Normal prose wording:In a vision,I once saw a damsel with a dulcimer. Figures of Speech .......Following are examples of figures of speech in the poem.For definitions of figures of speech,see Literary Terms. Alliteration In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves.(lines 33-34) And all who heard should see them there (line 48) For he on honey-dew hath fed (line 53 Anaphora And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean: And'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry,Beware！Beware！ His flashing eyes,his floating hair!(line 50) Simile Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail(line 21) Comparison of upward thrust of the fragments to that of rebounding hail As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing Comparison of thethe earth to a living,breathing thing
Normal prose wording: Kubla Khan decreed a stately pleasure dome in Xanadu. A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw: (lines 37-38) Normal prose wording: In a vision, I once saw a damsel with a dulcimer. Figures of Speech .......Following are examples of figures of speech in the poem. For definitions of figures of speech, see Literary Terms. Alliteration In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. (lines 33-34) And all who heard should see them there (line 48) For he on honey-dew hath fed (line 53 Anaphora And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean: And ’mid this tumult Kubla heard from far And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! (line 50) Simile Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail (line 21) Comparison of upward thrust of the fragments to that of rebounding hail As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing Comparison of the the earth to a living, breathing thing