1. S.T. Coleridge (1772-1834)

2. Coleridge’s world is usually enchanting and dreamlike, full of mystery, fantasy and supernatural things. Mysticism, demonism, strong imagination and hunting music are distinctive features of his best poems.

3. In his “The Rime of Ancient Mariner”, he depicts a dreamlike world with a strange beauty: Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. About, about in reel and rout The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch’s oils, Burnt green, and blue and white.

4. Questions for Kubla Khan 1 What aspects of nature and human world are described in the poem? 2 What elements do you think contribute to the supernatural atmosphere of the poem? And exotic atmosphere? 3 Opposing elements and significance? 4 What quality in this poem show him as a What quality in this poem show him as a Romantic poet? Compare this poem with Li Bai’s 梦游天姥吟留别 5 Compare this poem with Li Bai’s 梦游天姥吟留别

5. S.T. Coleridge: Kubla Khan What aspects of nature and human world are described in the poem? Mineral world: cavern, sea, rills, hills, ricer, chasm, fountain, rocks, caves Mount Abora, wood, dale, ocean Vegetations: incense-bearing trees, forests, cedar Human world: pleasure-dome, fertile ground, walls, towers, gardens Human beings/supernatural beings Kubla Khan, a woman wailing, damsel (Abyssinian maid) possessed poet

6. Kubla Khan What elements do you think contribute to the supernatural atmosphere of the poem? And exotic atmosphere? —woman wailing for her demon love —amid loud sound of water Kubla Khan heard the ancestral voices prophesying war

7. Kubla Khan Opposing elements and significance —dark: sunless sea —bright: sunny sports of greenery; gardens bright sunny pleasure-dome —hot+cold sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice harmony+balance

8. Kubla Khan What quality in this poem show him as a Romantic poet? Compare this poem with Li Bai’s 梦游天姥吟留别 半壁见海日，空中闻天鸡。 千岩万转路不定，迷花倚石忽已暝。 熊咆龙吟殷岩泉，深林兮惊层巅。 云青青兮欲雨，水澹澹兮生烟。 列缺霹雳，丘峦崩摧。 洞天石扇，訇然中开。 青冥浩荡不见底，日月照耀金银台。

9. S.T.Coleridge Wordsworth and Coleridge compared Wordsworth: beauty in simplicity Coleridge: beauty in the extraordinary, exotic, mysterious, supernatural