Coleridges Kubla Khan and the Process of Creativity Essay -- Coleridg

Coleridges Kubla Khan and the Process of CreativityColeridges Kubla Khan is an extremely enchanting poem which isbased rough the stately pleasure dome of the emperor, Kubla Khan.Although the poem is set around this pleasure dome, it can be noticedthat the poem had profound depth to it. If one is able to scanthe obscure symbols and meanings within the poem, it becomes clear thatColeridges Kubloa Khan does not simply describe a pleasure dome,it is also a prolonged metaphore for the impact of creativity.From the immediate start of the poem, the subscriber finds themselvessubjected to interprete these hidden symbols. In Xanadu did Kubla KhanA stately pleasure dome decreeWhere Alph, the blessed river ranAlthough this passage seems straight forward, it contains theessential first three symbols of which the wide poem is based upon. Xanadu symbolises the poets mind, as Xanadu like the mind is thesite where all the forecoming events take place. Kubla Khan actuallyexsisted in real life as the mend ruler of an Asian empire and had anextreme amount of power. This is why perhaps, Coleridge chose KublaKhan to represent the poet, ( himself). This would not have been anextraordinary choice for Coleridge to make, as he belonged to a groupof poets called the Romantics who believed that they could see thingsclearer and feel emotions and experiences more intensely than otherpeople. Kubla Khans power over his empire of Xanadu would thereforerepresent the poets power and control over his mind. The sacredriver, Alph symbolises the poets imagination. This symbol isexceptionally significant as the poem follows the path of the flowingriver and therefore enables the read... ...d off byinspiration. The process is amazingly powerful and both mentally andphysically tiring and its results, like the pleasure dome of Xanaduare remarkable. Coleridge uses many clever techniques such asalliteration, methaphores, onamatapeia, comparisons and hidden symbolsto emphasise the impact and inte nsity of the process of creativity.Coleridge also structures his poem to suit the style of his poem. Thefirst stanza, gives an insight in to what it to come and what can beacheived by the process of creativity and acts as a sort ofintroduction for the process. The second stanza is extremely detailedand lively and shows the actual process of creativity. The thirdstanza almost defends Coleridges work and ends the poem with themessage that no-one could ever understand let alone feel theColeridges experiences in the way that he can and does.