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S.T. Coleridge (1772-1834). 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.
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S.T. Coleridge • (1772-1834)
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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。
S.T.Coleridge • Wordsworth and Coleridge compared • Wordsworth: beauty in simplicity • Coleridge: beauty in the extraordinary, exotic, mysterious, supernatural