Studied by 5 people
analogy between the creation of the earthly paradise in Xanadu and the poet’s creation of an imaginary paradise established
iambic tetrameter creates a regular and forward moving pace that reflects order and construction
“damsel” who was an “Abyssinian maid” sings of “Mount Abora” creating nature through her song that transforms the speaker (to a figure of fear: “all should cry, beware… his flashing eyes”).
Romantics highlighted the healing power of the imagination and believed it enabled people to transcend their troubles
Imagination is presented as our creative power (primary faculty for creating all art)
we not only perceive the world around us but also take part to create it -Wordsworth
the exploration of opposites is central to Romanticism
Orientalist writers like Sir William Jones regarded the East as a source of imaginative and creative renewal.
poem’s exotic qualities present from the opening line -Nagra
Coleridge’s Khan is an artist summoned into being with God-like command -Perry
women essential to the Romantic creative process (woman appears “wailing for her demon-lover” reflects primitive and savage side of nature/ “damsel” confined by speakers vision but it’s her song that empowers speaker to create their own pleasure-dome); women form a key part of the creation of tragedy in Duchess (duchess’ strong mindset encourages her to follow her desire but also paradoxically brings about her downfall)
both explore the movement of creation and destruction: poem explores the creation of the pleasure-dome and potential transformation of the poetic voice into an uncontrollable force; the force of duchess’ desire bring about her downfall but in turn produces Bosola’s own transformation (which in itself brings about destruction through revenge).
The mournful and reflective nature of the poem compares with the characters reaction to death and morality: > Duchess approaches death heroically > Bosola admires Duchess’ bravery in death and develops a moralistic character >Ferdinand somewhat moved by her death but remains psychotic.
Knight’s body memorialised by nature and speaker’s description same way Bosola keeps the Duchess’ memory alive by avenging her and allowing her family line to continue.
Symbolised the Dark Ages prior to the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution and was considered barbaric and disorganised
Mid 18th century idealised medieval culture in opposition neo-classical form and design
The gothic revival was a reaction to rationalism (Steven, 2000).
a period of rigorous scientific discourse that made the imaginative in danger of being ignored
Newton banished the divine from nature and it was this demystification Romantics like Coleridge resented -Kitson
Central tenet of the Enlightenment was that almost anything was possible through scientific enquiry.
The principle person has no distinct character either in his profession as a Mariner or as a human being -Wordsworth
The Mariner struggles to make sense of the moral concepts available to him -Miall
The weight of the poem rests upon an act of murder; Mariner represents fallen humanity that is aroused by suffering; Coleridge believed that man is part demon -de Piro
Speaker initially appears content in simple prayer and does not seek to challenge the order of the world (“I am weak yet not unblest”); Antonio does not seek to transcend his status shown in his hesitation to marry the Duchess
Ferdinand is tortured by his deranged mind that gradually dehumanises his morality (his incestuous desire to torture his sister knows no bound that even the Cardinal is surprised) and transforms him into a deprived figure; the speaker is tormented by their nightmares in which abstract shapes pursue them (“of shapes and thoughts that tortured me”).
Coleridge started using it for an eye infection in 1796 but became addicted to it by 1800
At the start of the 19 century opium taking was as normal as drinking alcohol.
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