"Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Bookworm History

Episode 21: On Milton, mountains, and the "Person from Porlock"
"Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Greetings, folks! On this episode of Bookworm History we're discussing the history behind "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the most popular poems of the Romantic era. Where did Coleridge get his inspiration? What are some of the sources he drew imagery from? Why is the poem considered a "fragment"? And who was the "Person from Porlock"?
For more information, check out "The Road to Xanadu" by John Livingston Lowes.
The copy of "Kubla Khan" I use in the intro is actually a pop-up book of the poem, designed by Nick Bantock.
For more interesting and unusual stories check out our website at bookwormhistory.com . Please be sure to subscribe to the channel to stay up to date on all our latest episodes. We love your feedback, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below! If you have any questions or suggestions for books you'd like to see us discuss you can leave them in the comments as well!
You can also find me here:
Facebook: bookwormhistory
Twitter: @bookwormhistory
Instagram: @bookwormhistory
Litsy: bookwormhistory
Goodreads: / daniel
And, as always, thanks for stopping by!
Music is called "Marty Gots a Plan" by Kevin MacLeod
"Marty Gots a Plan" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/

[@Ajthebr]

I am in a Literature class and was assigned to read this poem. Every poem I read I cannot understand it. It's fascinating to me that someone can be so good with words and analyzing them that they can decipher the meaning behind these confusing poems. My brain is like UGHHHHHHHHHHH??????? And here I am asking you to explain it for me. Thank you thank you for being so bright and knowledgeable in this subject.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Every piece of literature doesn’t necessarily have a “meaning” or “explanation”

[@saintdonoghue]

Good lord! How on Earth have I missed your channel all this time? Consider me your newest biggest fan!

[@BookwormHistory]

+Steve Donoghue Thanks very much!!!

[@bramhelsing2697]

Hey thank you for commenting and allowing me to find your own channel!

[@bramhelsing2697]

I love your channel man. Thank you for introducing me to all these titles and for your elucidating vocabulary and delivery!!!!

[@zebfrinar]

I love when I find excellent channels like yours. Thank you for the in depth analysis. Instant sub

[@jonathanbibby812]

Finally, an American that knows how pronounce counties ending in -shire

[@BookwormHistory]

+John Bibby Hahaha it's probably lots of "Doctor Who" to thank for that!

[@kimmoraes]

He doesn't, however, pronounce Nabokov properly, according to my Russian friend. The accent should be on the second syllable. Though, to be candid, I don't really care.

[@BookwormHistory]

@@kimmoraes Good to know, though! Thanks!

[@saritagahatraj4491]

It is very help full video for my college assignment. Thank you very much

[@BookwormHistory]

+Sarita Gahatraj I'm glad it could help you! Thanks for watching!

[@ilanath3235]

Can you please make a video on critical appreciation of this poem?

[@hopezhang8278]

Thank you for the introduction! I heard a recital of the poem today, and this has helped me understand it much better.

[@debanjanbhattacharya2005]

Thank you very much Sir☺ This is one of the most underrated KZbin channels in KZbin. I'm glad that I get to know your channel. Love from India

[@katiecoollady]

I love that Nick Bantock book version!

[@spacepirate7743]

great analysis....can't understand why it's taken me so long to get here...been a RUSH fan for 30 years...thank you for uploading this Sir ❤️

[@Angie-GoneSoon]

You forgot to mention his addiction to laudanum. It perhaps is the reason he had the vision of Xanadu, as he was under the influence of the drug at the time.

[@susanallred7133]

What an interesting and enjoyable look at Kubla Khan! Thanks!!

[@gallionantony971]

This was excellent- thank you ❤

[@LiNoeliam93]

Thank you so much, I really enjoyed listening to that, and my curiosity has been somewhat doused, nė satisfied as to the story behind this elusively familiar rhythmic ode. Cheers mucker! 😁

[@bredamaune2028]

Thanks for this clear, informative video.

[@englishlessonaids5405]

Great presentation with gifted vocabulary. 👍👍

[@nataliagabrieli6652]

You're awesome, I started reading Coleridge after this video. Thank you, kisses from Brazil.

[@BookwormHistory]

That’s so great, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@thenewathens]

I truly enjoyed hearing your insights to this poem.

[@BookwormHistory]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you liked it!

[@noisysounds4420]

I like it. Been taking an analysis class and came at this poem practical in my review. I am a huge history buff of Marco polo. So, I could see how there was a connection. Great to see a historical glimpse of this work.

[@BookwormHistory]

+MATTHEW TRUJILLO I’m glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@sarahosnyali7513]

I have an exam tomorrow and I couldn't understand this poem. Thanks for this great explanation ❤️❤️

[@lachijames6213]

What a magnificent video! Love your work. Subscribed.

[@AkritiAngelica]

Thank you so much for this!

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

Fascinating. Subbed!

[@theraibesoutbreak]

I just found this channel. Awesome stuff!

[@BookwormHistory]

+Raleigh Swan Welcome! I'm glad you like it!

[@ChrisTina-ce4ut]

Thanks for the help with Ambleside Online Year 10 poetry :-)

[@zahrasadiq9707]

You did a great job sir.. It is really helpful... Lots of thanks frm india🇮🇳

[@raginimishra1931]

Love your channel 🌼

[@user-vt4qe2tz9j]

I think any writer can understand the feeling of being interrupted while holding desperately onto a thought or idea they are attempting to write down before it fades, only to have it snatched away during or after the interruption. I don't know if Coleridge's account is true. But it is quite realistic.

[@niflanaizer1035]

Great video...This will surely help my college exams

[@JairJair-bi3el]

Excellent

[@WoodwoseTransmissions]

Really enjoyed this. Subbed.

[@BookwormHistory]

I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for the sub!

[@md8057]

awesome!

[@michellesola2811]

So glad I stumbled upon your channel. Subscribing!

[@BookwormHistory]

Welcome! I'm glad you like it, thanks for watching!

[@euphrangel]

Thank you for this. ❤ I certainly will pass my test tomorrow. 😘 And BTW you look smart. 🙈😛

[@NicholasOfAutrecourt]

Will you be making more content in the future? I was sad to see that you've stopped making videos for the time being.

[@shahriarmahmud9192]

Your voice is soo good.love uuu

[@kimmoraes]

thorough and interesting

[@BookwormHistory]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

[@arno5020]

Thank you

[@KMGDA49]

That Gentleman from Porlock!

[@mikewilliams258]

Wilcox Coleridge described him as "a person from Porlock".

[@reiniervanramshorst1031]

Thank you 😊

[@kavyarajendrakumar7953]

Thankyou!!

[@antlerking69]

Thank You

[@chenmalul246]

just found this awesome channel after reading borges essay on this poem. could you point me to the portman dude on lolita?

[@fabricio_santana]

Holy shit, what a detailed video. Awesome channel!

[@BookwormHistory]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it!

[@Ulitemyfyre]

Nice comic collection

[@bellringer929]

thank u!!

[@orxannazirov5070]

I am pretty sure that it is Khanadu or Khandu instead of some star wars name Xanadu. its just X in Mongolian( pronounced like kh) which in English is different

[@aurelwink9514]

This history is realy entertaining

[@loly8968]

Amazing information .. am a foreign student so it will be helpful if u add english subtitle to understand it more especially the names .. thank you alot :)

[@jeeduarte]

up!

[@SigurdCaroff]

Good.

[@fatemeh4235]

check out the orientalist aspects of the poem.

[@learnenglishnow845]

I LOVE LITERATURE

[@ranabiswas864]

We had got this poem in 6 standard

[@aprilhuisman345]

I still don't get it?? What is the poem about??

[@DannyCaliBoy]

I think we've found Alex Trebek's replacement.

[@debanjanbhattacharya2005]

Subscribed

[@user-ep6us2hy2h]

Please l need information about themes..THE LIMITS OF CREATIVITY

[@robertbud8084]

By the angel that knocked

[@starflakmyriad5394]

great story... is there any truth to Xanadu as a worldly utopia or is it all an opium dream?

[@BookwormHistory]

Not that I've come across, no. The real city was a pretty lush place, but as far as I know, all references to it being an earthly paradise start with Coleridge.

[@_mohammed2002]

We in Iraq study it in our curriculum in poetry 🤍✨

[@kubilaytokbay]

Yes it’s me

[@mehdiiqballone-1st-358]

And Coleridge even forgot a swimming pool for kubla Khan and Abyssinian Damozel.❤️

[@irzamkashmiri]

Can i have subtitles please?

[@BookwormHistory]

Absolutely! Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I didn't realize they weren't turned on for all my videos!

[@davidantonsavage6207]

Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Welcome to the Pleasure Dome!

[@labanchris888]

Thanks.

[@derpusmaximus2401]

Don’t mind me, here from reddit.

[@mathewdelport7731]

IEB students where u at?

[@dhpdaedalusStudio]

Good historical review; no analysis of meaning. It's a good video version of the wikipedia entry of Kubla Khan.

[@angelac5359]

Xanadu is my name

[@Chris-yj2di]

Rush brought me here

[@BookwormHistory]

🤘🎸🎵

[@YQRAviation]

Same!

[@linny9842]

Can you do the count of Monte Cristo

[@KeithOtisEdwards]

Buncombe! An _anodyne,_ say ye? He was a-trippin' on the _papaver soniferum poppy,_ he was! Shan't follow we his fine example?

[@kevinagee4364]

you're so cute!!

[@mon_cheri]

love your videos but please blink more often...

[@gerardos3001]

Lost are ye in nerding rounds of annalical mind. Sam said spark up a spilff and I'll tell you a far out story.

[@wichitarick]

I see it as historical proof that drugs cause short term memory loss :) but then it might included all those other lines and been so long and boring it would have never been published Peace. Rick

[@DanielHuman1996]

God speaks through dreams and visions. The pleasure dome is Eden, the woman is Eve, and the devil lover is the snake. Perhaps the Alph flows into the Cave of Machpelah, which is where Adam and Eve find refuge after the Fall. Coleridge is Adam, his soul fragmented when he ate the forbidden fruit, but he needed to separate from God to improve the world with his poetry!

[@bearbyblood]

Quite the bold statement.

[@jamescregg694]

There are those who think the cavern measureless to man may be a woman's body!

[@content4502]

The pervert from PorLock

[@JoachimderZweite]

I enjoyed this but I did not like it as it was dry and practical in the American functional way. Just roll around in the poem and let it sweep you away.

[@robertbud8084]

The lords knowledge was blocked 🚫 .

[@complicatedkavi8598]

Begone ye exams fears🤣

[@leestabler374]

I belive the poem is a dream of a sexual accounter had or a lucid thought

[@hebasalama2459]

Thank you