An Analysis of 'Kubla Khan': A High School Poem Themed After Video Games and Online Forums

Could the poem ldquo;Kubla Khanrdquo; by Samuel Taylor Coleridge have been written by a modern-day high school English teacher? The unconventional interpretation and humorous critique of a student’s assignment bring new light to this classic piece. Let’s delve into an analysis where ldquo;Kubla Khanrdquo; is replaced with a high school assignment, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and online forums such as Quora.

Setting the Scene: Stately Pleasure Dome Decreed by High School English Teachers

“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan / A stately pleasure dome decree”: This part of the poem could represent a teacher assigning a homework task. For a high school student, ldquo;Kubla Khanrdquo; symbolizes a daunting assignment, likely related to analyzing poetry or literature. The ldquo;stately pleasure domerdquo; can be interpreted as an elaborate homework project, like writing an essay or answering detailed questions on an online forum.

Ariver of Alph: Time Spent Gaming

“Where Alph the sacred river ran / Through caverns measureless to man / Down to a sunless sea.rdquo; In this section, the ldquo;sacred riverrdquo; represents the grand time spent gaming, such as playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. For many students, video games are a significant part of their daily routine. The ldquo;sunless seardquo; symbolizes the sense of time being lost, as families or educators might say ldquo;It’s been all weekrdquo; when a student has been gaming extensively.

Girdled Towers and Incense-Bearing Trees: The Compelling Draw of Online Forums

ldquo;So twice five miles of fertile ground / With walls and towers were girdled round / And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills / Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree.rdquo; Taking a more poetic approach, the ldquo;girdled towersrdquo; can be seen as referencing the intricate structures of forums like Quora. The ldquo;incense-bearing treesrdquo; symbolize the allure of engaging in discussions on these forums, much like the trees that capture the imagination in literature and nature.

Sexy Caverns and Women Wailing for Demon Lovers: The Allure of Parody and Humor

ldquo;But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted / Down the green hill athwart a cedar cover! / A savage place! As holy and enchanted / As ever beneath a waning moon was haunted / By woman wailing for her demon lover!rdquo; This stanza can be analyzed as a playful reference to the humorous and often inappropriate content one might find in online forums. The ldquo;woman wailing for her demon loverrdquo; is a nod to the seductive and sometimes inappropriate language in these online spaces.

Mighty Turmoil and Sacred River: The Consequences of Defying the Teacher’s Orders

ldquo;And from this chasm with ceaseless turmoil seething / As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing / A mighty fountain momently was forced: / Whose fountain-born the sacred river ran./ Five miles meandering with a mazy motion / Through wood and dale the sacred river ran.rdquo; The ldquo;mighty turmoilrdquo; symbolizes the consequences of not following the teacher’s orders. Defying the teacher could lead to dire consequences, such as not getting a high grade on the assignment. The ldquo;sacred riverrdquo; represents the homework assignment, which should be completed as intended.

The Cave of Prophesying War: The Impending Grade Curve

ldquo;Then reached the caverns measureless to man / And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean / And mid this tumult Kubla heard from afar / Ancestral voices prophesying war!rdquo; This section reflects the teacher’s dissatisfaction with the student’s performance. The ldquo;caverns measureless to manrdquo; is a metaphor for the hidden and large grading scales. The ldquo;ancestral voices prophesying warrdquo; represent the teacher’s clear and inevitable expectation of failing the student if the work is not up to par.

The Miraculous Pleasure-Dome and Gemstone Caves: Online Knowledge and Expertise

ldquo;The shadow of the dome of pleasure / Floated midway on the waves / Where was heard the mingled measure / From the fountain and the caves. / It was a miracle of rare device / A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!rdquo; The ldquo;sunny pleasure-domerdquo; symbolizes the invaluable content found on Quora and other online forums. The ldquo;caves of icerdquo; symbolize the insightful and expert knowledge one can find when genuinely seeking answers on these platforms.

The Abyssinian Maid and Symphonic Music: Direct and Misleading Answers on Quora

ldquo;A damsel with a dulcimer / In a vision once I saw. / It was an Abyssinian maid, / And on her dulcimer she played / Singing of Mount Abora.rdquo; This section can be seen as a reference to Quora answers. The ldquo;damsel with a dulcimerrdquo; symbolizes the person who provides the answer. The ldquo;mount Aborardquo; represents the context or topic of the question. Sometimes, the answers on Quora can be misleading or simply unhelpful, leading the student to seek further clarification.

Building a Dome in Air: The Dream of High Grades

ldquo;Could I revive within men / Her symphony and song / To such a deep delight ’twould win men / That with music loud and long / I would build that dome in air / That sunny dome! those caves of ice!rdquo; The ldquo;dome in airrdquo; symbolizes the dream of achieving high grades through hard work and dedication. However, it can also be seen as a reference to the student’s desire for quick and easy answers, believing that simply copying or plagiarizing content from the internet could earn them good grades.

Circle and Holy Dread: The Perils of Online Engagement

ldquo;And all who heard should see them there / And all should cry Beware! Beware! / His flashing eyes, his floating hair! / Weave a circle round him thrice / And close your eyes with holy dread / For he on honey-dew hath fed / And drunk the milk of Paradise.rdquo; The ldquo;circle round him thricerdquo; is a reference to the careful approach one should take when engaging with content on online platforms. The ldquo;holy dreadrdquo; symbolizes the fear of encountering misinformation or unethical behavior. The ldquo;he on honey-dew hath fed / And drunk the milk of Paradiserdquo; refers to the allure of online anonymity and the potential for unabated indulgence.