Essay Comparing The Eolian Harp And Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Eolian Harp” and “Kubla Khan” proved intricate pieces of artwork, each meticulously written to submerge their reader into striking new worlds. These are home to mystical beings, such as a “demon-lover” (Kubla Khan, 16) and“Elfins” from “Fairy-Land” (The Eolian Harp, 22-23), as well as complex visions of nature. Although uniquely presented in each, they deal with similar themes of creation and creativity. However, neither reaches a consistent conclusion to the other. While there is a considerable resemblance in the manner both poems are staged, the underlying message appears notably different, allowing the reader an opportunity to explore their meanings.
The central message found in “The Eolian Harp” is the speaker’s belief in which nature and men are connected. He argues “all animated nature” are “organic harps diversely framed” (45-46) by an ultimate being otherwise known as God. This idea is gradually presented throughout the poem, rearing its head through the harp’s music. Nevertheless, the final stanza shows the speaker’s controversial view quickly rejected by a “beloved woman” (51) who begs him to “walk humbly” (53) by his God. Although he claims salvation, his tone shifts from awe to sarcastic, almost unsettling as he is forced to change his perspective.
Music plays a crucial role in “The Eolian
The poem flows through various images, each allowing the reader to become further immersed in its haunting melody. Readers experience the river’s “ceaseless turmoil seething” (17) and hear the “woman wailing for her demon-lover” (16) further adding to the wonder of the poem. Moreover, it appears living, breathing as it cascades forward only to find an abrupt stop. This standstill creates numerous questions concerning the intentions behind “Kubla Khan’s” fragmented nature and the purpose behind