The Dream:
In 1797, Coleridge fell asleep while reading a travelogue by the English traveler Samuel Purchas, specifically the section describing the gardens and palace of the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan. In a deep opium-induced sleep, he had a vivid and prolonged dream that lasted approximately three hours.
The Opium Influence:
Coleridge's dream was heavily influenced by the effects of opium, which he was using medically to manage neuralgic pain. It is said that he took a grain of opium before retiring for the night, leading to this extraordinary dream experience.
The Inspired Vision:
During his dream, Coleridge envisioned the magical and extraordinary landscape described in the travelogue. He saw a gorgeous palace, opulent pleasure domes, and a rushing and sacred river. The entire dream was a harmonious blend of nature and architectural grandeur, creating a breathtaking mental image.
The Fragment:
When Coleridge woke up, he immediately felt a strong creative impulse and began writing down the poem while the dream's vivid imagery was still fresh in his mind. He wrote for nearly an hour, capturing as much as he could of the dream experience. Unfortunately, the poem remained incomplete as Coleridge was interrupted by a sudden visitor – a person from Porlock – and the inspiration and imagery of the dream were lost before he could complete it.
The Resulting Poem:
Coleridge eventually published the poem as a "Fragment," acknowledging that it represented only a portion of the original vision he experienced in his dream. The poem, despite being incomplete and lacking the initially intended elaborate structure, became a celebrated work of English Romantic literature, famous for its vivid imagery, musical language, and dream-like quality.
So, the inspiration behind "Kubla Khan" can be attributed to Coleridge's opium-influenced dream, where the description of Kublai Khan's gardens from Purchas' travelogue merged with his subconscious, resulting in a truly remarkable poetic fragment that continues to captivate readers to this day.