Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" and "The Thesis

However the speaker in "The Pains of Sleep" seems to have a much firmer grip on reality in his waking hours, whereas that of "Kubla Khan" persists in deluding himself even when not strictly in the vision, with his imaginings of the dome in the air.

Clare's "A Vision," "I Am," and "An Invite to Eternity"

1) How is "A Vision" similar to "Kubla Kahn" in mood and tone? What specific word choices lead to this similarity? Words like "glow," "flame," "faded," and "eternal ray" all contribute to the same sort of ethereal tone as "Kubla Khan." He supernatural quality is signified in both poems by a sense of auras; of things emanating their presence beyond their physical boundaries. These words are some of the specific indicators of that phenomenon in this poem.

2) How do you interpret the last stanza of "A Vision"? How does it relate to the prior stanza? In context with the preceding stanza, where the speaker "loved but woman fell away," the last stanza's "immortal birth" and the spirit kept free may refer to chastity and virginity.This also fits with the "spurned lust of earth" the speaker mentions in the first stanza, tying the poem together.

3) How does Clare take the idea of peaceful rest further than Coleridge? What does he add? Clare adds a complete sense of "nothingness" and solitude to his poem craving rest, as opposed to Coleridge who finds his comfort in love (of another person) and the replacement of bad feeling with good. Clare also brings in the concept of God, whom he wants as his only companion.

4) Read through the lyrics to the Toadies "Possum Kingdom" and then write just a few sentences about what they share, noting in particular the role of the speaker. This poem has many similarities to the song, especially with the speaker trying to entice a girl to go somewhere she obviously does not want to go, and making promises he cannot keep to convince her to go. This speaker also uses negatives about the world he is convincing her to leave, though, making….....