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Kubla Khan Trivia Quiz

About Coleridge's most famous poem after 'The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner'.

A multiple-choice quiz by tjoebigham. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
tjoebigham

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
77,545

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
4371

Last 3 plays: Bittu11 (9/10), Guest 157 (8/10), Guest 157 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

1. When did Coleridge write it? Hint

1780

1799

1797

1800

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2. Who wrote the book Coleridge read that inspired the poem? Hint

Walter Bradford

Marco Polo

Samuel Purchas

Bocchaccio

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3. And where did he get the visions he founded his poem on? Hint

opium dream

psychosis

alcohol

nitrous oxide

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4. A traveler asked the poet for directions and much of the vision's images were lost. Where was this anonymous but legendary traveler from? Hint

Penzance

Porlock

Portsmouth

Puddleby-on-the-Marsh

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5. Where did Kubla build the dome? Hint

Xanadu

Florin

Poictesme

Guilder

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6. What is the sacred river where it was built? Hint

Alph

Styx

Ganges

Jordan

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7. How many miles were walled in for the dome? Hint

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8. What was the outstanding feature of the property? Hint

a crystal tower

a great cedar

a giant ruby

a fountain in a chasm

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9. What instrument did the Abyssinian maid play? Hint

dulcimer

flute

lyre

tambor

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10. And what mountain did the maid sing of? Hint

Olympus

Killimanjaro

Abora

Sinai

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Most Recent Scores

May 31 2025 : Bittu11: 9/10
May 30 2025 : Guest 157: 8/10
May 30 2025 : Guest 157: 4/10
May 30 2025 : Guest 223: 10/10
May 29 2025 : Guest 111: 5/10
May 29 2025 : Guest 42: 9/10
May 29 2025 : Guest 38: 10/10
May 27 2025 : Guest 152: 10/10
May 26 2025 : Guest 91: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When did Coleridge write it?

Answer: 1797

He wrote it in his twenty-fifth year.

2. Who wrote the book Coleridge read that inspired the poem?

Answer: Samuel Purchas

Coleridge was reading the 'Pilgrimage' of Samuel Purchas where the author described the 'pleasure-dome' the great Khan built.

3. And where did he get the visions he founded his poem on?

Answer: opium dream

Coleridge was a heavy opium user back then and he took a hefty dose after reading the Purchas book.

4. A traveler asked the poet for directions and much of the vision's images were lost. Where was this anonymous but legendary traveler from?

Answer: Porlock

To this day to 'Porlock' someone is to interrupt him.

5. Where did Kubla build the dome?

Answer: Xanadu

Of course, Orson Welles took the name for his Charles Kane's retreat. (In modern Chinese, it's Shangdu). The other answers are fictional countries.

6. What is the sacred river where it was built?

Answer: Alph

'Where Alph, the sacred river, ran...'

7. How many miles were walled in for the dome?

Answer: 10

Remember? 'Twice five miles were girdled round...'

8. What was the outstanding feature of the property?

Answer: a fountain in a chasm

'A mighty fountain' sprang from 'a deep romantic chasm' attached to the river Alph.

9. What instrument did the Abyssinian maid play?

Answer: dulcimer

The dulcimer is one of the world's oldest stringed instrument and best known in its plucked version from Appalachia. The psaltery, zither and cimbalom are all close cousins.

10. And what mountain did the maid sing of?

Answer: Abora

'Singing of Mount Abora...' A mountain in Ethiopia, which was once Abyssinia.

Source: Author tjoebigham

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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