And mid this tumult Kubla heard from far / Ancestral voices prophesying war; explain the lines from Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

And mid this tumult Kubla heard from far / Ancestral voices prophesying war; explain the lines from Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The line "And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far / Ancestral voices prophesying war!" is from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "Kubla Khan." In the poem, Kubla Khan is described as being in the midst of a great turmoil or noise, when he suddenly hears ancestral voices that are prophesying war. The phrase "ancestral voices" suggests that these voices are coming from the past, possibly from Kubla Khan's ancestors. The prophecy of war adds to the overall sense of uncertainty and chaos in the scene, and the idea that something ominous or violent is about to happen. The line highlights the power of the voices and the impact they have on Kubla Khan, who is disturbed by the prophecy.

The line also suggests that there is a sense of foreboding or fear present in Kubla Khan's mind, as he hears the ancestral voices prophesying war. The use of the word "tumult" to describe the noise around him further emphasizes the sense of chaos and disorder. The line is an example of Coleridge's Romantic style, which often uses vivid and imaginative language to create powerful emotional and sensory effects. In this case, the line creates a sense of drama and tension, suggesting that the situation is critical and that something significant is about to happen. Overall, the line "And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far / Ancestral voices prophesying war!" is a key moment in the poem, adding to the overall sense of uncertainty and chaos and underscoring the power of the ancestral voices and the prophecy they deliver.