This castle almost perfectly fits the description of the castle Christabel and her family reside. There is a moat and if you look closely you can see a what looks like an iron gate. The castle pictured is also surrounded by a wooded area much like the castle described in this poem.

In the nineteenth century many poets used owls to represent a bad omen. They refereed to the owl as the "bird of doom." So, here we can see Coleridge warning us that the plot is headed somewhere dark.

Christabel is a symbol of purity and devoutness. She is very christ-like. While Gerdaline seems to be symbolic for sexuality and sin. Christabel is constantly praying throughout the poem whereas Gerdaline is asking Christabel to undress herself to cast a curse on her.

Langdale Pike is a group of peaks in the Lake District (England).

According to Oxford dictionary the word "jasmin" means a shrub that bears white, pink, purple flowers. The word "myrtle" is an evergreen shrub with white flowers and oval shaped berries.

Coleridge is referring to his wife Sara, whom he married shortly after writing this poem. Her cheek is resting against his arm and it is soothing to him as they side on their cot. According to Oxford dictionary the word "cot" means bed.

According to the Oxford dictionary, "thrushes" means a medium-sized song bird. Smith is saying just as the sun sets the song-bird/thrush sings. She says she saw the bird with her rapid wings. The words rapid and dash implies that the bird was flying with control and great control.

According to Oxford dictionary, the word "reed" means a tall slender leaved-plant that grows in water. Smith is referring to the the swallow (a migratory bird) as the summer visitant. She tells the swallow to attach to the tall plant where perhaps the swallow's nest rests. She goes on to say that she would like to her the music the bird is making.