The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

When was it written?

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" was written in 1798 in the "Lyrical Ballads" by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poem was based on a dream of Coleridge's friend, John Cruikshank. In the beginning, Wordsworth and Coleridge worked on the poem together.Wordsworth's contribution was the crime against nature and the ghost ship.

Part 5: God's Purpose in not Killing the Mariner

"The man hath penance done, and penance more will do." So the evil spirit asks the good one why they can't just kill the Mariner, and that is how the good spirit responds. Basically: We can't kill him because he has to ask for more forgiveness.

Part 1: The Bird

After a great length of time, an Albatross is seen by the crew. They welcome the bird with joy. (The Bird is seen as a pet to the crew... If you say so). Wind helped the sails flow again and the Albatross follows the boat. Then, the Mariner has the great idea of shooting the Albatross with his crossbow, and it dies. (Great job).

Part 7: The Mariner's Eternal Punishment

Although he has been forgiven, Life-in- Death won the game, so the Mariner pays eternal penance. He describes it to the wedding guest as a "burn in his heart." When he feels this burn, he know that he needs to tell his story to someone like him. That someone is supposed to learn the lesson of appreciating nature.

Part 5: Skylark Singing

Apart from the sounds of the crew, the Mariner also heard the singing of the Skylark. But that's not possible because the Skylark is not an ocean bird. (The Mariner is going crazy; he needs the asylum). Now that he knows the beauty of Nature, he is imagining the pleasantries that Nature provides.

Part 7: The Boat Goes Down

As the little boat nears the ship, it cracks in half and sinks down, with the dead crew members. The little boat members are scared because they feel like they will also get pulled under (The water is like a whirlpool). All that is left, is the Mariner floating on the surface.

Part 1: The Telling of the Tale

At first, the Wedding Guest refuses to listen to the story, but when he looks into the Mariner's eyes, he is spellbound and stays to listen. The tale starts as, "There was a ship." This is equivalent to "Once upon a time" and lets a person know that this story takes place on sea.

Part 4: Fear of the Wedding Guest (From Spirits)

Back to reality/wedding. The Guest is now afraid because of the story, but this is because now the crew is dead and there spirits are floating around the boat (The mariner can't see them), SO HE THINKS THAT THE MARINER TELLING HIM THE STORY IS ALSO A SPIRIT. They are killed as punishment from God, because of the killing of the Albatross. This symbolizes that the Mariner's actions had consequences, so now he needs to ask forgiveness for the death of the bird and the crew.

Part 4: Allowance of Prayer & Forgivness

By blessing and starting to appreciate nature, the possibility of repentance and forgiveness is allowed for the Mariner. So the Mariner prays for Nature. As a Result nature forgives: "The Albatross fell off, and sank like lead into the sea." (BUT THE CREW IS STILL DEAD... This means that he is forgiven for killing the Albatross, but the death of the crew is still on his hands and he hasn't been forgiven for that yet.)

Part 6: Hope of a Homecoming

He feels a breeze (This is now becoming a setup for the end). When he looks up, he sees his country, his home.

Part 5: The Eerie State of Nature

Nature is at an eerie/scary state when we cannot predict the weather. A tornado, hurricane, earthquake, etc. are unexpected, which causes us to fear them. The lightning and thunder of the rain displays Nature's power.

Part 5: Fear of Wedding Guest (Realization)

Now in reality/ wedding: The Guest is starting to realize that all this was happening because the Mariner did not appreciate nature. He was scared because he knew that he also mistreated nature, and what had happened to the Mariner could happen to him.

Part 4: Isolation

Now the story: Continuing as his punishment, the Mariner is completely isolated. There is no sound of wind or animals, and the crew is dead so there is also no humanity. The Mariner is stranded at sea, with literal silence around him. (Someone get him a strait-jacket and sign him up for an insane asylum).

Part 5: Temperature Change/ The Christian Baptism

So the Mariner falls asleep? (How, your suffering from no wind and water. How do you fall asleep?) While he sleeps, it rains. This signifies the Christian Baptism. In reality, it just means Coleridge got his drugs.

Part 6: Mariner No Longer Cares

THE CURSE IS GONE!! But the Mariner is still stuck at sea (Who knows how long its been?) Now the Mariner doesn't care. "Like one, that on a lonesome road doth walk in fear and dread..." He DOESN't CARE. "IF I'M DYING THEN OKAY. LET ME DIE."

Part 6: The Hermit

The Hermit is like a holy man, and he happens to be in the boat that is coming out to meet the ship. He signifies repentance from society.

Part 5: Holy Spirit Moves the Ship

The Holy Spirit of the South Pole is moving the ship. This is only because of God's command, but the Mariner still has some punishment as repayment for the crew.

Part 2: Nature Degradation

The Mariner STILL hasn't learned his lesson (YOU IDIOT) so he still doesn't appreciate nature. "Yea, SLIMY things did crawl with legs upon the Slimy sea." (I BET THE SEA THINKS YOU'RE SLIMY TOO)

Part 6: Is this a Dream?

The Mariner does not want this to be a hallucination or a dream. "And I with sobs did pray- O let me be awake, my God! Or let me sleep away." SO, If this is a dream, just let me die. (Poor Guy).

Part 5: Zombie like Crew

The Mariner hears wind, but the wind never reaches the ship. Again, we know that there are souls hanging around the ship. From the wind, the crew members are inspired and they "come to life" in a zombie like state. They work around the ship, and do the tasks that they normally did. (WTF?)

Part 1: The Significance of the Wedding

The Mariner stops a man on his way to the wedding. Coleridge chooses a wedding because that is an event that everyone can relate to. A wedding is a joyous occasion that is universal. The Mariner sees the wedding guest and KNOWS that this guest needs to hear the story.

Part 3: The Ghost Ship

The crew is all almost dead when the Mariner saw something in the distance. He cannot yell out because his throat is so dry, so he bites his arm and drinks some blood (YOU NASTY). He doesn't understand how a boat can move without any wind, but let's be real, they're about to die so...

Part 6: Forgiveness from Crew

The crew is dead. The Mariner sees an angle by each member and now the spirits can leave (FINALLY!) The Mariner hears voices after such a long time. HE IS FORGIVEN BY THE CREW.

Part 4: Element of Decomposition

The crew is lying out in the hot sun, but they do not decompose. The reason could be because they will serve a purpose later on for the Mariner when forgiveness comes into play, or it could be because they are not completely dead until there spirits have either gone to Heaven and Hell (Cuz you know... the spirits of the crew guys are hanging around...)

Part 7: The Confession and Penance of the Mariner to the Hermit

The hermit, on seeing the mariner in the water, had already started praying. When the Mariner sees him in the boat, he confesses. The Hermit had asked him what "Manner of man" he was. This was the Mariner's chance to confess and he told his story, setting himself free.

Part 7: The "Strange Ship" (Pilot, Hermit, and Son's POV)

The ship has gone through ice, rain, and other crazy weather, so it looks like the Ghost ship. When the pilot calls out, no one responds, so he, his son, and the hermit are concerned. The Pilot describes the boat as a leaf (Think fall: Dried leaves, that crunch under your feet. Break apart in a second, etc.)

Part 2: Temperature Change/ Suffering

The sun is bright, there is no wind, and the crew doesn't have water, so they are SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE KILL. In reality, this suffering represents that Coleridge is going through a withdrawal from drugs.

Part 2: The Mariner's Punishment

The sun still rose and set, but the wind stopped blowing, so the boat couldn't move. A white albatross signifies protection for a crew at sea, but shooting bird caused the boat to be cursed. This is PUNISHMENT. Now the crew regrets agreeing to let the Mariner kill the Albatross, so they make him wear it around his neck in punishment. (THAT NASTY)

Part 7: The Youthfulness of the Pilot's Son

The terror of almost being caught in the whirlpool, brought out the immaturity and youthful inexperience in the Pilot's son. "...The Devil knows how to row." The son thinks that the Mariner is the devil.

Part 3: Death and Life-in- Death

This ship is a death ship because the sails are torn and the planks are see through. On the ship are two people, Death (Male) and Life-in-Death (Female). They play a game, and Life-in-Death wins. She chooses the Mariner as her reward and Death gets the rest of the crew (200 men).

Part 5: The Souls of the Crew Members

Traditionally, it is said that souls exit from their mouth and to heaven. The crew stopped working, and gathered around. When they opened their mouths, "Sweet Sounds" came out.

Part 5: The Two Spirits

Up until now, the ship is sailing smoothly. Then it stops, then it suddenly jerks forward. It begins to travel at super speed, which causes the Mariner to lose footing and hit his head. He loses consciousness. There are two spirit who are moving the boat from underneath. According to O'Day's Version: One is good and one is evil.

Part 6: Significance of Little Boats

When a boat comes back to Harbor, it can't dock because it is too big. Little boat come out to meet the crew members, and get them to land.

Part 6: More Penance Served

When he wakes, the ship is at normal speed, and the Zombie crew is watching the Mariner. He feels the guilt for being the cause of their death, and in this way, MORE PENANCE IS SERVED. (Hallelujah).

Part 1: A Storm

While on sea, a storm causes the crew to lose control and direction of the ship. It causes the ship to be driven towards the South Pole. This means there will be ice on the sails. Mist covers the area and no one can see anything. (UH-OH). The power beauty of nature in this scene shows that the pole has not been seen by any living thing, therefore, there is a fear about what the future holds for them.

Part 4: The Beauty of Nature

Without any sort of preoccupation, The Mariner is free to TRULY view nature. (And what happens?) THE MARINER LEARNS TO APPRECIATE NATURE!!! "Oh happy living things! No tongue their beauty might declare... I blessed them unaware.

Part 2: Symbolism of Mariner's Punishment

""Instead of the cross, the Albatross about my neck was hung." A person normally wore the cross around his neck when he was on sea, The Mariner wears the Albatross.

Part 3: The State of the Author/ Mariner

"A weary time." NO WIND = NO SAILING = NO MORE WATER = SUFFERING

Part 3: Death of the Crew

"Death comes between us and the Sun/Son." Because Death has taken the crew, everyone on the ship, but the Mariner, dies. Life-in-Death quickly brings the night.

Part 4: Repentence

"I looked to heaven, and TRIED to pray." Now the Mariner understands that it is because of him killing the Albatross, that everyone else is dead. BUT, the Albatross represents nature, and the Mariner still doesn't appreciate nature. SO WHILE HE UNDERSTANDS THE CREWS' DEATH, HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW NATURE TAKES PART IN HIS DECISIONS. For this reason, the Mariner is not yet forgiven.