AP Language and Composition 1: Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Friday, January 25, 2019

Rime of the Ancient Mariner

PSA-Check your email for week one Frankenstein Questions

Choose an essay topic. Once a topic has been chosen 3 times, it is closed.

1.Make a case for why the Ancient Mariner stops and tells his tale to the Wedding Guest of all people. In your analysis, consider the Hermit, to whom the Ancient Mariner tells his tale for the first time.
2.How does Coleridge use Christian and/or Biblical references to weave a moral into "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"? Is the moral itself Christian? Why or why not? Be sure to use at least two of the following categories of evidence in your analysis: symbolism, setting, numbers, baptism, crucifixion, original sin.
3.How does Coleridge portray the natural world before and after the Ancient Mariner shoots the Albatross? Is there a major change? Use evidence pertaining to symbolism, metaphor, and rhyme scheme to support your thesis.
4.In your opinion, is the Ancient Mariner's punishment for killing the Albatross fair? Whose fate is worse, the Ancient Mariner's or the sailors'? Why?
5.Give at least three examples of liminal spaces in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and analyze their significance, if any, to Coleridge's ultimate message to the reader.
6.Discuss Coleridge's use of imagery throughout "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner". How does he use sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell to inform the reader's experience of the story? Which senses do you think he emphasizes the most, and why?
7.Analyze the importance of the First Voice and Second Voice. To what realm do they belong, the physical or metaphysical? Why do you think Coleridge includes their points of view in the poem?
8.Choose one of the following pairs of characters and analyze the similarities and differences in how they are portrayed and what role they serve: the sailors and the Albatross, the Hermit and the Wedding Guest, the Hermit and the Ancient Mariner, Life-in-Death and the spirit that loves the Albatross.
9.Why do you think the Ancient Mariner kills the Albatross? Do his actions make him unusually cruel, or do they connect him to the whole of humanity?
10.Give varying examples of instances in which someone or something is imprisoned and explain how each contributes to a larger message. Is there any instance in which someone or something that imprisons is then imprisoned, or vice versa?
11.Analyze "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" as an allegory for one of the following, using points of evidence from each of the poem's seven parts: the writer's purpose, the need for spiritual salvation, environmentalism and/or animal rights.
12.Which do you think is the more significant motivating force in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner": consequence, or coincidence? Make a case for one or the other using key moments of change in the plot as evidence.

73 comments:

AnonymousJanuary 25, 2019 at 2:58 PM
#4
Punishment is the infliction of a penalty as retribution for an offense. In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the Ancient Mariner committed the offense of shooting a peaceful, harmless Albatross with his crossbow. As retribution for his crime, the wind had stopped blowing and the ship became like a motionless leaf sitting in a stagnant puddle. The Mariner was then forced to wear the murdered bird around his neck as he watched his shipmates suffer and die from dehydration from a lack of drinking water. Being the only living sailor left, the Mariner realized the beauty of God’s creation.
When considering the fairness of the Mariner’s punishment, it is important to define the meaning of fairness. If one considers fair to be “an eye for an eye,” the punishment would be just. If one thinks everyone under God should be treated with love and respect, the punishment would certainly not be fair. In my personal opinion, the punishment the Mariner had to endure for killing the Albatross was not appropriate for many reasons. Being left to suffer while watching his innocent crew members perish from life cannot be justified for killing a bird. Although shooting the Albatross was not the most advantageous way to handle the situation, the Mariner was still a human being created in the image and likeness of God. Humans have faults, and the Mariner was no exception.
After pondering whose fate was worse between the Ancient Mariner and the sailors, I would certainly say the Mariner had the worse fate. After being hated by his crew for killing the Albatross, the Mariner had to suffer while witnessing his crew mates’ deaths. Oftentimes, it is tougher to watch someone else suffer and die than suffering yourself. Even after their deaths, he was haunted by their bodies that lay lifeless on the deck and their glazed eyes that would watch his every small movement. The Mariner’s punishment was unethical and unreasonable.
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a captivating poem. It describes life lessons that can be learned through trial and hardships. It points to the goodness of God’s creation, and it shows how to find the greatest joy that can be discovered in life.
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AnonymousJanuary 25, 2019 at 7:00 PM
Topic 4:
Within the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the main aspect of the story is the murder of the albatross. The main character, the Ancient Mariner, was the one who murdered the gentle bird. The death of the albatross ended up causing the deaths of so many sailors. However, there are many questions to follow such an epic. Does the punishment fit the crime? Also, whose fate was worse, the Ancient Mariner or the sailors?
The innocent looking albatross seems to have been killed for no reason, seeming rather counterproductive. The Ancient Mariner was being tortured tremendously by the bird. He watched the albatross eat and soar within the sky while he and his men starved and were lost on their ship. The man wanted to not be reminded of the failure, so he killed the bird. The albatross is a symbol of good luck for sailors. When the Ancient Mariner took the life of the creature he stripped himself and the crew of good luck, propelling them into horrible situations. Also, the word “ice” in poetry usually is symbolic of death. With that said, the story only sets up the scene for utter failure.
Did the punishment fit the crime? In “Retribution and Restitution: A Synthesis” written by Peter J. Ferrara, the mentality of retribution and restitution lines up with “an eye for an eye.” If the Ancient Mariner’s crime was “an eye for an eye” then he would, in turn, die. However, that can be ruled out because he did not die, in fact the complete opposite. The penance for killing the albatross, or rather not seeing the opportunity for good fortune the albatross possessed, was for the Ancient Mariner to become immortal. There are countless examples of this in part four of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” “...and a thousand thousand slimy things lived on; and so did I.” He had to go through starvation, dehydration, and be a witness to the death of the sailors which is considered his fault because he killed the albatross.
In my opinion, I do not believe that the Ancient Mariner’s punishment was fair. In the epic, it talked about God and Jesus. By knowing that Jesus and God are part of the story we know that there is a life after death. We know our world is far from perfect, so having the Ancient Mariner live on earth for eternity is difficult and hard to swallow. Stripping the Ancient Mariner from any possibility of meeting God is cruel, which is exactly what happened within this story. Making someone relive something so traumatic is possibly one of the worst things in the world. However, the Ancient Mariner takes his punishment and keeps it close to him.
As stated previously, having to live on earth for all eternity knowing there is something more beyond this life would be much worse than dying and having the possibility to have eternal life in heaven. Both the sailors and the Ancient Mariner both lived horrible and depressing lives. Having their last days be full of sickness and confusion from the fog must have been horrible. However, the Ancient Mariner had to live with what he has done forever and never having a chance at happiness beyond life on earth. Also, the Ancient Mariner was shunned by the Hermit and pilot because they knew that he had made an irreversible decision. In my opinion, the Ancient Mariner had the worst fate.
The epic “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” was full of symbolism that lead to the fate of the Ancient Mariner. The murder of the albatross ended up leading to a chain of events of painful situations for the Ancient Mariner. Having to relive the past is a horrible fate, especially for the Ancient Mariner. “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” has a type of depth that few poems have. The Ancient Mariner will live out the rest of eternity making restitution for what he has done.
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AnonymousJanuary 25, 2019 at 8:01 PM
Topic 6:

Told from the Mariner’s point of view to a wedding guest, the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a lengthy poem that tells the Mariner’s tragic tale. Throughout the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Coleridge uses many examples of sensory imagery to mark his points and enhance the experience of the reader. Coleridge ever so strategically, with meticulous word choice, works elements of the five senses- sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell- into the poem to make the reader feel more immersed in the Mariner’s experience.
Firstly, the sense of sight, that is found heavily throughout the poem, helps to draw the reader deeper into the Mariner’s story. A few examples from sight from the text are as follows. “Out of the sea came he, Still hid in mist, and on the left Went down into the sea.” (Part II, Lines 2-4) This passage describes the absence of sight and what the ship’s inhabitants can’t see. As the albatross brings the curse, with it, it brings the mist and fog. The mist and fog results in the loss of clear sight for the crew, and all they can see through the mist is miles and miles of water. “I closed my lids, and kept them close, And the balls like pulses beat;” (Part IV, Lines 25 & 26). This passage also shows the Mariner’s absence of sight. Except, this time, the Mariner wants to shut out the world because he doesn’t want to see the death that lays around him. The reader can also feel the sensation of the eyes squeezing shut to block the images before them. “Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.” (Part II, Lines 37-40). In this passage, the reader can easily visualize the vast, watery landscape in front of the ship members. With nothing for miles, the reader can almost feel the confined loneliness and fear the sailors must also feel on this journey. The sense of sight plays a major role in the influence this poem has on the reader.
The sense of touch/feeling also greatly influenced the course of the poem. “And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold:” (Part I, Lines 51 & 52) This line shows both sight and touch. The reader can see the snow and mist coming while feeling it prick the skin as it gets closer. “My lips were wet, my throat was cold, My garments all were dank;” (Part V, Lines 10 & 11). This passage shows the sensations that the Mariner feels as the curse is lifted. The reader can almost feel what the Mariner felt along with the relief it brings. Through the sense of touch/feeling, Coleridge is able to further draw the reader into the experience and journey of the Mariner.
Coleridge uses the sense of hearing to draw the reader into the Mariner’s tale. Examples of sound can be found throughout the poem. “The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast, And southward aye we fled.” (Part I, Lines 49 & 50). The passage describes the sounds that are playing out as the ship is sailing on. The faster the ship gets, the louder the roar grows as the ship plows through the sea. “The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound!” (Part I, Lines 60-63). These lines also use sound to enhance the image of the text gives because it helps the reader to better visualize the cold, cracking seascape. With this description, some elements of feeling and sight are also subtly worked in to the imagery. “And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea!” (Part II, Lines 27 & 28). This passage describes the absence of sound. This absence of sound heightens the sensation of loneliness as the ship is the only thing on the waters. Through the inclusion of sound, Coleridge helps to fully round out the images found within the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”
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AnonymousJanuary 25, 2019 at 8:01 PM
Elements of taste are also found throughout the poem. “And every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root; We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot.” (Part II, Lines 53-56). This passage describes the taste of the ship members’ mouths during the period after the albatross had been killed. This passage adds elements of feeling within the taste, and helps put the reader better sympathize with the shipmates as the words of the passage acquaint a specific dry taste with them. “I bit my arm, I sucked the blood,” (Part III, Line 18). Upon reading this passage, the reader immediately begins to taste the disgusting, metallic taste associated with blood from a cut, like a finger. By using taste as an element in the poem, Coleridge continues to further draw the reader into the poem, putting him or her on the very boat with the Mariner.
Lastly, Coleridge uses the sense of smell to bring his poem to life. “I looked upon the rotting sea,
And drew my eyes away; I looked upon the rotting deck, And there the dead men lay.” (Part IV, Lines 17- 20). At first glance, the passage describes the array of smells that must have accompanied the death of the crew members, thus further inserting the reader into the story of the Mariner. The sense of smell is also throughout the poem indirectly when the feeling of the wind us described. Sea breezes have a distinct, salty smell that makes them more vibrant than just any windy smell. Although the sense of smell is a little more difficult to notice in the poem, it evenly helps to bring the imagery to a full circle and completely envelop the reader in the story.
All of the five senses are connected together throughout Coleridge’s poem. In my opinion, the senses that Coleridge emphasizes the most throughout the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner are the senses of touch and sound. These senses also have the most influence on the reader. The poem goes back and forth between the absence of sound and touch and the presence of sound and touch. This sharp contrast makes the two stand out more and as a result, makes them seem more vivid. These two senses also do the best at inserting the reader into the Mariner’s story. Without these senses, the poem would lack that extra immersion and it would become rather dull. Coleridge emphasizes touch and sound especially because of the huge impact they have on the reader.
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AnonymousJanuary 25, 2019 at 9:56 PM
In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the main idea is obviously the death and consequences of the Albatross. The albatross is a great bird of the sea and seemingly a representation of God and the goodness that comes with that. The albatross saved the crew from the land of snow and got them back on course in the vast sea. But, despite this, the old mariner still decided to shoot the albatross dead with his crossbow. Why he does this is a good question, but one for another day. What really matters is the consequences of his action since they have the bigger role in the rest of the story. These consequences were very severe, if not ungodly. The mariner watched his crew die and blame him as he was stranded in the ocean all alone. The emotional toll that would take on a man, and that’s not even it, is something to be beheld. While i do not think that killing a bird, no matter how special, should warrant such a severe response, I can see why it happened and the message it tries to, and successfully, conveys.
This albatross was a holy symbol for salvation, it saved them and then followed them as a good luck charm. Even though it’s possible that the albatross was responsible for the fog around them, it should be clear that the majestic creature is a positive being. Killing this bird was not really a good thing. To me, it symbolizes the betrayal of the good, even comparable to the crucifixion of Jesus, who was the savior of the people. But the man cannot really be fully blamed. He was but a mortal man and with that, there are many mistakes. I do think that he should have a punishment for his fowl actions but the whole of what he went through was just too severe for his crime. Even with the bird being a sacred symbol, he was doing what he thought was right, and intentions are an important thing to consider in consequence, too.
And even while this was a horrible experience for the mariner, I would say that it was even worse for the rest of the crew. The mariner did wrong and was punished severely for it, but he knew what he did and was able to learn from it, to seek redemption. However, the crew were not so lucky. They were just killed (or de-souled, I suppose) and then used as objects to teach the mariner his lesson, and then they were repossessed and used as puppets, and then left to drown in the sea. This is beyond just punishment, this is just cruel, evil. They were innocents in the business of the mariner, while yes, they did end up thinking that killing the albatross was a good thing, they weren’t the ones who did it. They shouldn’t have been punished so, in my opinion.
And even today, there are stories of innocent people being blamed for wrongdoings and unjust punishments being given out, but the fact that we can still talk about this poem, is a really cool thing. The fact that we still try to learn from it is evidence that people are still learning a lesson from it, themselves. The whole fact that a simple story can last so long and hold such a meaning, is quite awesome. In the end, it doesn’t really matter how severely the mariner was punished, just that he was. And it doesn’t matter that the innocent crew were brought into it, because they were still used to teach a lesson. What does matter is that we do learn from it, we learn and we evolve, and we become better! And that, to me, is the moral of this story.
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JacobJanuary 26, 2019 at 2:38 PM
Topic 6
Coleridge uses lots of imagery throughout his poem “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Imagery can be found throughout the entire poem and helps the reader get a better understanding of the situation. Coleridge mostly uses the sense of sight but sound, touch, and taste can be found too. This combination makes for an extremely detailed scene for the reader.
The easiest sense that can be found in “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is sight. Coleridge word choice always the reader to create a good picture of the scene and characters with in it. These word choices can even be found in the title, ancient mariner. The sense of sight continues throughout the poem. After killing the albatross Coleridge describes the change in weather patterns at sea. The fog and most can be clearly seen to the reader and the whit foam in the ocean as described by Coleridge. This creates a scene of the rough sees and the many problems the sailors can be facing. The sense of sight can continually be found through out the poem and contributes to the imagery Coleridge is trying to achieve.
Coleridge uses sound to describe the way the ship is sailing through the ocean. Coleridge describes the birds singing across the air. He describes the noises like a flute and an angel’s song. These sounds can come at a contrast to the rough sounds of sailing. The sounds of the ship sailing through the cold, icy water and the wind wiping through the ship. The sound of the dry mouths of the sails trying to speak also adds to the imagery. The sounds of the ship going through the ocean brings the reader a different idea of the story. The imagery pulls the reader in and makes them feel as if they were standing on the ship.
Lastly, Coleridge uses the sense of touch and taste to add more imagery to the ancient mariner’s story. When the ship runs out of water and the crew becomes so parched that they can not even speak creates a good sense of imagery. The feeling of having a dry mouth can be extremely relatable to the reader. Then the idea of it being so dry that the ancient mariner can not speak tells the reader had dry his mouth actually is feeling. Then when he bites his own arm to get blood to moisten his mouth to speak another form of imagery is given to the reader. The feeling of piercing the skin to get blood and the great pain he must have felt. Tells the very importance of what the ancient mariner had to say.
In every story, imagery is extremely important. In “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Coleridge uses imagery to tell the story of the sailor. The use of the sense of sight, sound, touch, and taste add to the experience of the reader. The reader is able to bring himself into the story and feel, hear, and see the very things that the ancient mariner did on the ship.
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AnonymousJanuary 26, 2019 at 9:42 PM
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AnonymousJanuary 26, 2019 at 10:32 PM
#2
In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner the bitter Mariner at sea shoots and kills an innocent flying albatross that accompanied the crew along their voyage. As a result, the wind ceases and the crew is stranded at sea without drinkable water and the Mariner has to watch as his crew slowly dies off one by one due to dehydration. As a poem with Christian references it reflects the advice of Psalm 37:8-9, "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land." The Mariner is "destroyed" in the sense that he has to watch as his friends, family, and crew die off and if he had not just shot the innocent albatross all of this could have been avoided.
Although the poem does not follow Matthew 5:38-42's view on turning the other cheek when a wrong is done, it does follow a rather Christian theme. There are many symbols spread throughout the story, such as, the albatross could potentially signify God being with the crew like he was with the Israelites when they were escaping with Moses in the form of a cloud or a pillar of fire. The Mariner then shoots the albatross, which symbolizes his loss of faith in God, so he has to burden with it around his neck so that he is reminded of what he has done. This could be a metaphor for when Jesus was burdened with the cross until he was crucified and he then brought eternal salvation, similar to how when the Albatross fell off the Mariner's neck and fell into the sea he found salvation and his luck turned around when he began praising Mary. He was intentionally given eternal life in order to tell of his tale, but this could also be a metaphor for him to spread the good news of God through his given graces throughout the world. Potentially, maybe even the crew did not die, they just did not accept God and as a result they were not given eternal salvation and just appeared to be dead. The moral of the story is to repent and be saved, similar to how the Mariner repented and praised Mary, which lead to his safe return to his home land in order to spread the news of God.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 12:32 AM
Topic 9

Throughout the story, the Ancient Mariner never gives a clear reason as to why he killed the innocent albatross. His heinous crime is never justified, making it simply a horrific act of injustice. The Mariner’s mindless murder puts him in the need for the penance that he must complete to make up for his sin. It is God’s will that one should love all of God’s creatures. The Mariner disrespected God’s nature and it caused him more suffering than any of the sailors.
When the mariner and the sailors first encountered the albatross, their ship was stuck in ice that they encountered during their southward journey. The sailors were especially considerate towards the bird, and even started to consider it a “good omen” after they were freed from the ice after befriending it. The sailors exclaim as they are greeted by a propelling wind that they desperately needed, which was thought to be due to the luck brought by the albatross. It is easy to imagine the dismay experienced by the sailors when the Mariner unexpectedly killed their new “friend.”
Immediately following the unexpected murder of the albatross, the sailors are understandably furious. That is until after the breeze they were so graciously greeted by had disappeared, leaving them restless in the vast, quiet sea. Being trapped in the middle of the wide open sea led to the inevitable thirst of the many sailors. The thirst of the men eventually led to the loss of their ability to even speak. After a disappointing encounter with Life-in-Death, the sailors begin to start falling to clutches of thirst until the Ancient Mariner is the only one left standing.
Surely, the murder that the Mariner maliciously committed led to death of all of his sailors. However, in the end it connected him to the whole of humanity. After an encounter with the Water Snakes beside his ship, the Ancient Mariner had a life-altering realization that all of God’s creatures are beautiful and deserve the dignity and respect that he was not giving them.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 1:49 AM
#10
The poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge depicts an old and disheveled man, known as the mariner, telling a story to the Wedding-Guest. The story he tells sets the scene for the entire poem and brings about many different situations and consequences. One could say that it is a tale of imprisonment and this feeling is passed along from character to character. The word ‘imprion’ is defined as, “to put or keep in prison or a place like a prison,” meaning that anything can be withheld for a certain amount of time as a form of distraction or even hysteria. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” offers many instances that allude to this feeling of imprisonment that engulfed individual characters. These occurrences, oftentimes, have larger messages that Coleridge uses to portray the story’s significance to the audience.
One particular case that is evident to the idea of imprisonment is when the Mariner kills the albatross and suddenly becomes a victim to sin and the spirit of Life-in-Death. This scene illustrates the enslavement of sin and how it prevents one from being able to do what is morally correct. It shows the true power of sin and the importance of penance. The Mariner becomes a prisoner by his own sins and must fulfill his punishment in order to regain his sight of good faith and prayer. One aspect that the reader could take away from this general notion is that God is forgiving and all sins will be removed once the act of penance is partaken.
Likewise, the Wedding-Guest also was imprisoned by the Mariner at the beginning of the poem. He was first grasped by the Mariner and demanded to be let go, but if it was not for the shimmer of the Mariner’s glittering eye, then, perhaps, the rest of the story must be history. However, this gaze is what drew the Wedding-Guest in like a beaming twinkle of a star. He was encapsulated by one who was one imprisoned himself. This simple gesture brought forth an important lesson that is still used in today’s society, body language. The eye-contact used by the Mariner presented the more important message of control and communication. Frequently, people are told that if you make eye-contact then others will feel obligated to listen to you. The poem highlights the significance of body language and simple gestures that are also prevalent today.
These are two of the major examples that inherit the concept of imprisonment while having a bigger picture set as the undertone. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a tale that provides readers with many lessons that make the consider their own lives. As a result, it is easy to say that the thought of imprison is inevitable, but more often than not, there is a more important message in the making.
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UnknownJanuary 27, 2019 at 1:49 AM
#11
The idea of spiritual salvation is a central theme throughout “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Through symbolism, imagery, and themes, there are many instances in which allegories of spiritual salvation are present. Through the storyline, Coleridge uses symbolism of the sun, moon, and the Mariners eyes, along with imagery of the Albatross and the significance of the numerology in the Bible.
Right off the bat Coleridge introduces ideas of Christian numerology through the significance of the number three. The numbers three and seven are used regularly throughout the Bible beginning in Part I. Likewise, they are used frequently in the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Both numbers signify completeness and perfection. In correlation to the theme of darkness, the world was dark for three hours following Jesus’ death. The Hermit was the third man aboard, and he was said to be a man of God and nature and a “holy man” in Part VI and VII.
The image of the Albatross presents itself several times throughout the poem. In Part II, the Albatross most closely symbolizes the connection between the natural and spiritual world. It represents innocence and gives a nice breeze to the men on the boat, but turns to represent an idea of sin later as when it is killed the voyage turns to pain and agony. During this time of pain, the Mariner tried to pray, but it made his heart as “dry as dust,” as stated in Part IV. In a different light, the Albatross could be seen as a representation of Jesus while the Mariner represents Judas.
In Part III, and in a few other instances, the image of the mariner’s glimmering eyes becomes profound. The Mariner draws the wedding guest in by his unique eyes. Eyes are what we use to see God’s creation, which is all good because it comes from Him. The gift of sight, however, is most often what leads to downfall and to salvation. In addition to the symbol of the Mariner’s eyes, the sun and the moon play a role as the symbols of God in Part V. The sun represents a powerful and authoritative God, while the moon symbolizes the leader side of God. A major point of the poem and an allegory of spiritual salvation is the idea of the Mariner’s penance. It becomes evident in Part VII that the penance of the Mariner was to tell his tale to someone so that they would not make the same mistakes as he did.
The theme of spiritual salvation appears a multitude of times throughout “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Beginning with significant Bible numerology and ending with the penance of the Mariner, it is no doubt the ideas of spiritual salvation are avidly apparent in this poem by Coleridge.
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Anthony GergJanuary 27, 2019 at 10:54 AM
#9
The Ancient Mariner when he was surrounded by the ice and their ship was frozen over, shot the only life they had seen in the ice, an Albatross. Yet he kills it without purpose or without any meaning behind it, at least the poem doesn't give any information on why. In my opinion, the Ancient Mariner kills the Albatross to try to get food and also show off the the other sailors, trying to prove his worth. Maybe he thought because they were in ice and moving slowly that they wouldn't find food for a while, so he killed the bird to try to add to the rations, trying to help their cause. An albatross is a quite large bird, so it definitely would've helped to have some more meat on the table, and I'm sure they could've found a purpose for the feathers of the bird also. Yet the poor Mariner, just trying to get supplies, has to hang it around his neck and literally kill everyone aboard.
Another idea is that he was trying to prove his worth, as even though he is ancient, it didn't say what his role was. He didn't steer as it is explained later that one of the corpses steers, so he most likely pulled ropes, which isn't a real desirable job. So to try to get some kudos from the captain and crew, he showed to marksmanship with a crossbow and shot the bird. It's a big target, but if it was flying around when he shot it, it makes sense why he would do such a thing as shoot to it. But the crew didn't find it to appealing, so they made him hang it around his neck as a show of his idiocracy.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 11:49 AM
#9
The killing of the albatross is a central element of Coleridge's poem. The "moral" of the poem, its lesson, is stated very openly near the end: "He prayeth best, who loveth best. All things both great and small." That is, to be approved by God, one must love all of God's creatures. Respect for nature is the central theme of the poem.
The Mariner kills the albatross because he is associated the lack of wind with it. At first, all the men thought the bird was good luck since a good wind blew and they moved swiftly. Once the wind died, the began to blame the bird. The sailors cheered when the Mariner killed the bird which could be seen as a symbol of animal abuse. By killing he bird, he was disrespecting of nature - this was a sin since he poem states “all creatures great and small the lord God created them all.”
Once the Mariner “blesses the snake unaware,” Then begins the long road back to being forgiven and living out the rest of his life wandering the earth and teaching other how to treat Mother Nature and all of her creatures.
The mariners actions connect him with the wholeness of society because at some point in each of our lives, we all do things out of temptation with no legitimate reasoning. The Mariner had a crossbow, so he shot the bird, now take an example of yourself when your friend is walking. Sometimes you stick your leg out and try to trip them, not so that your friend gets hurt, but out of your own fun. Usually we don’t know why we are doing what we are, but it is most certainly clear that he shot the bird out of loneliness and experimenting with his crossbow. For another example; say you are trapped in a room with a ball. You’re not just going to let it sit there, but instead you’re going to experiment with it. Maybe kicking it around or trying to do something you’ve never done before. Or we can say a pen instead of a ball. You’re not just going to stare at it, but instead, you might click it, draw on yourself, or play with the inside mechanics.
The Mariner is not at all “cruel” for shooting the bird, for if he was, each and every one of us would be cruel. The albatross was no more a creature of God than a small ant is, or a bee, or any small creature for the poem states "He prayeth best, who loveth best. All things both great and small.”
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 12:18 PM
I also did #9, making this the fourth but I was on my last sentence when another classmate posted his.

Although the Ancient Mariner never really gives a reason as to why he killed the innocent albatross, there could be several. He kills it without purpose maybe because they were in need of food, without hope, or he may have wanted to prove his power and worth. The Mariner sinned by disrespecting the nature created by God, which ultimately caused him more suffering in the end than any of the other sailors. When they first saw the albatross, their ship was stuck in ice, however, the sailors were very respectful towards the bird. Because of this respect they receive a propelling gust of wind that they desperately needed. However, the unexpected murder of the albatross took place soon after this, making the sailors furious. Because of the unjust murder of their new “friend,” the breeze they were thankfully given then disappeared, leaving them hopeless in the quiet sea. After time trapped in the middle of the ocean, the sailors began to suffer a harsh thirst. This thirst led the sailors to the loss of their voices. This is when the sailors began to fall to thirst until the Ancient Mariner was the only one left standing. Overall, the unjust murder of the albatross led to the death of all of the sailors. He later
came across snakes in the water beside his ship, and that’s when the Ancient Mariner realized that he must respect the beauty of all of God’s creatures. His human mistake could have happened for many reason but overall he learned a lesson.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 3:06 PM
#3

Three guys are on the way to a wedding celebration when an old sailor (the Mariner) stops one of them at the door (we'll call him the Wedding Guest). Using his hypnotic eyes to hold the attention of the Wedding Guest, he starts telling a story about a disastrous journey he took. The Wedding Guest really wants to go party, but he can't pry himself away from this grizzled old mariner. The Mariner begins his story. They left port, and the ship sailed down near Antarctica to get away from a bad storm, but then they get caught in a dangerous, foggy ice field. An albatross shows up to steer them through the fog and provide good winds, but then the Mariner decides to shoot it. The albatross created an array of good and bad feelings. If it had not come along, then sure, the whole crew probably would have died in that ice field. But, to be frank, the consequences of shooting the albatross seem almost worse than death. Maybe that's because shooting it is a completely senseless act. As a persecuted figure of salvation, the albatross resembles Christ in many ways, especially when you consider that a bird often symbolizes Christ. In part I, stanza 16: The albatross is treated like a person, a "Christian soul," by the lonely sailors. In Christian symbolism, Jesus Christ is sometimes compared metaphorically to a bird, so the albatross could be a symbol for Christ. This symbolism can be revealed through the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often symbolized through the image of a dove. After the fact, more supernatural occurrences were apparent throughout the rest of the poem.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 3:07 PM
I believe that the Mariner has all of his stories and memories building up inside him, which caused him to almost go mad. Context clues show throughout the poem and it is evdident that he needs closure. I imagine that he told his story to the wedding-goers in order for someone to just hear his dark stories. The reason being that he does not want all of the darkness to be built up inside of him, but instead to be displayed for someone to hear. He tells his story with such passion and intensity because of how long he has been holding it inside his mind. Can you imagine how many times he’s gone through those events in his head? He probably felt as if he was going insane! We, as Americans, can know the feeling that the Mariner has. When we have a secret or something dark that is in our minds and needs to be told in order to get it out, we seem to go a little crazy. Now imagine how he felt when dealing with the maginitude of his story? The lonely Mariner needed someone to speak to, and these wedding-goers were his best option.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 3:08 PM
#1
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 3:20 PM
#12
The most significant motivating force in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is consequence. I believe this because at the beginning of the mariners story he tells the wedding guest of being out on the sea and the beauty of it all. “The Sun came up upon the left, out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and on the right went down into the sea,” a quote from within his stories tells of how the sun shone brightly above the ship. The weather conditions were, at first, amazing for the crew. The conditions later shift in part two after the mariner shoots the albatross that had followed the ship and unknown to the crew, had brought good luck and perfect weather conditions for their journey. The mood slowly shifts to a more depressing and alarming tone after the bird is shot and killed. At the end of part two, the mariner tells of how the crew thirsts for clean water so terribly that they could not speak to each other because their throats felt as though they were being choked with soot. If he had never have killed the albatross, his crew wouldn’t suffer the terrible consequences. Later on, his crew is all killed, and the mariner is the only one to survive. He suffers everyday in agony surrounded by the dead members of his crew. He suffers not only there in the story, but while telling it to the guests at the wedding. He is clearly distraught by the incident of killing the albatross. He tells of how God has made all things, and killing them causes consequences of all things terrible. He then wanders off and is to go find someone to tell his story to all over again. He lives with the pain and suffering of killing the albatross, and if he had never have done the act, he would have been a happy and wise man.
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Bruce C.January 27, 2019 at 3:59 PM
Exempt #1
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Dan WimerJanuary 27, 2019 at 4:03 PM
Topic 1
Imagine having something you want to say built up inside you for a long time. It will eat away at you and make you feel horrible, alone. Which is exactly what happened to the mariner. He had the story built up inside him for so long, and telling it to the wedding guests was his way of getting the story out to all the people. Personally I know what it is like having something to tell people, but you just can’t, it’s not good, it makes you go crazy! The hermit is the one who saved the mariner, and to the mariner is a Godly person. The mariner asked the hermit to wash away his sins. When the mariner tells the story to the hermit for the first time I believe he did it so he would be freed of his sins. I can only imagine what the mariner was going through, I would have went totally insane.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 4:21 PM
Topic #12:

I think the most significant moving force in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner is coincidence. The majority of the events happen without a connection. For example, the wedding guest and the mariner didn’t know each other, it was a coincidence that that is who the story was told to. Out of all of the wedding guests he chose a particular one, most likely for no reason. He just had to tell his tale to somebody. It could also be seen as coincidental that the albatross was in the storm to begin with. It could have been any bird, or any albatross. It was just a coincidence it was that particular albatross that got killed. Another coincidence could be the destruction itself. Who has proof that it was a result of the albatross being killed? There is the chance it would have occurred whether the albatross was alive or dead. Time did not stop altogether when the albatross was killed, so there is an obvious way this could be seen as a coincidence. Because the sailors were so dead set on the albatross being a good thing, it only makes sense that they would be suspicious that bad things will happen now that it’s dead. I think a lot of this poem can be tied back to coincidence, as an most things in our lives.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 5:08 PM
#12
The albatross in the story the Rhyme of the Accent Mariner was completely innocent but was killed by the sailor which directly lead to the end outcome of his crew. The story does not tell us the exact reason for the death of the bird. The killing of the bird is going against the will of God to treat all creation with respect because on the last day God looked at everything he created and said it was all “good”. The mariner received feelings of hated from the other sailors because in my eyes the bird ap was a sign o hope. The bird first appeared when the crew was stuck in ice. The bird is a sign o hope and now a friend so once it is dead the crew is very upset.
Soon after the death the sailors started to feel and realize what happens when people are stuck in the middle of the ocean. They all started to get dehydrated and unable to speak because the wind brought by the albatross was no longer propelling them. With spirits falling the men started losing hope and then started to lose their lives. One by one they all started to die and the murderer was left solo. While by himself this man realized what he had done lead to the death of his crew members and that God was right as he always is that a person always needs to treat creation with respect. He changed his mindset and started to know the truth. He knew he just killed his whole crew. I believe that he was in the wrong and the events that lead after we’re not a coincidence. I know it was directly related to his actions because even if the bird didn’t actually bring the wind it was a symbol of hope for all the sailors.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 5:46 PM
2.

Coleridge uses multiple Christian themes and biblical underlying references throughout "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” The story itself that is told to a wedding guest on his way to a wedding ceremony by a desperate old mariner demonstrates a supernatural theme through the ideas of angels and spirits, which carries over to God being supernatural. It is important to note the symbolism that is taking place as well throughout this story. He tells a wedding guest about his story. Not much is said about this guest. There is no description of what he looks like. Not even his name is known. The only thing mentioned about him was that he was related to the bride to be and was there with two other men on their way to the wedding, as the number three is important in the Bible. This wedding guest is seen as an average man, who symbolizes humanity. He is going on with his average life, only worrying about earthly problems such as making it to the wedding on time, but is instead forced by the old mariner to stay and listen to what happened to him. The mariner can be seen as someone spreading the good news, as he is in desperate need to spread the story of what happened to him to the wedding guest, just as he did with the hermit. The wedding guest was then described as sadder but wiser. This story was a tragedy due to the death and destruction, but nonetheless it left a message for the guest to live by. “He prayeth well, who loveth well both man and bird and beast. He prayeth best, who loveth best all things both great and small; for the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.” This means that God loves all his creatures, as He created each one with a purpose.
The use of numbers is also quite showing of how Christianity is working throughout the poem. For example, there were three people going together to the wedding, and the wedding guest is described as listening to the mariner like a three year old child.
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Julie HoffmanJanuary 27, 2019 at 5:58 PM
Topic 8
The Hermit and the Wedding Guest are two main characters in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. They serve a purpose to help tell the story of the the Ancient Mariner. Though they both do not have much dialogue and much character development, they serve as a vehicle in which the story is told and help create a contrast with other characters.

The Mariner doesn’t tell the story to the audience directly, he tells it to both the Hermit and Wedding Guest. The Wedding Guest character serve as a way to connect with the audience. Both characters mirror the reaction that the audience have to hearing the Mariners story. At the beginning, the Wedding Guest treats the Mariner like a crazy man and tells him to hit the road. That is mirrors the confusion that the audience feels when they first hear the story, before learning the whole, complete tale. Later on, after the story is told, he knows the story, he feels “stunned” and “forlorn”, just like what the audience feels.

The Hermit serves as a contrast to the Mariner himself. He is characterized as a “godly”, “cheerful” man, who will cleanse the Mariner of his sins. He is pure and holy, unlike the Mariner himself, stained by the blood of the Albatross, and scarred by his experiences. The Hermit also has a good relationship with nature and solitude, using it in a positive way, that doesn’t damage the environment. This is shown by using a moss cushion. The Mariner is the complete opposite, killing the Albatross, and being driven crazy by being alone so long. Also, unlike the Guest, the Hermit doesn’t treat the Mariner like a crazy man and listens to the take without complaint.

The Hermit and the Wedding Guest both hear the story of the Ancient Mariner and their characters help connect his story and bring it the whole way around. Those two characters hearing the tale of the Mariner truncates the story and connects them. The telling of the story to the characters completes the story, and makes it whole.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is told through the characters of the Wedding Guest and the Hermit, not directly to the audience. These characters serve as a reflection of what the Audience is feeling and a contrast to the Mariner.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 8:36 PM
#1
Coleridge created an evident source of drama early on in the poem. The conflict between the Ancient Mariner and the random wedding guest. This initial drama grasps the readers attention almost immediately. However, the inpatient wedding guest quickly becomes intrigued in what the Mariner has to say. “The wedding guest stood still, and listens like a three years’ child: The Mariner hath his will.” At this point in the poem it becomes evident that the wedding guest becomes attentive of the Mariners story. The reader is informed that that the Mariner has committed the hasty action of slaying the hopeful albatross. For this sin he committed it seems as though the Mariner must wander the earth aimlessly in an attempt to finally find a person who is need of the Mariners first-hand knowledge and wisdom. Until he does so, he will forever feel the sorrow and guilt in his heart. The wedding guest was a random individual that the Mariner had chosen to tell his story too. I assume that the wedding guest was only one of many individuals who had heard the grieving Mariner’s tale. The wedding guest leaves as a wiser but significantly more depressed individual.

As for the spiritual Hermit, whom the Ancient Mariner tells his tale for the first time; he symbolizes a sort of haven. The Mariner sees the Hermit as his saving grace or even an angel that God had sent to him to show his mercy. “He’ll wash away the albatrosses blood,” exclaims the Mariner. It is as though the Mariner is finally acknowledging his sin and confesses it to the Hermit in an effort to repent and seek forgiveness for God.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 10:21 PM
#9
The ancient mariner is a character meant to represent humanity as a whole. In the story he tells the random wedding guest he speaks of an unexplainable deed he committed that led to the destruction of his crew. The ancient mariner killed the innocent bird but never gave a reason or explanation to his furious crew. The reason the innocent albatross was killed was for no reason at all. All people make decisions in their lives that they don’t think about at all, and this story is meant to exemplify this. When people make a decision that they don’t think through, it can often lead to the disappointment or harm of people surrounding this decision. In the ancient mariners case, his whole crew died. This story is meant to show what can come about from such hasty decisions. Humanity as a whole has a tendency to act upon their own gut instinct which can often be interpreted incorrectly. So, this story tells the effects a cruel choice can have on the people surrounding you. Humanity as a whole is plagued by this because no one is perfect, and the mariner’s story is just one example of the conflicts created by hasty decisions.
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AnonymousJanuary 27, 2019 at 11:25 PM
Topic #10
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is an a epic poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poem was officially published in 1798. The poem is often noted for its extensive length. It also played an important role in establishing the British Romanticism movement. Everything Coleridge wrote and the style he wrote in for them poem had significance. The language used is very unique, especially for the era it was published. There is great ambiguity, especially with the invisible creatures that come up throughout the poem. The uncertainty of theses creatures add the concern of the work. Much of the poem focuses on the ancient mariner expressing his story to a wedding guest. The feeling of imprisonment gets passed on to him as the tale is told. The wedding guest is perhaps forced to stay and listen to the story that he has to tell.
As the mariner describes what happened to him it becomes apparent that he is imprisoned to the ship he set sail in. As the journey began they had troubled very early on in great difficulty navigating through rough weather. As this was supposed to be a time of journey and travel, it started to transform into imprisonment. How? The ship becomes lost from civilization, leaving them with nothing but other shipmates, imprisoned on the ship. As the other sailors begin to die, the result become the ancient mariner in prison with his own self. The idea of the murder of the albatross indicates a form of internal imprisonment. He is faced with a great deal of guilt and the fact that he has become a sinner. He needs to be forgiven for his wrong doing in order to escape the prison he is being confined in. Being imprisoned is a state of being trapped to a point that feels as though there is no escape. The ancient mariner is being imprisoned by his own mind. The thoughts and his past are things he can truly not escape. He is found searching for this peace of mind. The ancient mariner’s imprisonments he has felt creates his need to imprison the wedding guest into embracing his story of his past. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” has many underlying messages to offer the reader in order to truly understand the lessons and ideas being presented throughout the poem. The forms of imprisonment, desire for forgiveness, and mistakes that were made give numerous examples of things and messages to learn.
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Gabriel KearMarch 1, 2019 at 1:28 PM
I am reposting this as your email said to. I did complete it on time and emailed it to you whenever this weekend was.

Option 4:
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge which describes a story within a story. The protagonist, the Ancient Mariner, recounts his story of being a sailor at sea with other mariners and their problems they experienced to a guest attending a wedding. The Ancient Mariner, in simpler terms, stands for an older sailor who has aged on and with the sea. Whilst on the journey with his crew, the Ancient Mariner shot and killed an albatross, which is an oceanic bird. This represented the beginning of the end for the Ancient Mariner and his crew. The events that followed created the bulk of the story of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
The Ancient Mariner’s punishment could seem a bit harsh, however, if the Ancient Mariner could represent the human race, then the punishment seems justifiable. The punishment for killing the albatross was the death of all of the Ancient Mariner’s crew. They all died seemingly to illness or starvation. This punishment is fair because the Mariner killed an innocent creature that resembled the beauty of the ocean and animal life. The punishment can be seen as an eye for an eye; the bird was killed so the crew was killed.
At first glance, the sailors’ fate could be viewed as worse. However, in the long run, the Ancient Mariner’s fate is worse. He has the live with the grief of his whole crew dying because he killed an albatross. In the moment, dying on the ship could have been worse, but living with guilt and grief for decades weighs down on a person more than death. Death is instantaneous and once it has happened, it’s done. However, regret is forever and when that pressure is on someone’s shoulders for years it can drive them to insanity. Therefore, the Ancient Mariner’s fate is worse than the sailors’ fate.
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English LiteratureOctober 18, 2020 at 10:39 AM
I’m coming in rather late here but there’s something I’ve been wondering about this topic and You nicely cover this, Thanks for sharing such this nice article. Your post was really good. Some ideas can be made. About English literature. Further, you can access this site to read Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a Poem of Crime and Punishment
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