It's one of the foundational tales of the Romantic movement, an exemplar of horror ('the nightmare life-in-death was she') and grim irony ('water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink'). Its also one of the few of the
Lyrical Ballads to actually be a ballad (there are a few others in ballad stanza, but only one or two -- perhaps
"We are Seven" -- that really embody the ballad's mixture of lyricism and repetition). And it's proven very durable, still an engaging read in an era in which the combination of the words 'narrative' and 'poetry' elicits a sense of dread -- not of the horror of the tale but the tedium of the form.
Coleridge originally wrote the poem in mock-antique orthography, with "ancient" spelled old-style as "antient," and "mariner" with a completely unnecessary final e as "marinere." Happily, he abandoned this in the second edition of
Lyrical Ballads, and added helpful side-notes, an early instance of a poet annotating his own work. He chose for its setting the extremes of the ocean, evoking both the Sargasso Sea (a mid-ocean area with much floating vegetation where ships were often becalmed) and the Antarctic -- the mariner's headlong careening south is a journey similar to what we read from Poe in "
MS. Found in a Bottle." The natural sublime, in the form both of the sea's teeming with unknown life, and the sterile and hostile cold of the realm of ice, is perfectly framed here, and the supernatural elements are perfectly integrated into the natural ones. And of course the mariner shoots the albatross, which is later hung about his neck by the superstitious sailors -- giving us a metaphor that's
still in political use today.
As I mentioned in class, it's an excellent poem to hear read aloud -- one my favorite versions is by
Sir Richard Burton -- though
Ian McKellan also does a reasonably good turn, and says "greybeard loon" with real feeling.
I thoroughly hearing this poem read aloud. The poem conveys the interesting tale of the ancient mariner and how his unreasonable actions leave him with consequences brought by the supernatural, or life-in-death. The mariner shot and killed an Albatross, committing a sin against God's creations and life. The Albatross was an innocent creature of God that was wrongfully and unreasonably killed by the mariner. The bird, alive, acted as a saving grace to the ship, breaking the ice it was trapped in. The mariner must live with his wrongdoing, so the supernatural torments him. He is the lonesome survivor leading to physical and psychological suffering. The only way he can be rid of this suffering is if he acknowledges the sublime, or beauty, of God's creations. The mariner must be held accountable for his sin and live with the agony forever. This tale conveys the idea that there is grave danger in acting without considering the repercussions. It also illustrates that one should appreciate the beauty of life and not destroy it like the mariner. He caused suffering and death to one of God's creations, leading perpetual suffering, and torment. This story additionally makes me think of the appreciation of life and nature. I certainly make efforts to keep nature intact by recycling or taking care of animals. I admire the beauty of nature while traveling. Nature and such creations need to be protected, cared for, respected, and admired.
ReplyDeleteOne part of the poem I wanted to point out was the moment when the shipmates die, leaving the mariner alone all by himself, making him think about his previous decisions. The scene is portrayed as being hauntingly ominous/eerie, as the lifeless bodies from the crew surround the mariner. "Alone, alone, all, all alone...alone on a wide wide sea...and never a saint took pity on...my soul in agony...the many men, so beautiful...and they all dead did lie". This part is mysteriously written in a way that is not extremely descriptive, giving the reader their own ability to paint the picture of what the scene could've possibly looked like in their head. The albatross, which the mariner had killed, became a symbol for his burden and guilt. The silence of the scene reflects the mariner's internal regret and shame for the consequences that arose from his disrespect for the living. It tells the reader that all living things and the actions of them have an impact on the world around them.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this poem I have come to the conclusion that its main message is to inform us that us as humans should think twice before committing to foolish acts. In the "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" the Mariner kills an innocent albatross and regrets it. He is overwhelmed with guilt in the form of natural and supernatural experiences which make him regret the killing of the albatross. He imagined a ghost ship and the ocean being full of snakes and tried to pray to save himself but found he couldn't. After one of the terrifying experiences he prayed and was relieved of the guilt. The albatross may have been ill but it was still beautiful in the eyes of god and humans should respect all of the creations of the lord.
ReplyDeleteAs I listened to this poem be read, it was as if I could feel the emotions from the poem, I cannot tell if it's solely from the words of the poem itself or from the person reciting it.
ReplyDeleteWhat was interesting to me was that the mariner who was the one to repulsively shoot the albatross that brought good luck was the person who was left with the guilt and wandering around telling people what he had done wrong to caution them, yet his crew also fell one-by-one leaving him alive. He doesn't just carry the guilt of shooting the albatross, but the deaths of his crewmates.
Jodi Fowler
DeleteAfter listening to the poem, I was able to establish that this is also like Poe's stories where there are supernatural elements, as well as themes such as guilt, redemption, and connecting all things living. The Mariner was talking about a harrowing sea voyage and suddenly encounter an albatross, which is supposedly for good luck, but the Mariner shot the albatros, causing bad luck. The consequences of his impulsive action was them suffering misfortunes and being stranded in a desolate, windless sea. The mariner lived to tell the tale and teach others the consequences of impulsive actions and disregarding nature and connections of all living things.
ReplyDelete- Ian Cabrera
Briana Hargis - I attentively read this poem. It narrates the captivating story of the ancient mariner and the repercussions of his irrational deeds, imposed by the supernatural or life-in-death. The mariner's fatal act of shooting and killing an Albatross constitutes a sin against God's creations and life itself. The Albatross, an innocent creature of God, was unjustly and senselessly slain by the mariner. While alive, the bird served as a savior to the ship, breaking through its icy confinement. The mariner is now burdened with the consequences of his misdeed, tormented by the supernatural. As the sole survivor, he endures both physical and psychological anguish, which can only be alleviated by acknowledging the magnificence, or beauty, inherent in God's creations. The mariner is held accountable for his transgression and must bear the agony indefinitely. This narrative underscores the peril of acting without foresight into the consequences and emphasizes the importance of cherishing and preserving life, unlike the mariner who brought suffering and death upon one of God's creatures, resulting in perpetual torment. Furthermore, it prompts contemplation on the appreciation of life and nature.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of the poem worth highlighting is the moment when the mariner finds himself alone after the demise of his shipmates, prompting reflection on his past choices. The scene is depicted as eerily haunting, with the lifeless bodies of the crew encircling the mariner. "Alone, alone, all, all alone...alone on a wide wide sea...and never a saint took pity on...my soul in agony...the many men, so beautiful...and they all dead did lie." This passage is crafted with a mysterious tone, allowing the reader to envision the scene according to their interpretation. The Albatross, which the mariner had slain, becomes emblematic of his burden and guilt. The silence of the scene mirrors the mariner's inner remorse and shame for the consequences stemming from his disregard for life. It serves as a reminder that all living beings and their actions have repercussions in the world around them.
Personally, I endeavor to preserve nature through recycling and caring for animals and find solace in the beauty of nature during my travels. Nature and its creations deserve protection, care, respect, and admiration.
Lexianna Santos:
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to the poem the theme of guilt and redemption is something that stuck out to me. I feel as though the main message about the poem is about the consequences of human actions when disrupting the balance of nature. Through the journey of the mariner, who commits a sin by shooting the albatross, the poem goes into detail about the consequence of human actions on the natural world and the spiritual journey. The shooting of the albatross by the mariner is a symbol of the defiance of the balance and the curse/bad luck on the mariner and his crew which then reflects the consequence of their actions. Through the mariner's journey of pain and redemption, the poem focuses on the connection of all living beings and the importance of respecting and working together with the natural world rather than disrupting it. Overall, the poem conveys a strong message of regret and redemption through acknowledging and taking accountability of our choices and actions.
I enjoyed listening to the poem, i feel as if during the poems story the theme was describing the consequence for your actions. I seemed to pick this up when listening to the Mariner feeling guilty for doing a thoughtless act. When the Mariner shot the albatross, he did it thinking that it brought dull, fog, and unluckiness. However, it was just the opposite. It turns out when he kills the bird, the consequence start acting out quickly with the sailors dying and the ghosts making appearances. I feel as if this is a good connection to real life situations: Acting out without thinking thoroughly will get you nowhere good. Stop and think things through, because not only can it effect you, but it can with others. This was a great story, I felt as if I was the wedding guest!
ReplyDeleteAllison Quinn: I totally agree! I think it’s so interesting how because of something he did in haste resulted in eternal punishment. He killed a beautiful creature because of his own selfishness, and now he, and those around him have to suffer grave consequence. It’s amazing to see how quickly the story twists, and turns it to tales about the dark horrors he must endure now.
DeleteUpon reflecting on the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," it becomes evident that its central message urges us, to carefully consider our actions before committing to them. The Mariner's tragic mistake of killing an innocent animal leads to overwhelming feelings of guilt, haunting him through both natural and supernatural experiences. He then witnesses ghostly apparitions and eerie occurrences, symbolizing his remorse for the senseless act. Despite the fact that he was attempting to seek redemption through prayer, he begins finds himself unable to alleviate his burden of guilt. Through the Mariner's journey, we come to understand the importance of respecting all of God's creations, even those that may appear insignificant or misunderstood to some of us. The animal, though possibly ill, remains a beautiful creation worthy of reverence. The poem serves as a affecting reminder that our actions will have consequences, and we should avoid putting other in harm’s way. Overall, it calls expresses to us that we should appreciate the beauty and importance of all living beings.
ReplyDeleteA part of the story that I find interesting and wonder about is why the Mariner chooses the people he does to tell his story to. He says he is compelled to tell people his story and has to find the people who must here it. Then just from this story you can tell that the people who he tells are almost compelled to listen. The wedding guest wanted to go to the wedding and at the beginning was trying to get away from the mariner but as he started telling his story the wedding guest sat down and listened. So, I wonder if he specifically tells people his story. It seems kind of random that he picks the wedding guest but it also seems like he gives his story with a purpose. Maybe he can tell that some people need to learn something from his story.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this poem, I would say the main lesson or significance is how our actions have consequences. After the Mariner had killed the albatross, he had been faced with terrible consequences. He was then required to wear the albatross around his neck, almost as if he needed to be shamed. I also think there is a similar comparison to christianity, and how we carry the weight of our sins on our shoulders. The mariner had sinned when killing the innocent albatross. Once we are forgiven, the weight is lifted and we are given another chance.
ReplyDeleteLiana Nerbonne
ReplyDeleteThis poem underscores the profound notion that our actions inevitably carry consequences. Following the Mariner's fateful act of killing the albatross, he is burdened with dire repercussions, symbolized by wearing the albatross around his neck as a mark of shame. There's a poignant parallel drawn to Christian beliefs, where individuals bear the weight of their sins until absolution is granted. Much like the Mariner's eventual redemption, forgiveness offers a chance at liberation from the burdens of guilt and remorse.
Mia JeanLouis
ReplyDeleteAmong the themes explored in "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" are shame, salvation, and the dependent nature of all life. It makes us think about the results of our deeds, the weight of regret, and the possibility of moral regeneration. The excursion is a lesson on ethical accountability and concern for nature, and the albatross represents the burden of guilt.
Carina Marques
ReplyDeleteThis poem really highlights how strongly our actions can have an impact and how we should really think about what we do before we do it. Shame and regret are such strong emotions that will haunt you after making a silly choice that results in choas, guilt weighs so heavily on our decision making.
After listening to this story I would like to note, it incudes the theme of having to deal with the consequences of your actions. In one of the most important scenes in the story, the mariner takes the tragic decision to shoot down an albatross that was going after their ship. This seemingly minor act sets off a chain of events that ultimately brings a curse from nature itself on the ship and its crew. The killing of the albatross shows a disrespect for the world's peace, and it has disastrous repercussions for the mariner and his friends, who end up stranded in a ghostly and desolate sea.
ReplyDeleteByron Veliz- I like how the poem was very descriptive when describing the circumstances while they are on the ship. For example when it says the roaring wind this emphasizes that the conditions when they are travelling are intense because the wind is very strong and keeps making the ocean move leading to the ship to be unstable. Also when it describes the ice as cracking and growiling it gives the reader teh implication that the people in the ship are in danger and possibly might die and very time the ship moves and the ice cracks they are closer and closer to not making it.
ReplyDeleteKarla Rodriguez
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this poem I found it very interesting and it made me think many things, one of the things I believe is that this poem can also refer to the conscience and regret that human beings have when they commit a crime, as in the poem that narrates about which Sailor killed an albatross that was after his ship which led him to experience the consequences of his act as I believe also that the supernatural things that were happening on the ship was part of the punishment that the sailor was receiving for killing someone innocent.
I think that this poem happens in real life in the form of consequences of some action where we harm someone innocent, such as taking their life or making them suffer. This could cause us supernatural acts like the sailor because of conscience, making us regret our actions. that our own mind can create for us to feel frustrated and guilty.
When I was reading this poem I thought it was very interesting. This poem explores the themes of guilt and redemption. The mariner has to deal with the consequences of his actions from starvation then to telling the cautionary tale for the rest of his life. Sometimes the choices that we make are not the right ones but they are already done and we have to deal with what comes next. The albatross represents the guilt of there mariner and that is why he has to wear it around his neck so everyone can see what he has done.
ReplyDeleteAllison Quinn: I think this poem had a totally different feeling when I listened to it being read aloud vs when I read it myself. Obviously the poem was always very grim but listening to it be read a loud chilled be a little at certain parts. This poem reminded me a little bit about “A Christmas Carol” the whole idea of doing a terrible thing then being haunted by it. He snuffed out the life of an innocent animal, and even though some people praised him for this act saying it brought the fog. This animal was a creation of a god and was meant to exist just the way it was. Ultimately he was heavily punished by his own guilt, but also his own passengers and a sort of divine force. He has to hang the albatross that he killed around his neck a heavy weight for the crime he committed against nature. He went against his own nature, and changed himself by killing the bird. Most of the story is about the repercussions of killing of the bird. I think the story portrays very well, but grimly how when we betray ourselves with thoughtless acts it will continue to haunt us. He had to face constant repercussions because a small act he committed without thinking.
ReplyDelete-Nataly Santos
ReplyDeleteUpon listening through this poem it became very clear that the main theme depicted was that there are always consequences for your actions. The albatross that was fatefully killed by the mariner, was a symbol of nature which helped the mariner in his multitude of challenges. Once the albatross was killed it became very apparent that the mariner was overcome by the guilt that he felt and that nature had enacted revenge on him. All the unfortunate events that occurred after the death of the albatross were not there by coincidence, but were done to help teach the mariner about his mistakes and to help him feel regret. In conclusion, I found the poem very interesting, and I believe that this story shows the importance of respecting nature and the things around us.
Lucas McElroy -
ReplyDeleteI find the part where the Mariner shot the Albatross with the crossbow the best part of this poem. In shooting the Albatross the Mariner inadvertently put a curse on his ship. The guilt that came from this was because his crew was then haunted by death and thirst. But, I also believe that it was a lesson learned from the Mariner because then he used his prior mistakes to share to the world a message of appreciation for all things and creatures.
Amanda Viveiros
ReplyDeleteThis week I listened to the poem and it was a nice change. I really enjoyed listening to it being read to me. Throughout the whole poem a theme that really stuck out to me was "there are always consequences to your actions" this is shown when the Mariner kills the innocent albatross. Instantly he is sent in a spiral of regret and guilt. He started to hallucinate this caused him to beg for it to stop.
I chose to listen to the poem rather than read it to get a different perspective. When listening to it, you can learn more about it and what parts are really emphasized by the tone and way it is being read. It can help with understanding the words and meaning better. It is also peaceful to read, even when it is very grim, and it is easier to focus on the words. But overall, you can have a different feeling listening to it compared to reading it yourself. While listening, I noticed that the poem had an overall theme about how there will always be consequences for your actions. The Mariner commits a small act in the poem; throughout it, we see all the little outcomes that come along with his actions. What he did was kill the innocent albatross. From that point, he experienced lots of guilt, not only from killing but because he put a curse on the ship because his crew was now haunted by death. The poem mainly talks about all the repercussions of this action. After it all, all he wants is for it to stop.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how the poem described the conditions they were in while aboard the ship in great detail. For instance, the phrase "roaring wind" highlights how harsh the conditions are when they are traveling because the wind is extremely powerful and causes the ocean to fluctuate, which makes the ship unsteady. Additionally, the description of the ice as it cracks and growls suggests to the reader that the passengers inside the ship are in danger and may not survive; with each movement of the ship and each crack in the ice, their chances of survival decrease.
ReplyDeleteI found this poem to be really intriguing as I read it. The concepts of guilt and salvation are examined in this poem. The mariner must live the remainder of his life with the repercussions of his deeds, which include starving and delivering the cautionary story. Even if we sometimes make poor decisions, the damage has already been done, and we must now cope with the fallout. The albatross is a symbol of the mariner's guilt, which is why he must wear it around his neck for everyone to see.
ReplyDeleteFranz Eliasson