Oralappealfortheaudiencethroughthestanzaicstructurenotaconversationpoem,itisaballad.

Exclamatoryhighdramaticpartsintermsofintonationandinflexion.
ThisstorywaspromptedbyanexperiencecamefromWordsworthandColeridgestravels,about
goingtoaseasidelocation.
Containsamoralmessagetheirpoetryhadamoralintegrity.Elementofdidacticismintheverse
teachingpurpose.
Internalisedepicpersonaljourneyofthespeaker,ofhiscomingtounderstandknowledge.
Writteninarchaiclanguagegivesanatmosphere,oldfashionedwords.
Experimentationoftheelementsandstylelaterrelatedtothenamingoftheperiod.
Lyricalballads:
o Elementsofthesupernatural
o Gothicliteratureelements:
Melodrama(eg.labyrinthoftunnels)
Exploration of the subconscious (dreaming, symbolism, subconscious desires
pervertedviewsweretitillatingtogothicfictionlovers)
Abuseofnature,anattempttooverreach.
Sinatonementandredemption.
Needsasuspensionofdisbelief.
FramingnarrativeDracula(agothictext),hasaframingnarrative,storyofdeathand
darknessandsincontrastedwiththestoryofordinarygoingtoawedding.Bringsthe
fantasticalintotherealworldverisimilitude,senseofrealismandauthenticity.
o Appealingtoeverydayreaderssensibilitythatpullsatyouremotionalresponses.Stillinthe
lyricalballadtraditions.

Part1:
Mariner:glitteringeye,longgreybeardhiseyesareglitteringbecauseofhisexperience,mystical
andotherworldly.
Heisalmostghostlike,ancientgreybeardloon!andunkempt,enthralling.
By the end of the fourth stanza, he listens like a three years child captivated and completely
enthralled.Mysticalandmagical,theguestisspellbound.
Hecannotchoosebuthearheightenedsenseofdramaandanticipation.Sensethatthereadertoowill
anticipatethetale.
TheMarinerbeginsbyrecountinghowthebegantheirjourney.Theshipwascheeredwivesofthe
crew,repetitionofbelowreinforcethemovementoftheboatawayfromtheshore,melodicsoundto
thepoem.
Andheshone,andontherightWentdownintotheseasunissymbolofGodintheheavens,time
passingandanewday.hethesunispersonified.
SenseoftheMarinerthattheshipsetoutwellreachedacertainpoint,Equator,Meridianline.
Narrativeshiftsthetimethepresentstory,andtherecountofthepaststory.Coleridgebringsthem
togetherforcontrast.Twothingshappeningsimultaneously.Somethingbeingrecalledinthepast,and
thepresent,convergedatpointsfordramaticandthematiceffect.
Purposeistoentertain,butthereisalsothedidacticpurposeaswell.
beathisbreast
Withslopingmastselongationofthestanza,fasterpace,shiftinstanzadenotesthedrivingnature
oftheshiptowardstheSouthpole.
o Longsoundsslopingdenotespaceandvelocity,forwardbends,roaredtheblast
o Rhythm of verse has long lines, not truncated like the earlier lines. No definite marks of
punctuations,hereamorefluentmovement.Linesonlystoppedbycommasincreaseinpaceof
readingverse.
o Itseemsindramathattheyarebeingpursuedbysomething,whatispushingthemalong?the
stormblasttyrannoussubduesyoutoitswill.
o Voyage and adventure appealed to people the Royal Society was established in London,
botanistsandanthropologists.
o Capturedthephenomenaoftheperiodwhatpeopleweredoing,whatwashappening,notjst
theparadigms.
 coldsnowfloatingemeraldelongatedsounds.
PlosiveandfricativesoundshavesloweddownabitAsgreenasemeraldvivid,recollecting,
conjuringtheimagery.
Movementfromthefamiliartotheunfamiliarice,masthigh,camefloatingby
Theresnomanmadeshapesorbuildings,itisabarrenplace,uninhabitedbymen.
norbeastswekennoanimalsthatweknowof.
ForeignlandscapeandanimalsallsurroundedbyiceTheicewasallaround.
swound:swoon,dreamlike,onomatopoeia.Unfamiliarandrepetitivelandscape,nofamiliarmarksfor
orientation.
roundgrowledhowlednoiseoftheicecreaking.
Repetition,onomatopoeia,movementintoforeignterritory.
SwiftmovementoftheshipmomentumshiftedagainAtlengthdidcrossanAlbatross
fogisallaroundthemChristianreference,symbolisminthepoemforbiblicalreferences,thecross.
Christdiedforoursinsandtoredeemman.TheAlbatrossisgoingtodiesoon.Becomesamascotanda
guide,seemstobekeepingthemsafeandguidingthemsimilartohowChristwouldbeinaChristian
worldcompanion,guiding.Theeternallanguage,Godisinnatureinmagnificentformsofnature
youwillfindGod.
Importanceofnature,privilegingofnature,thehostilityofnature,sublimeaspectsofnature(storms).

Christianandreligiousreading:ideasofsin,reparationandredemption.

The scholarly notes and epigraph were added later after critics (old version was much more archaic).
Verisimilitudeideaofitbeingarealtale.

Symbolismandreferencestothenumbers3and7givingitareligiousideaTrinity,3wisemen.
albatrossaroundourneckoriginalsin.
LifeinDeathpurgatorialstate,inlimbo,halfdeathhalflife.
Drynesstonguedry,spirituallydry.
Pursuedbyanundercurrentinthewater,aforceofnaturebeneaththeship.SomewhatlikeGodturns
fromtheMarinerandsodoesNaturedoublevengeanceandpunishment.TheMarinerseesthehorrific
aspectsofNature,notonlythecoolandsoothingside.
TheMarinerisalmostdistantfromthebeautyofNature,andonlyseesitsugliness.

BetwixtusandtheSun.
AndstraighttheSunwasfleckedwithbars,
(Heaven'sMothersendusgrace!)
Asifthroughadungeongratehepeered
Withbroadandburningface.
FeelstheSunisdistantfromhimremovedfromthelifesource.
Thingsaroundhimbecomequitehostileheisdoinghispenance.
Heisalone;thereisnothingtoquenchhisspiritualandphysicalthirst.Thereisnothingtonourishhis
life.Thewaterismetaphoricalforthis.
TheSun:celestialbody,God.
Laterwhentheraincomes,itcleanseshimbaptism.

PartIV:

Alone,alone,all,allalone,
Aloneonawidewidesea!
Andneverasainttookpityon
Mysoulinagony.

Themanymen,sobeautiful!
Andtheyalldeaddidlie:
Andathousandthousandslimythings
Livedon;andsodidI.

Solitudeofhispunishmenttheabandonmentofnatureandhislifesource.Heisleftinthepurgatorial
statemustredeemhimself.

Fortheskyandthesea,andtheseaandthesky
Laydeadlikealoadonmywearyeye,
Andthedeadwereatmyfeet
Predominanceofrepetition,ploddingnatureofthispartofthepoem.
Sometimesanaphora,andothertimesitischiasmus(invertedrepetitiontheskyandthesea,andthe
seaandthesky),whichisdisorientating.

ThemovingMoonwentupthesky,
Andnowheredidabide:
Softlyshewasgoingup,
Andastarortwobeside
TheselfsamemomentIcouldpray;
Andfrommynecksofree
TheAlbatrossfelloff,andsank
Likeleadintothesea.
Moon:symbolofspiritualpurity.
Notionofatonementandspiritualredemption,expiation.
AndIblessedthemunawarereturnofconditionforempathy.Themoonrisesandbringslighttothe
darknight.
SymbolicallytheAlbatrossfallsfromhisneckburdenofhissinisgone.
Quenchingofonesspiritualthirst,aridityofthelackofspirituality.Waterandwetnessrepresentsa
differentstate,andthenheisabletopray(beforeheisunabletopray).
Seasnakeswerepreviouslyslimy,andnowtheyarecoloured.
Sensoryandcolourimagerywhichiscontrastedinthetwosections.
Interiorreflectionofhishumanstate,naturereflectsthis.

PartV:REDEMPTION
Regenerationofthesoultouchedbysleepandrest.
Symbolismofhisspiritualredemptionbaptism.
ThewindTheHolySpirit,orNaturebeingkindandrevivinghimwanderedlikeabreeze.
Light,buoyant,thereismovementvsdull,heavy,repetitiveverseofprevioussectionreflectingthe
weightaroundtheMarinersneck.Nowtheweighthasgone.
sedgereedsaroundthewateredge.
TheMoonwasatitssidetheclouddoesnoteclipsetheMoon,itisabletoshinethrough.
Ideaofhimbeingredeemed,buthemustdohistime,mustdohispenance.
Humanexperiencecomingthroughtrialsandtribulationsoflife.InthePaganworldtotheChristian
world,abetterunderstandingofhisplaceintheworld.
Repetitionofheavenlyimageryshowsthetransformationofhisspirit.
gentlesleep..thesleepisagiftfromGod.Senseofpeaceandtherejuvenationthatcomesfrom
sleep.Therewashorrorbeforebitingmyarmhorrorandsufferingonthevergeofdeath.Nowthe
spiritisquenchedandhissoulcanrest.
rainpoureddownfromblackcloudswaternotadroptodrinknowthereisanabundanceofwater.
Symbolicofhisspiritualtransformation.Movingfromonestateofmindandspiritandphysicalstate,to
another.Redeemingpowerofnaturethatenablesthistransformation.Insomeways,the LimeTree
thereisadescentintothedellofthespirit,comingoutfromthissubmergedstateintotheheaven.
Recurringelementsofpoetry.
Inthisperiod,manwasindustrialisingtheworld.Romanticsdidntlikethisstrippingnature,losinga
connectionwithnature.Exploredhere:manseveringhisrelationshipwithnature,losingappreciationfor
nature.Needingtoreappreciateinordertoredeemhimself.
 Spiritofmankindcommunionwiththespiritofnaturethatrevivesus.PANTHEISM.

HermitsandrecluseswereverypopularfiguresoftheRomanticperiod.
Exploitationofnatureforselfgainmansimpositiononnaturebeingexplored.
Romanticslikedtheuntamedaspectsofnature.
Hermitmighthavelived,movingfromthecivilisedpartoftheworld.Otherreligionsstillhavefigures
suchastheHermit:associatedwithintrospection,wisdom.
Releasefromlifeindeath.
TheRiverStyx,Lethewatersmythology.

Benevolenceofnature,thesublime,rejuvenatingaspectsofnature.
Theterrorandpowerofnature,theconstructiveregenerativeandthechaoticdegenerativeofnature.
Ideaoftheredemptionofhumankind,themoreChristianaspectsofthetext.Whatistheconditionof
man?ultimateconclusionoftherelationshipbetweenmanandnature.

PartVandVI:
Continual references to light instead of references to the Sun as the introduction, theres more
referencestoMoon,recurringnatureofnature.KublaKhanmysticalandenigmaticaspectsofnature.
Appreciatingallpartsofnature,eventheinsignificantparts.Impartingofthewisdomthatislearned
throughsuffering.
MetbythreementheMagiofBible.Magusthewisdom.TheHolyTrinity.
Seraphassociationwithlight.

PartIII:
LifeinDeathpurgatorialstate,inlimbo,halfdeathhalflife,inneitherblissnorparadiseoraliveon
earth.
TheMarinerisabandonedandalone,overwhelmingsenseofdryness=spirituallydry.
Drynesstonguedry,spirituallydry.

Withthroatsunslaked,withblacklipsbaked,
Wecouldnorlaughnorwail;
Throughutterdrouthalldumbwestood!
Ibitmyarm,Isuckedtheblood,
Andcried,Asail!asail!

Withthroatsunslaked,withblacklipsbaked,
Agapetheyheardmecall:
Gramercy!theyforjoydidgrin,
Andallatoncetheirbreathdrewin,
Astheyweredrinkingall.

Pursuedbyanundercurrentinthewater,aforceofnaturebeneaththeship.SomewhatlikeGodturns
fromtheMarinerandsodoesNaturedoublevengeanceandpunishment.TheMarinerseesthehorrific
aspectsofNature,notonlythecoolandsoothingside.
TheMarinerisalmostdistantfromthebeautyofNature,andonlyseesitsugliness.
ImageofthedeathshipcomingbetweentheMarinerandtheSunAndstraighttheSunwasfleckedwith
bars,(Heaven'sMothersendusgrace!)
Senseofprisonbarsthathavecreatedtheillusionofthisskeletaldeathshipseemsthatwhenhelooksat
theship,thesunisimprisonedremovedanddistant.
Hecantprey,hemustendurethehostileaspectofnature.
plungedandtackedandveered
Ibitmyarm,Isuckedthebloodsupernaturalelementsbegintoemerge.
Themanymen,sobeautiful!
Andtheyalldeaddidlie:
Andathousandthousandslimythings
Livedon;andsodidI.
Heisremovedfromallthatcouldbringhimlife,thewaterisametaphorfortheabandonmentofnature
andtherevealofitsdegenerativeaspects.

ThemovingMoonwentupthesky,
Andnowheredidabide:
Softlyshewasgoingup,
Andastarortwobeside

ThecelestialMoonandSunaretherejuvenatingaspectsofnaturerelatedtothedivine,theGodin
nature,thetranquileffectsofnature.
PeriodofhisestrangementfromNature.

Oneafterone,bythestardoggedmoon,
Tooquickforgroanorsigh,
Eachturnedhisfacewithghastlypang,
Andcursedmewithhiseye.

ViolationofnaturethroughthekillingoftheAlbatrossseveredrelationshipwithNaturecastintothis
wilderness,separatedfromnature,itisaLifeInDeath.
PunishmentforhiskillingoftheAlbatross,mustatoneandendurepunishmentforthis.Mustlearnto
loveNatureagain.
BetwixtusandtheSunrelationshipissevered;theshiphascomebetweenhimandtheSun.TheSun
isthelifeforce.

PartI:
Sun,Albatross,Mariner,shipmajorsymbolsareestablished.
TheMarineractsoutofignoranceandcomestolearnsomethinginthecourseofthepoem.Journeyof
knowingandisolation.
Heleavesthelandandsailstotheunknown,andreturningwiththeknowledge.
InnocenceandExperiencepoemsBlake.Naivetyandcomingbackwithwisdomandawarningto
others.Goingtowildernessandtrials,allowshimtocometothatappreciation.
VeiledsymbolsofGod(Sun),benevolenceofnature,beautyofnatureguidingitonthecourse.Man
thenviolatesthisrelationship.

The Rime oftheAncientMarineritisabouthowthetaleteachestheweddingguest,Mariner>alterego

Coleridge.
Theartistisasubversivefigurewhichisanobjectofsuspicioninbourgeoissociety.