The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Analysis Sam Unsworth

Key Themes Liminality Religion Retribution Act of Storytelling Imprisonment

Key Symbols The Albatross The Sun The Moon

Liminality “So that we may distinguish the sure from the unsure” Although Mariner sets off confident with a clear mission, when problems arise he becomes bewildered and thus ends up wizened + saddened Sailors pass the equator then a ferocious storm ensues Example of a liminal space/setting they have entered Epitome of a liminal space > simultaneously beautiful + terrifying Sailors move from blame to praise to blame in very short time evidence of liminality, represent those quick to judge + those eager to discern the ‘certain’ from ‘uncertain’ Associated with euphoria + state of mind Coleridge was in due to drug use

Imprisonment “As if through a dungeon-grate he peered / With broad and burning face.“ Once entering the ‘rime’ which is ‘mast high’ = prison Used to foreshadow Mariner’s later imaginative liminality Sailors literally imprisoned in bodies, unable to communicate due to drought Quote ^ shows how spiritual world has power over all that is temporal/physical as it can imprison the Sun it seems Mariner is further imprisoned by his ‘rhyme’ as if he were in the ‘rime’ [ice world] forever - eternal torture Seen that he imprisons others [wedding guest] with his tale

Retribution “With my cross-bow/I shot the Albatross” Whole poem is a tale of retribution for the irrational mistake Spiritual world avenges the Albatross extensively Sailors suffer and die although they aren’t involved Suggests retribution is (1) blind – enthralled by anger and can thus punish wrongly, or that (2) sailors are all connected to the main sinner [Mariner] and thus should die for this Spiritual world is immortal = endure forever the loss of their beloved Albatross. Mariner gets eternal punishment [life in death] reserved for him = eternal torment of the curse Suggests Mariner may in fact be a ghost from the grave, warning others of such impulsive moments of foolishness

Act of Storytelling “And till my ghastly tale is told/This heart within me burns” “I have strange power of speech” Used to ‘teach’ (1) Mariner > Wedding guest (2) Coleridge > Ourselves [readers] To educate + dissuade both (1)+(2) from disregarding the natural + spiritual worlds Coleridge links himself to Mariner; both are compelled to write/talk however compelling it is equally a ‘curse’ Mariner is stuck in limbo between life/death > Coleridge is stuck in liminal space of imagination until he writes Both are addicts of storytelling, yet reliving the tale for the Mariner is part of his torture – Coleridge it only momentarily relives his torture of liminality until he succumbs to the urge

Religion “A spring of love gushed from my heart/And I blessed them unaware [The sea monsters]” Mariner angers God by killing one of his creatures Lack of respect towards God’s rules, Mariner attempts to ‘define’ what the Albatross is by bringing it down to the temporal world God’s creatures have a spiritual connection with him >spiritual world punishes Mariner by wrecking havoc on temporal world Show Mariner can only be cured of his ‘sin’ by realizing the monsters around him are beautiful in God’s eyes Following rain can be seen as a baptism Towards the end Mariner can be seen as a prophet of God

Weather Weather changes constantly, windy + cool > still + roaring heat Water exists in all 3 phases; water, mist, ice Very indistinct as it constantly refers to differing states > represents the uncertainty about the world they find themselves in Shows the line between these states is tenuous > represents the dramatic thoughts of the Mariner and sailors + how they are indecisive Not necessarily the desolateness or coldness of the icy world which makes it so scary, but contrast the fact nothing is easily definable

The Albatross Seen as the temporal embodiment of Christ Therefore has a constant connection with spiritual world White = pure, Christian, harmless Hung around Mariner’s neck – symbol of Jesus being hung to a cross – further suggests it’s a symbol for him Link with theme of Religion/Retribution

The Sun “God’s own head” Coleridge links the Sun to God ^ Association of Sun with punishment; it dehydrates sailors Sun can be seen as figurative imagery for God being alive + authoritative during the day Bad things happen to the crew during the day, contrast to smooth sailing happening at night

The Moon Sun a symbol for avengeful, angry God, whereas moon a symbol for benevolent, kind God Associations for good = Mariners curse lifted, returns home by the moonlight Mentioned over ten times during the poem

Key Structural/AO2 Form = Loose, short ballad stanzas Lots of internal rhyme Rhyming couplets generally ABAB Couplets alternate frequently however, often there isn’t a clear, defined rhyme structure Epigraph at start of poem = massive importance