1. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
By Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

2. Coleridge biography Born in 1772 Father died when he was 9 years old
He retreated into books and his own imagination
Spent a lot of time outdoors—contracted a painful case of rheumatism that plagued him for the rest of his life
Took opium to prevent pain—became addicted

3. Coleridge biography Studied at Cambridge University
Joined a movement to establish an ideal community in the United States because he was inspired by the democratic ideals of the French Revolution
Gave radical speeches on this utopian community he and friends tried to establish in Pennsylvania

4. Coleridge biography
Met William Wordsworth at the age of 25 and collaborated to write Lyrical Ballads
Known as one of the greatest literary critics of his age—critiqued Shakespeare—despite his health problems and drug addiction
Died in 1834

5. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Published in 1797-1798
Literary ballad
A songlike poem that tells a story; written in imitation of the folk ballad from the oral tradition of literature
Ballad Elements:
Quatrains of alternating 4 and 3 stressed syllables
(ballad stanza)
Rhyme scheme of abcb
Iambic meter
Repeated lines or phrases
Use of slant rhymes
Archaic spellings

6. Gothic Literature “Rime”is a Gothic poem.
Gothic literature takes readers into the dark, nightmare world of the supernatural. It is set in spooky places such as dark, mysterious castles or underground passages, and it conveys a sense of horror.
Gothic literature became popular in the late 1700’s, as part of the Romantic Movement. The Romantics distrusted the everyday world of reason. They believed in the power of imagination to reveal the truth about the world.

7. “Mariner” It also contains “songlike” elements:
1. Internal rhyme-rhyme within a line of poetry
*Ex. “The guests are met; the feast is set.”
2. assonance- repetition of vowel sounds
*Ex. “Tis sweeter far to me”
3. alliteration-repetition of consonant sounds
*Ex. “And listens like a three-years child”

8. “Mariner” It also has many examples of figurative language: Metaphors
Similes
Personification
Symbolism

9. Critics’ View of “Mariner”
Traces sin and Christian redemption:
Innocence
Transgression and Sin
Period of Suffering
Act of Atonement
Consequences
Moral

10. Journal
Using 2-3 sentences: Describe how a child who has broken something might behave. How do they speak? Eye contact? Move?
Write a ½ page about a time in which you felt guilty about something. What happened? How did you behave at first? How did you overcome the feeling? Have you ever made that mistake again? If so, how did you feel the second time?