The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Summary

Introduction

There are many adventure stories recorded in literature, and practically all of them include a brave hero who battles and overcomes every obstacle in his path. However, what is it actually like to deal with the dangers and catastrophes that afflict these careless individuals who engage in such daring adventures? The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge has this.

It's an interesting poem overall, but it's also rather dated, a touch lengthy, and occasionally strange. This prompts the question: Why on earth should we read it? which you may already be asking. Let's respond to this question right away by saying that we should take it into consideration since, to put it simply, it is a poem that fundamentally altered the field of poetry and English literature in general. Do not be concerned by the eccentricities of the job. we are here to help.

About Author

Samuel Taylor Coleridge English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian (21 October 1772 - 25 July 1834) co-founded the Romantic Movement in England with his friend William Wordsworth and was a member of the Lake Poets. Additionally, he collaborated and exchanged books with Charles Lamb, Robert Southey, and Charles Lloyd. Along with the significant literary work Biographia Literaria, he also penned the poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan. His critical writings, particularly those on William Shakespeare, had a significant impact and aided in the dissemination of German idealism philosophy among English-speaking societies. Coleridge is credited with creating a number of well-known expressions, such as "suspension of disbelief". Ralph Waldo Emerson and American transcendentalism were greatly influenced by him.

Theme

One of the most well-known poems is this one. It has the structure of a ballad. The poem tells the tale of an aged sailor's transgression, punishment, and salvation. The poem tells the audience that after committing a crime, one will always face God's wrath. The poem opens with an mariner preventing one of the wedding guests from attending by regaling him with anecdotes from his life.

Summary

The poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" begins with a description of an ancient mariner stopping a wedding guest. The best man for the groom attended the wedding. He was then given a weird story by the mariner. The poet was going to start the wedding at this point. On their way to the feast, some wedding guests stopped by. The best man for the groom among them made a sudden stop. He was behind schedule. He was rushing to the reception venue. He was aware that the bride had arrived since he could hear music coming from the hall. He didn't want to listen to the mariner, but the mariner compelled him to sit and do so by holding his hand.

The mariner began to describe how everything was happy and upbeat as soon as the ship departed the harbour. The church, the hill, and the lighthouse were left behind when they sailed. They were sailing joyfully as the sun shined quite brightly. However, their joy was short-lived when they were struck by a violent storm, which caused the ship's trajectory to alter to the south. The ship nonetheless continued to go forward. The visitor could hear that the wedding rite had begun in the interim, but he was unable to leave the sailor.

The mariner went on to describe that as they advanced through the storm, they encountered enormous icebergs everywhere. These icebergs were making tremendous noises as they cracked when the ship got wedged in them. Then they witnessed an albatross suddenly appear and perch on the boat. The bird was revered as a divine messenger. They speculated that neighbouring land may exist. The icebergs that were in their way were being watched by the albatross. The enormous block of ice split in two, allowing the ship to pass.

The fact that they could resume their trip gave the sailors on board reason to believe that the bird was a positive omen. The ship was forced to contend with bitter cold and mist after fleeing the storm. Visibility got progressively worse, making navigation more challenging. The ship and the bird were able to travel through the mist. The crew members were pleased because they believed the bird had brought good luck and fed the bird. The bird was played with by the sailors. The bird remained with the ship for nine days. The ancient mariner accidentally shot the bird one day with a bow and arrow.

The mariner was condemned for his actions by the other sailors, who were furious with him. The weather improved and the sun came out again after the bird passed away. Because the bird had caused the storm and the mist, all of the sailors agreed that killing it was the correct course of action. They believed that the bird was impeding their progress. The ship sailed quite easily in the direction of the north for a few days. The wind stopped blowing after a few days of smooth sailing, and the ship came to a standstill. The heat from the sun increased. They failed to locate even a single drop of water for drinking. Only they could see the surrounding waters.

The waters became incredibly still and appeared to be on fire. The men soon realised that killing the bird had made their lives miserable. They blamed the old mariner for what he did since they were so furious with him. The mariner then began to feel bad about murdering it, so he told the strangers his story.

Conclusion

For those of us who believe that our errors are holding us back and that we are unable to get past the guilt associated with those sins, the character of the elderly mariner is particularly sympathetic. By sharing his thoughts and his experience with everyone he encounters, the elderly mariner strives to get past the error he made. Similarly to this, he approaches a guest at the wedding and convinces him to hear his account.

The narrative teaches us that we must proceed regardless of what has happened and devise strategies for shedding our shame and forgiving ourselves. It is imperative that we love ourselves and are compassionate towards our emotions. The narrative also serves as a reminder to be grateful for everything that God has provided and to savour the simple things in life. This may be done by realising that humans are just one of many creatures of God, rather than being His sole creation and taking a moment to stop hurrying to get things done.

We should learn to coexist peacefully with them rather than take advantage of them for our own gain. The elderly mariner feels bad for killing the bird and believes he is to blame for all of his friends' deaths, which were brought on by the bird's demise. Later, he begins sharing his tale with everyone he comes across. Similar to that, he shares his tale with someone who was going to go to a wedding. The wedding guest becomes depressed after hearing the elderly mariner's tale and keeps reflecting on what he said.

FAQ's

What is The Rime of the Ancient Mariner's plot summary?

The story of a mariner who shoots an albatross and causes tragedy for his ship and other sailors is told in Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The ancient mariner then travels the globe telling others about his unlucky adventure.

What lesson does The Rime of the Ancient Mariner poetry teach us?

Readers are cautioned about the risks of acting without thinking about the repercussions in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Because he thought it was a bad omen, the mariner shot the albatross. He and his crew blamed the bird for the dying breeze.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is what sort of a poem?

Poetic ballad, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a lyrical ballad, which is a poem composed in the format and manner of a folk song, typically by an unidentified author. A ballad is a narrative song poem that may be sung or chanted rhythmically and often tells the story of a single, dramatic episode or story.

What does Ancient Mariner's core message entail?

The poem tells the audience that after committing a crime, one will always face God's wrath. The poem opens with an elderly mariner preventing one of the wedding guests from attending by regaling him with anecdotes from his life.