The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Group

Question:

rooroo116
rooroo116
Student

In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, what effect is created by the poet's use of the present tense?

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Posted by rooroo116 on Tuesday March 10, 2009 at 9:38 AM and tagged with poet, present tense, the rime of the ancient mariner.

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  1. troutmiller Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The theme of Coleridge's poem deals with how we should treat nature with respect.  We are all made by the hands of God and all should be respected.  In order for the mariner to go from port to port telling his story to one man each time, he has to make it credible and meaningful. By telling it in the present tense, the "wedding guest" is able to connect with the mariner and learn from his tale.  The wedding guest is pulled into the tale with the mariner, and as the mariner goes through his penance, so does the wedding guest.  He gets to see first hand the steps the mariner took to repent and be (once again) saved. He learns right along with the mariner each step of the way.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/rime-ancient-qn/themes-characters

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    Posted by troutmiller on Tuesday March 10, 2009 at 6:25 PM