The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Questions on Redemption
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Why did the mariner bless the water snakes in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?
The mariner blessed the water snakes because he was suddenly overcome with a feeling of respect and admiration for all of God's creation.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Why does the mariner compare himself to the snakes in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"?
It is in Part IV, where the Mariner, all alone on the ship and suffering because of having killed the albatross, finally sees nature for its beauty. He describes the snakes in lines 272-281...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The significance of the title "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and its unique spelling in Coleridge's poem
The title "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" signifies the mariner's tale, with "rime" being an archaic spelling of "rhyme," emphasizing the poem's ancient and timeless quality. The unique spelling...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Descriptions of the ancient mariner and the narrator in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."
The ancient mariner is described as having a long grey beard, glittering eyes, and a skinny hand. He appears otherworldly and compelling, with an aura of mystery and wisdom. The narrator, on the...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Why can the Mariner now sleep and is he forgiven?
At the start of Part V, the Mariner says "Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing,". He is finally able to sleep a restful, peaceful sleep. In the previous part, he finally was able to pray and...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The curse, punishment, and release in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."
In "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," the curse begins when the Mariner kills the albatross, bringing misfortune to his ship. The punishment includes extreme thirst and the death of his crewmates....
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
What is the significance of the recurring dead sea and rotting imagery in the poem?
In many ways they serve to act as the outside symbol of the rotting going on within the mariner himself. After he has killed the albatross, everything for him, inside and out, begins a...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
What does the Mariner's silence signify in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"?
All of what you describe are ways of showing the mariner that he is not in control of his own world. He must answer to a higher power, "God" and "Mother Nature." Because he has...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Mariner's inability to pray and the subsequent act that enables him to do so in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."
The Mariner's inability to pray is lifted when he blesses the sea creatures "unaware" and feels a sense of love for them. This spontaneous act of appreciation breaks his curse, allowing him to pray...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Do you agree that the Mariner's crime in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is more against humanity than nature?
The mariner's unconsciousness in killing the albatross leads to all the problems that follow. He cannot see that nature is a manifestation of God, and so he shows complete disrespect for God and his...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
What are the consequences of Life-in-Death winning the Mariner instead of Death?
The Mariner pays for his folly—the thoughtless killing of the albatross, a good-luck bird for seamen—in a horrible manner. While he and his shipmates are waiting, becalmed and slowly dying of...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Storytelling's Purpose and Power in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
In "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," storytelling serves as a means of penance and moral instruction. The Mariner is compelled to share his tale to relieve his guilt for killing an albatross, a sin...
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Themes and Events in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is rich with Romantic characteristics, including a deep respect for nature, the supernatural, and the elevation of the common man. The...