Mariner Critics + background information Flashcards
(Critic) The mariner’s sad wisdom- A.M Buchan
“The shooting is an act, unpremeditated and unmeant, that nevertheless must be accounted for”
Buchan says that the mariner acted without thinking when shooting the bird, yet still must be punished
“He is on the verge of learning that mysterious and omnipotent spirits govern his destiny”
Buchan says that the mariner almost has his realization
(Critic) Gravil
The premise of the ballad is one of “Christian drama of sin, repentance and salvation”
(Critic) Miall
The guilt Coleridge feels from his father’s death is projected onto the Mariner
(Critic) Pratt
The ship represents the body of a man, with the Mariner being its soul
(Critic) Green
Coleridge focuses on guilt, not detection or motive
The Albatross becomes a “symbolic spiritual force driving the ship, the Mariner and his narrative”
(bg information) Opium
Coleridge was taking opium at the time, so some critics call the poem “opiate fuelled”
Others say it serves as a metaphor for his guilt of killing his creativity
(Critic) Purser
Purser states that the leading theme of the poem is the description of the Mariner’s life-in-death
(Critic) Warren (?)
(Bg information) One life principal
Every living thing has one life, and must not waste it
mariner takes the Albatross’ life by shooting it
(Bg information) Poem structure
4,5 and 6 line stanzas
regularity gives the poem a mesmerizing quality
(bg information) Use of narrator
scene is set by the narrator, comments on things the mariner can’t
Useful links
https: //filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/AQA-7716-7717-TO-CRIME-RAM.PDF- AQA Rime overview
https: //teams.microsoft.com/_?culture=en-gb&country=GB&lm=deeplink&lmsrc=homePageWeb&cmpid=WebSignIn#/doc/viewer/teamsSdk/https:~2F~2Fallsaintssheffieldsch.sharepoint.com~2Fsites~2FSection_2021-13D-Li1~2FShared%20Documents~2FGeneral~2FThe%20Rime%20of%20the%20Ancient%20Mariner~2FThe%20Rime%20of%20the%20Ancient%20Mariner%20Revision%20Guide.doc?threadId=19:MMnhrRyHBl-3hjqgeX1eTBUQ0aWHHhwkUnWdEwN_GVM1@thread.tacv2&subEntityId=%257B%2522web%2522%253A%2522https%253A%252F%252Fallsaintssheffieldsch.sharepoint.com%252Fsites%252FSection_2021-13D-Li1%2522%252C%2522list%2522%253A%2522https%253A%252F%252Fallsaintssheffieldsch.sharepoint.com%252Fsites%252FSection_2021-13D-Li1%252FShared%2520Documents%2522%252C%2522folder%2522%253A%2522%252Fsites%252FSection_2021-13D-Li1%252FShared%2520Documents%252FGeneral%252FThe%2520Rime%2520of%2520the%2520Ancient%2520Mariner%2522%257D&fileId=86b3e941-4878-416d-b425-0abd5d493006&ctx=openFilePreview&viewerAction=view- Rime of the ancient mariner revision guide
