Rime and the Ancient Mariner Flashcards
Lec 4, 5, & 6
Who was the author?
Coleridge, who wrote it in 1772. he was a devout christian who was addicted to opium. He was apart of the romantic mvmt in the victorian period bc he believed in freedom of imagination and creativity and art.
About the form of the poem.
A ballad, so simple rhyming scheme. language used was meant to mimic old medieval language. so was supposed to date the story. Glossary was added by someone wh read it when it was published and explains events in victorian language (so more familiar). POV is 3rd person, but the story the mariner tells is in 1st person.
What happens in part 1?
he encounters a wedding guest and forces him to listen to his story. they set sail and end up in the south pole where ship is surrounded by mist and ice. An albatross (bird) keeps them company and is seen as a good omen. the mariner shoots it (we dont know why).
What happens in part 2?
the sailors get mad at him for shooting it because they get stuck in the ice. then when they are no longer stuck and it starts to warm up the praise the mariner for killing it bc it must’ve brought the ice and mist. The mariner doesn’t seem to like nature. they get close to the equator, wind stops blowig and its very hot, shipmaes hang the bird on his neck as punishment.
What happens in part 3?
mariner sees a ship after theyve all been going thirsty, and he drinks his own blood to yell it out. but notices the ship lookes skeletal and that it will not be their salvation. Death and life-in-death are gambling for the mariners life, life-in-death wins.
What happens in part 4?
all the other sailors drop dead instantly and he is left alone. after a week where he is agonized by the water around him that he cannot drink and the sea creatures, he blesses the creatures in his heart unaware and the bird falls from his neck. could this be a sign of forgiveness?
What happens in part 5?
the sailors are taken over by spirits and sail the ship. the ships sails to o fast for humans and hes put into a trance. there are spirits talking about how he has not been forgiven by the spirit wh loved the bird and followed them from the south pole.
What happens in part 6?
he arrives to a familiar place and 3 ppl help him. he sees that one of them is a hermit and hopes that he will shriee him of his sins, but when the ppl come to rescue him they are scared of him and say he is a monster. the hermit does not help him but asks him what he is.
What happens in part 7?
he tells them his story and feels short relief, but now he has t ogo around telling ppl his story to be able to find temporary relief. he somehow knows who he should tell, and when he does the ythen become different and cursed with the info. s othes cycle repeats.
Why doesn’t the mariner get salvation?
depends on the nature of his crime, source of punishment, and rules of salvation
What is the nature of the mariners crime?
he kills a bird of good omen, that was hailed as holy. he inhospitably killeth thee, meaning he killed smthn that helped and comforted them. hospitality was sacred. the sailors crime was moral flip flop bc the couldnt decide if it was wrong to kill the bird.
What is his source of punishment?
the natural world; bc of murder of bird and hatred of nature. supernatural world; spirit who follows the ship, thing that made their ship stranded, life in death who chose his punishment
What are the rules of salvation?
- sin 2. confess 3. sorry 4. punishment 5. forgiveness
so for the mariner did his punishment never end bc he wasnt rlly sorry? another NB factor is free will. the mariner didnt exhibit free will when blessing nature as he did it unaware.
What is the transformation of the mariner?
he starts in the world of man and when he shoots the bird gets transported to the supernatural world. he loses 4 things; land (ship stuck), companionship, free will/agency, water (taunted by water around him). then when he becomes passive he is transported back to world of man where he now doesnt fit into that world and is a monster who repeats the cycle of suffering like an infection. So he goes from normal - monster, saved - damned, part of community - isolated, healthy - infected.
(group work) what is the most disturbing element of this poem?
the mariners fate. how he doesnt experience any salvation and isnt forgiven, and stuck in this loop of suffering. how powerful the supernatural world is. dont understand power either. the ship itself. how it’s in liminal space and ends up in bad shape when it comes back. the sailors fate. how their punishment seemed to be quite severe considering their crime of moral flip flop. infection. hes spreading his forbidden knowledge and negatively affecting ppl. 7 days of suffering. he was alone without food and water and punished surrounded by his guilt. human nature. random acts of violence and psychology.
