Theme 2: Guilt And Conscience Flashcards
“I shot the ALBATROSS.”
Multiple times through out poem
Analysis:
• The Mariner repeats this confession multiple times throughout the poem—this refrain is a manifestation of his guilty conscience.
• The simplicity of the confession also highlights the banality of the crime—it wasn’t committed out of malice, but impulsively, making his guilt more tragic.
• Structure Point 2: The repetition of this confession functions almost like a mantra—showing how guilt consumes him.
“The pain of the Mariner’s eye / And the curse in his eye”
Part 4
Analysis:
• The inability to pray symbolizes the spiritual weight of his crime—he is spiritually blocked by his guilt.
• The “wicked whisper” represents self-doubt and the corruption of conscience, preventing him from reaching a place of redemption.
• Structure Point 5: This spiritual blockade is a key structural feature in the Mariner’s journey—he can’t achieve redemption until he confronts his crime.
“And a thousand thousand slimy things / Lived on; and so did I.”
Part 4
Analysis:
• The image of the slimy things juxtaposed with the Mariner’s survival creates a stark parallel: his existence becomes grotesque, and his guilt is tied to an ongoing, decaying existence.
• This highlights the pervasive nature of guilt—he can’t escape from his conscience, and it literally clings to him like the creatures.
• Structure Point 6: The juxtaposition of life and decay emphasizes that his punishment is not just physical, but existential—it degrades him over time.
“O Wedding-Guest! this soul hath been / Alone on a wide, wide sea:”
Part 7
Analysis:
• The Mariner’s use of “alone” highlights the solitude imposed by guilt—it is his sole company and has caused a deep sense of alienation.
• This reinforces that guilt leads to isolation—his penance is not just physical suffering, but psychological separation from the world.
• Structure Point 7: The desolate, repetitious imagery here emphasizes the lengthy suffering of the Mariner, which is a key part of crime narratives where time becomes the key mechanism of punishment.
“He prayeth well, who loveth well / Both man and bird and beast.”
Part 7
Analysis:
• This marks the turning point in the Mariner’s conscience—he begins to feel compassion for nature and others. His guilt transforms into a broader sense of moral awakening.
• The phrase implies that guilt can be redeemed when it is followed by love and respect for the world.
• Structure Point 8: This philosophical moment signals a shift—a moment where the Mariner begins to understand the true nature of his crime.
“Farewell, farewell! but this I tell / To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!”
Part 7
Analysis:
• The farewell marks the end of the Mariner’s penitence and the start of his redemption journey. His confession is now complete, and he has passed his moral burden onto the Wedding Guest.
• The shift in perspective from internal suffering to external storytelling signifies the Mariner’s release from guilt.
• Structure Point 9: This marks the final narrative transition—from isolation to the possibility of shared moral awareness.
“The Mariner, whose eye is bright, / Whose beard with age is hoar, / Is gone: and now the Wedding-Guest / Turned from the bridegroom’s door.”
Part 7: the end.
Analysis:
• The final image of the Mariner—bright-eyed and **aged—reflects the lasting effects of his suffering. He is visibly transformed by his journey, though his guilt is ever-present.
• The Wedding Guest’s departure reflects the last act of storytelling—the Mariner’s tale has been shared, but his internal guilt remains.
• Structure Point 10: The circular structure of the Mariner’s narrative (beginning and ending with the Wedding Guest) shows the transmission of guilt and responsibility.
