Rime of the Ancient MarinerRime of the Ancient Mariner

Samuel Taylor Samuel Taylor ColeridgeColeridge

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

A.A. Coleridge was one of the great (seminal) Coleridge was one of the great (seminal) minds of the 19minds of the 19thth century (creative genius, century (creative genius, philosophical genius, critical genius)philosophical genius, critical genius)

B.B. Great friends with Wordsworth Great friends with Wordsworth – –Lyrical Ballads—aLyrical Ballads—a new kind of new kind of poetry is codifiedpoetry is codified

I.I. Introduction (con’t)Introduction (con’t)

C.C. STC’s rheumatism—use of STC’s rheumatism—use of laudanumlaudanum

--affected imagery (see especially --affected imagery (see especially “Kubla Khan”)“Kubla Khan”)

II. Rime of the Ancient Mariner II. Rime of the Ancient Mariner (STC’s (STC’s PurgatorioPurgatorio))

1.1. Coleridge is a moral philosopherColeridge is a moral philosophera.a. Attempt to reconcile immediate end Attempt to reconcile immediate end

(pleasure) with ultimate end (moral)(pleasure) with ultimate end (moral)

b.b. STC wished to show the relationship STC wished to show the relationship between the imagination and the between the imagination and the moral sense (heart, emotion)moral sense (heart, emotion)

II. Rime of the Ancient II. Rime of the Ancient MarinerMariner

2.2. Frame Story—Sacramental Frame Story—Sacramental (marriage) universe(marriage) universe

--the wedding guest = average --the wedding guest = average insensitive person—insensitive person—

needs his imagination needs his imagination

awakenedawakened

II. Rime of the Ancient II. Rime of the Ancient MarinerMariner3.3. Main Theme: SinMain Theme: SinGuiltGuiltRedemptionRedemption

a.a. Mariner’s Sin—lack of imaginationMariner’s Sin—lack of imaginationdoes does

not appreciate the miraclenot appreciate the miracle

b.b. Separation of mariner Separation of mariner

from Nature=from Nature=

c. Mariner seeks salvation c. Mariner seeks salvation

through artthrough art

II. Rime of the Ancient II. Rime of the Ancient MarinerMariner4.4. Archetypal Images (see symbol chart)Archetypal Images (see symbol chart)

a.a. Albatross—the human soul; (concept of the Albatross—the human soul; (concept of the sacramental universe)sacramental universe)

b.b. The mysitcal journeyThe mysitcal journey heat stormheat storm

home icehome ice

death new oceandeath new ocean

calmcalm

II. Rime of the Ancient II. Rime of the Ancient MarinerMariner

5.5. The supernatural—always (or The supernatural—always (or almost always) symbolizes the almost always) symbolizes the psychological or universal elementpsychological or universal element

a.a. Death and Life in DeathDeath and Life in Death

b.b. Seraph menSeraph men

c.c. Spirit from the PoleSpirit from the Pole

d.d. Living deadLiving dead

II. Rime of the Ancient II. Rime of the Ancient MarinerMariner6. Conclusion (part VII)6. Conclusion (part VII)

a. Change in the Wedding Guesta. Change in the Wedding Guest

b. Imagination can be destructive b. Imagination can be destructive force (the gale wind) but the calm can force (the gale wind) but the calm can be worsebe worse

c. The moral of the poemc. The moral of the poem