Brit lit coleridge rime presentation revision 3

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere (1797-1798)

1772-1834

Poet and Drug Addict

Early Life

■ Coleridge was born in October 1772.■ He has roots in Devonshire■ He was the youngest of fourteen children but played alone■ Loved to read, read the Bible at age 3■ In 1791 Coleridge attended the Jesus College, University of Cambridge in pursuit of joining the

clergy.■ In 1792 he began to have issues at the University. He believed in God; however, he rejected

certain religious beliefs. These beliefs ostracized him at school and he did not graduate. He would later write about this experience.

■ While at University he tried to keep up with his wealthy classmates and spent the money that should have payed for tuition.

■ Joined the military, 15th light dragoons, under an assumed name, briefly then returned to school.

Interests and Marriage

■ Coleridge had an interest in philosophers, such as Plato. In 1794 he described his dream of leaving England and constructing his own community where everyone could have their own religious and political beliefs. This dream would influence his writing, later in life.– An idea for a utopia on the Susquehanna later Wales– Pantisocracy

■ In 1795 Coleridge married Sarah Fricker. It is said that the couple did not have a good marriage.

■ Approved of the French Revolution■ Worked as a journalist, playwright, metaphysician, was a brilliant

Shakespeare lecturer

Relationship with Wordsworth

■ Later that year, Coleridge meets William Wordsworth. Based on Coleridge’s writing style, Wordsworth inspired him to write poems that fit the Romantic style rather than the Realist style.

■ As 1796 approached, he wrote Poems on Various Subjects and The Watchmen.

Influences

■ Coleridge decided to stay close to William and Dorothy Wordsworth. The former co-wrote Lyrical Ballads, which contains “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

■ In 1798 Coleridge studied the German language and political philosophers (Kant, Lessing). He used this knowledge to write and teach.

■ Coleridge spent the rest of his life writing while struggling with drug addictions, debt, and health problems.

■ Addicted to Laudanum a tincture of opium (alcohol and opium mixture)

Background Information on The Rime of the Ancient Mariner■ Based on Captain George Shelvocke’s A Voyage Round the World by Way of the Great South

Sea– In the book the crew shoot a black albatross

■ Cook’s second voyage – Antarctic Circle

■ John Newton aboard a slave ship■ Mariner---Navigator of a ship■ Wandering Jew■ Flying Dutchman ghost ship■ Albatross

– Wingspan 9.5 - 11 feet– Weight 19 pounds

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

■ Included in Lyrical Ballads■ Critical opinion at the time was negative

– Robert Sulley, “A Dutch attempt at German Civility”– Strangest story we have ever seen on paper– Radical Passivism– Wordsworth wanted the Rhyme removed, but Coleridge offered to rewrite it.

■ Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré, the French artist illustrated the work in 1870 with 43 drawings.

■ 18 different variations of the poem exist, he removed the archaic vocabulary found in the first edition and also added an explanation, other minor differences exist.

■ The Idea for killing the Albatross and their being Tutelary Deities that took revenge was Wordsworth ‘s Idea.

■ ABCB rhyme scheme

Notable quotes

■ "God save thee, ancient mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus!Why lookst thou so?" "With my crossbow I shot the albatross.

■ I looked to heaven, and tried to pray;But or ever a prayer had gushed,A wicked whisper came, and madeMy heart as dry as dust.

■ The spirit who bideth by himselfIn the land of mist and snow,He loved the bird that loved the manWho shot him with his bow.'

The other was a softer voice,As soft as honeydew:Quoth he, 'The man hath penance done,And penance more will do.’

■ Instead of the cross, the AlbatrossAbout my neck was hung.

■ And I had done an hellish thing,And it would work 'em woe:For all averred, I had killed the birdThat made the breeze to blow.

Notable Quotes Part 2

■ Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.

■ The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.

■ The Devil knows how to row■ He prayeth best, who loveth best All

things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.

■ A sadder and a wiser man, He rose the morrow morn.

Themes and Metaphors

■ Albatross– Good Luck– A burden to be carried by an unfortunate

individual as penance■ Slavery and Jail■ Gothic

– Gloom, violence, mood of decay, degeneration. Two spirits heard in trance, madness of pilot and boy

■ Supernatural– Ghost ship, daemons, angels

■ The Desire to Pray■ Colors■ Weather

– the weather seems to mirror the hearts of the damned

■ The Eyes– Curse in a dead man’s eye, bright eyed

mariner, window to soul, glazed eyes, I fear thee and thy glittering eye

■ Penance– Confess sin Hermit

■ Fate Destiny – life in death and death gamble, doomed

to wander and repeat story■ Morals

– Respect for Nature and extension of God■ Christianity

– Religious spiritual elements

Analysis and Summary Part 1

■ Narrative Poem/ Epic Ballad in the ancient tradition

– Legendary figures on an epic journey of redemption or repentance

■ Mystical legend with archaic sounding medieval eloquence in the first edition.

■ The Mariner does something terrible for no reason and pays for it in agony.

■ The poem seems like it would be transmitted orally from generation to generation

■ Part 1■ Please follow along in your book■ It is written in 3rd person with limited

perspective■ “It is an ancient mariner” mysterious who is

he■ What does he do: He stops a wedding guest to

educate or change them■ Wisdom long gray beard or loon madness■ Glittering Eye eyes are important

penetrating stare■ Skeletal Appearance■ Listens spellbound■ Cheered voyage leaving to win fortune for the

homeland


■ Fell from esteem transgressive■ Below the Kirk and Hill, religion and nature■ The ship reaches the equator and moves south

towards Antarctica■ The Sun according to some symbolizes male passion■ The wedding guest hears the bassoon and wants to

enter the wedding, he is frustrated■ Is the mariner a force for good?■ The guest is compelled to listen■ Contrasting hope and despair■ Storm Blast■ What are they doing there? What is the purpose of

the voyage? It is ambiguous. Traveling downwards, southward

■ There is Gothic Language here■ Right or Wrong an enraged Nature■ South Pole Frozen characters Frozen hearts cold

frightening■ No living things to be seen■ A Bird is seen and hailed as a Christian Soul,

superstition■ Kindness to an Albatross brings a nicer climate■ Emotions Joy Hospitality Nature Generosity shared

Empathy■ Good omen turn towards the north■ Are Homeward Ways best ward ways?■ What are they doing there?


■ Obedience and conformity■ Vespers Nine religious activity■ Shared consciousness■ God save the ancient mariner■ Shot the Albatross with a

crossbow■ Barbaric Mindless Murder

Violence

■ God made the Albatross

Doré Illustrations

A note on illustrations:

He illustrated the work in differing time periods.

The Wedding feast illustration was set in a Medieval time period.

The seaport was set in a French Gothic design style.

The forest was an Alsatian forest.

Doré considered this work to be his “best and most original” work.


■ Clouded optimism■ Wide open sea■ Done a hellish immoral thing to transgress

nature and kill■ The natural world is held with high esteem■ “Work of woe, Killed the bird that made the

breeze to blow”■ “The sun God’s own head”■ Prolepsis submission to fate helpless■ Was it Wrong or Right to killed the Bird

Have you changed your mind? The sailors did.

■ The Wind picks up as they burst into the silent sea

■ Voyage of Discovery, Should they be there?■ They Enter the Pacific Ocean■ “Water Water Everywhere”■ An Avenging God■ “Slimy things did crawl with legs upon the

slimy sea”■ He may be suffering Hallucinations from

dehydration or it may be Supernatural■ Decay Rotting Sea mirrors their souls


■ Morality and Judgement■ Parallel between characters hearts and the

environment■ “O Christ that ever this should be”■ Longing for a Christ or Savior figure■ Christ walked on water just like these creatures■ Colors: burning blue green white■ Burning perhaps like a funeral pyre, is it a bad

omen■ Enraged nature■ Dancing, followed them from land of mist and

snow

■ Perhaps a spirit followed them, the invisible inhabitants of this world

■ Preternatural■ Tongues withered with dehydration■ Chocked with soot inability to communicate■ Guilt on the ancient mariner■ They blame him for their suffering■ They put the albatross around his neck in place

of a cross■ Jesus had cross of thorns he has albatross■ The potency of nature lingers on


■ They enter the Tropics■ “Weary time Weary eye”■ How much time has passed since they left

harbor?■ They feel guilt and suffering■ Maybe they hope to be rescued by

another ship■ Another ship approaches supernaturally

like a speck, a mist, a shape■ It plunges tacks and veers, sailing with

velocity

■ Parched Dehydrated throats they have■ Black lips, It almost seems Paganistic■ They are like corpses■ Looking again for salvation, a redeemer

to guide them away from sin■ Supernaturally the ship sails without a

breeze or tide■ They seem to disturb the natural order■ A Dungeon of imprisonment and

persecution is the bars of the setting sun■ Is there Salvation to be found in Nature?


■ Death and Life in death approach in a Skeleton ship.■ Death is personified in a skeleton■ Death is that woman's mate, are they in love?

Harlotry?■ Who sent them and why remains ambiguous.■ Disease ■ Is the suffering on life more important than life

itself?■ In my opinion suffering in life is better than eternal

suffering.■ Destiny, their fate is won in a game of chance.

(Dice)■ Do they have free will over their soul and destiny?■ Lady wins the soul of the Mariner

■ Death wins the 200 sailor souls■ What is the significance of the three whistles?■ Time passes■ Gothic Supernatural evil imagery■ Sings in the Heavens A horned moon■ All to punish the transgression of killing the

albatross, 200 men lay in silent death.■ It seems inhuman■ WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FATE?■ Torture begins her work■ The Souls of the sailors fly by like the arrow of a

crossbow■ Who is to blame, Who is guilty?


■ The Wedding Guest speaks again with Fear in his eyes outside the church

■ In my opinion, the eyes are very important in this narrative

■ How may Centuries has this Mariner been telling this tale?

■ Why didn’t he die is he immortal?■ It is Sinister Menacing and ominous,

perhaps his body is on earth but his soul and spirit are in in Purgatory. Where is his soul and spirit?

■ Perhaps a saint will take pity and pray

■ There is great Beauty in Man and Nature■ The Slimy Creatures live on■ He tries to pray but is unable■ Good vs Evil■ The 200 sailors are dead at his feet.■ They don’t decompose , they look on

with a curse in their dead man’s eyes.■ The Water burns red like hellfire■ Someone has upset the natural balance


■ Asks god for Forgiveness■ Communication with god through

prayer is part of their culture■ He is responsible for the dead at his

feet.■ 7 days he couldn’t die■ The April Hoary frost comes on■ Shining White light snakes

– White usually represents Good■ He blesses them UNAWARE■ Then he could pray■ The Albatross fell of into the Sea■ I think he is blessed at heart in this

passage

■ How Is he going to get back home?■ “The albatross is released from the

neck of the Ancient Mariner when he comes to love all of God’s creatures and blesses the slimy things, like the albatross, which he discovers that are sacred. In this poem, Coleridge combines his preoccupations with the imagination, Nature, and the supernatural.”

■ There is a Change of attitude he recognizes the slimy things as god’s creation and they become happy living things

■ This is a turning point.


■ Sleep is a gentle thing■ Rest is a basic Human pleasure■ Responsibility of crime was reduced and sank

like lead■ There is a Mary Queen Reference■ The Supernatural is in control of peace,

destiny, and rest■ SLEEP AND RAIN Inspiration■ He Drank in his dreams, quenching his thirst■ Visualize the sky, cut in half by a lightning

bolt, A river of rain falling■ The dead are reanimated like Zombies

possibly by Angelic Spirits■ The dead work on the ship■ He works with the Body of his nephew, pulling

on the rope, Brotherhood in Death■ There are Sweet sounds of worshiping the

Dawn■ Euphonic Bird/Angel song all instruments then

a flute■ Nature is Holy angelic■ Noises god created natural beauty■ This passage is full of Romantic natural scene■ Brook intertwined


■ Nature has lessons to teach■ There is no breeze but the ship

moves on■ A Spirit carried them to the

equator■ Supernatural Power■ Prayer and Worship causes life to

stop in differential reverence■ Rocking and Knocked

unconscious■ All alone in the Ocean■ Repay their debt to nature and

the divine law■ Did he imagine things in a

trance, or was it all real?


■ Two voices of Conscience or Morality praise or detract the Mariner

■ Strange Voices Narrate■ There are supernatural occurrences, but we don’t

understand how it is working■ Still a slave before a still mast■ Conforming to society■ Slave to Slavery■ Were they cursed when they left?■ Again, what did they set out to do?■ Perhaps they were on a slaving mission■ Liberals were against slavery■ Perhaps they were on a Colonial discovery mission

■ Romantics were sometimes against the notion of empire

■ Nature looks down on mankind■ They were driven by a lonesome spirit 9 fathoms deep■ The Mariner is in a subconscious Trance■ Like Sci-fi it travels faster than man can endure

– Why are they moving so fast, is it for protection or judgment.

■ In a stasis speeding North■ Conscious and navigates vessel■ Subliminal Dreaming Time moves faster and slower■ He awoke sailing on■ The Dead men stand together


■ Unconscious Penance begins anew■ The crew glares with guilt, he is persecuted■ The curse affects his ability to pray■ The curse suddenly lifts and he beholds the green

ocean■ He Walks a Lonesome road Is he being followed?

Does he want to find out?■ There is Gothic Supernatural feel, I sense ambition to

explore or discover new lands■ This seems to conflict with the Romantic idea of

staying within domestic spheres and known bounds■ Personification of the Wind■ This is an anticlimax■ He longs to communicate with god■ In despair he cries for death■ He arrives to his own country, the church and hill■ Harmony of Home

■ Both Nature and God are bright ■ Bright Colors and Glory towards land and country,

forms of light approach■ The Seraph man■ The Angels point towards home, maybe they never

should have left.■ A Man and a boy approach in a sailing boat■ He is saved or rescued by humanity■ A hermit also accompanies, he sings hymns■ The Hermit is like a priest or friar■ The three are like the Holy Trinity■ Father Son and Holy Spirit■ Forgiveness■ Shrieve, wash away sins and guilt■ The form is a ballad, meant to be spoken orally


■ This portion is very pious■ The Natural World offers comfort and solace■ The Hermit is like a priest■ The ship enters the Harbor■ The Mariner is unable to speak■ The ship itself has thin sails and warped wood■ It may be like the Mary Celeste■ Romantics love the natural world and the natural order

of things■ Is the Mariner cursed■ Suddenly the ship sinketh, splitting the bay as it went

down rumbling with turbulence■ It divides the bay, and interrupts the balance■ Is the ship cursed?

■ There is a fall from grace■ The ship sank like lead and the albatross sank like lead■ Was he right to kill the albatross, the crew are

accomplices if they approve■ It uses biblical language■ The Mariner is kept alive for a greater purpose■ Whirl Echo Cacophony■ Personification of nature the Hill tells the sound■ The pilot shrieked■ There is prayer and supernatural powers at work■ The Mariner takes the oar and rows■ The Father and Son are almost act insane■ Perhaps the voyage was lunacy in the first place.


■ There eyes go to and fro laughing and cackling■ “The Devil Knows how to Row”, they assume the

Mariner is a devilish fiend■ This passage seems Medieval■ Is the family being tempted by the devil? They have

a moment of madness.■ They are pleased to be on land.■ Shrieve me■ “What manner of man art though”■ WHAT TYPE OF MAN ARE YOU, are you human?■ Confession of Sin■ The Mariner begins his tale and is left free■ Confession of sin is cathartic, it makes him feel

better

■ He must tell his story to cleanse his soul and guide warn others

■ There are catholic themes to this poem■ He must travel from land to land a strange man,

compelling others to hear with his voice and eye■ By this time, the Wedding Guest has missed the

entire wedding■ It is sweeter to walk to church in godly company, to

feast and pray together■ All generations worshiping and praying the sweetest

thing■ The tragedy was partially brought on by an inability

to pray and hasty thoughtless actions Meditation is important


■ The most important thing seems to be the newfound ability to pray and communicate with God

■ To believe and respect nature■ “Prayeth well who loveth well him

that loveth nature, all great big and small loveth all”

■ God is love■ God is one, the love of nature, is the

love of God■ Love all that God made

■ The Wedding guest had a moral lesson

■ The Guest turns away from conformity and obedience to his wills, he turns away from the church

■ He is a sad and wiser man■ Why was the guest sad, and for who?■ What did he Learn?■ He was Born Again

Writing Romantic Literature

■ In Romantic Literature, Imagination and emotion are the Chief joy, more than reason and logic

■ Enjoy potency of new imaginative ideas■ Enjoy Yourself■ Enjoy thought■ Creativity is vital■ Pure Imagination■ Communication with god through prayer■ Poem of Discovery

Pop Culture and Film

■ Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden■ Albatross by Fleetwood Mac■ The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: The Strange Story of Samuel Coleridge, Poet and Drug

Addict.– Parallels between life of Coleridge and Poem– Woman as an albatross shoots with crossbow– Relationship difficulties – Drug Addiction

■ The Strangest Voyage– Won 6 International Awards– Photo-animated live action film– Great teaching aid

Questions

■ What was the purpose of the Mariner’s voyage?■ Should they even have left their homeland to begin with?■ What was it about the tale of the poem that caught Coleridge? ■ Should we trust the Mariner and adopt his viewpoints?■ Why do you think the Mariner shot the Albatross?■ What makes this poem stand the test of time, or does It appear dated due to its

outmoded vocabulary. Why has it become so respected an famous?■ What power was responsible for the curse against the Mariner?■ Is there a Christian message to the poem?■ Describe the Mariner’s Character? Is he a force for Good?

Group Discussion

■ Please get into groups of four/five and compare/contrast the poem, on page 256, with the small italicized paragraphs next to the poem.

■ Do they add to your understanding of the poem?■ Is the poem easier to read with the marginal glosses?

TIE IN VIDEOS

■ Rime of the Ancient Mariner Drawings■ Iron Maiden Song■ Fleetwood Mac Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTgiMONfHbQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7zk4as9kzA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ombnqWR3eA

Bibliography

■ Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, and Gustave Doré. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. New York: Dover Publications, 1970. Print. Dover pictorial archive series; Dover pictorial archive series.

■ Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, and Gustave Dore. "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." / Samuel Taylor Coleridge. University of Adelaide Library, 17 Dec. 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. <https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/c/coleridge/samuel_taylor/rime/>.

■ Hemmings, David, and Films for the Humanities (Firm). The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: The Strange Story of Samuel Coleridge, Poet and Drug Addict. Princeton, N.J.: Films for the Humanities, 1988. VHS. Clouds of glory; English literature on vi

■ Kitson, Peter. "Coleridge, the French Revolution and the Ancient Mariner: A Reassessment." The Coleridge Bulletin New Series No 7, Pp 30-48. Friends of Coleridge. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. <http://www.friendsofcoleridge.com/membersonly/kitsonFrenchRev.html>.

■ Perry, Seamus. "An Introduction to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."Discovering Literature: Romantics and Victorians. British Library. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. <http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/an-introduction-to-the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner>.

■ Redgrave, Michael., et al. The Strangest Voyage. Sea Bright, N.J.: Kultur International Films, 198u. VHS.■ “Samuel Taylor Coleridge.” Academy of American Poets. Academy of American Poets. Web. 27 Apr 2016.■ Vandyke, Peter. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 1795. London. Portrait of Samuel Taylor

Coleridge.<http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait.php?search=ss&firstRun=true&sText=coleridge&LinkID=mp00966&rNo=0&role=sit>.

Education

Brit lit coleridge rime presentation revision 3