Use of Symbolism in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Essay

The symbolism in the “Rhyme of the ancient mariner” is said to be an impossible representation of the Christian story of reconciliation from sin, redemption and forgiveness for that sin, but the symbolism in this poem clearly contradicts those views. The poem is one of a great sin committed against nature and the supernatural - being God - and how the wrong doer was redeemed from that sin and his journey into realigning what he had done. The Mariner was punished for his sin by the supernatural and forces of nature while he was glorified by his crew mates for his skill that was shown in killing the albatross with a crossbow. This is often true in Biblical stories and modern day where one is glorified for earthly talents and is given fame, but what they are famous for contradicts God and his law. Other aspects of Christianity are embedded in this poem as well that are easily overlooked like when the Mariner prays to some force he does not know. He is guilty for his transgression and knows what he has done is wrong although the sin was committed with ill will not intended. Lastly this poem displays a value important to Christianity, but also to all other ideologies and the is the topic of justice for crimes committed and the Christian aspect of thats once justice is served salvation is needed and redemption takes place. All of these values presented by symbolism throughout this poem all point toward the idea that the story of the Mariner was meant to serve as an example of the

The white Albatross is likened to being “a Christian soul”, which caused the sailors to hail “it in God’s name”. The Albatross is acting as a symbol of Christian morality. It represents serenity and faith.

In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Coleridge writes of a sailor bringing a tale to life as he speaks to a wedding guest. An ancient Mariner tells of his brutal journey through the Pacific Ocean to the South Pole. Coleridge suffers from loneliness, because of his lifelong need for love and livelihood; similarly, during the Mariner’s tale, his loneliness shows when he becomes alone at sea, because of the loss of his crew. Having a disastrous dependence to opium and laudanum, Coleridge, in partnership with Wordsworth, writes this complicated, difficult to understand, yet appealing poem, which becomes the first poem in the 1798 edition of Lyrical Ballads. The Mariner’s frame of mind flip-flops throughout the literary ballad, a

Much like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the poem “The Rime of The Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge illustrates the consequences that can come from defying the laws of nature. The Mariner in this story exemplifies the repercussions of challenging nature’s natural course. His decision to kill the Albatross, a symbol of luck, sets his fate for the poem. These actions disrupt nature in ways he never would have thought possible. When the Mariner first shot the albatross, his entire crew was disappointed with his actions.

He happened upon a family in a cottage, and their kindness and love toward one another created the yearning of this for himself. Because of the abnormality of his appearance, he is rejected harshly by the cottagers, losing his sense of self from a person that deserves love, to that to a wretch, doomed forever to suffer at the rejection of man kind. In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner the loss of self identity is presented as the hanging of the albatross corpse around the Ancient Mariner’s neck, giving allusion to a cross to be carried, that represents the guilt of his actions: “ Instead of the cross, the albatross/ About my neck was hung .”(Coleridge) Instead of his identity being an honorable mariner, sailing the world on his journey’s, he is haunted by his one cruel act and forced to carry it with

The poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a truly imaginative work utilizing the familiar yet timeless themes of good fortune, the power of Mother Nature, and adventurous voyages over the sea. The Mariner relates the bone-chilling tale of his adventure to a guest at a wedding in his native country. Although the guest succumbs to the Mariner’s tale, he is eager to get to the wedding, which is about to start. Coleridge chose this occasion for the poem as a form of irony, by providing a stark contrast between the two atmospheres and situations in his poem. The moods of weddings are usually joyful and jubilant, emphasizing love and the union between

In the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner written by Coleridge, an old man is punished by a Spirit for killing an innocent albatross, whom he loved. In order to analyze whether the ancient mariner has found peace at the end of the poem or not, a series of aspects will be considered throughout the story.

He illustrates his belief that he does not need the good luck of the Albatross. He decides to severe his bonds with the universal cycle of life and love. Following the execution of the Albatross, the Mariner’s luck suddenly changes. He experiences the punishment that comes with the moral error of killing the Albatross. The punishment is isolation and alienation from everything but himself. Thereafter, the "Nightmare," the life in death, kills his crew. He is lost at sea, left alone in the night to suffer, and he has detached from his natural cycle. The Mariner proclaims his misery when he says, "Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea! / And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony". To the Mariner, nature has become foreign. The execution of the Albatross causes physical and spiritual decay.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a complex tale of an old seafarer, was written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and published in 1798. According to the Longman Anthology of British Literature, the work first appeared in “Lyrical Ballads”, a publication co-authored with William Wordsworth (557). The ancient mariner’s journey provides for such a supernatural tale, that all who must hear it, specifically the wedding guest in the poem, are enthralled. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the mariner’s tale is the obvious themes of sin and redemption. By using the story-within-a-story method, Coleridge gives the audience a tale that resembles a very Christian-like voyage from one theme, sin, to the final theme, redemption. Throughout his poem,

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a parable of a seaman's crime against nature (pointlessly killing an albatross) and his repentance by blessing the lowly water-snakes.  Setting the poem in the Middle Ages in the then-unknown seas near Antarctica, the poet is able to make his narrative credible and give the reader what is called 'the willing suspension of disbelief.'  "

In 1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge published his poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. Several editions followed this, the most notable being the 1815 version, which included a gloss. This poem has grown to become well known and debated, especially concerning the message that Coleridge was attempting to impart. The interpretation of the poem as a whole and of various characters, settings, and objects has been the subject of numerous essays, papers, books, and lectures. There are approximately four things that are major symbols in this work, along with the possibility that the structure itself is symbolic.

A significant theme in Samuel Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," is Christianity, which is portrayed through the Mariner’s epic journey. This text is set between the physical world and the metaphysical (spiritual world), similar to religious teachings found in the Bible. With the use of vivid descriptions and strong language in this ballad, moral lessons appear that connect both man and God in order to discover an innate bond and understanding. Though this tale is overwhelmingly bizarre and dark, the moral lessons taught are in line with central aspects of both the romantic period and the Christian religion. In Coleridge's ballad, "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," many Christian ideals are represented throughout the treacherous

A common theme found in the Rime of Ancient Mariner is suffering. Suffering is evident as one of the many themes in this story because the Mariner goes through many trials and disturbing experiences that shape his personality and cause him to realize the beauty and pure essence of nature's creations. Throughout the poem it vividly describes the hardships or encounters the Mariner faces. An example of the suffering the Mariner is confronted with is the moment he thought he was going to get help but it turns out the “rescue ship” is a ghost ship piloted by Death and Life-in-Death. Another example is when the Mariner killed the albatross which made the wind stop blowing resulting in his crew mates wrapping the dead albatross around his neck to

The reason why he killed the albatross is anonymous however, all his sail members were in heartache when he shot the bird; to punish the Mariner the crew members hung the dead albatross around his neck to symbolize what he did. Another wreckage that he created for himself was when he shouted out to the other boat. At this point of the story, the Mariner and the other sailors were cursed with unquenched thirst. He bit into his arm to suck the blood, this will wet his lips, and he shouted “...A sail! a sail!” (Part 3,5) As they waved to the boat the Mariner noticed that the sail was hell, it came from the west. As he predicted death manned the boat and life-in-death was behind. As they reached the Mariners boat he described them with

The next symbolic theme in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is that of retribution. In lines 143-146 Coleridge illustrates a time of draught for the sailors on the voyage. Without any water to drink they are suffering. This symbolizes the spiritual draught that humans face in Christianity. Without the love for Christ humans are thirsting for spiritual enlightenment and forgiveness--without which they suffer.