The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
An ancient mariner interrupts a wedding guest to recount his harrowing tale. He describes a ship's journey that begins joyfully but soon encounters a fierce storm, driving them southward into icy waters. The crew spots an albatross, which they welcome as a good omen. However, the mariner inexplicably shoots the bird, leading to dire consequences. The ship becomes trapped in a drought, surrounded by death and despair, as the crew blames the mariner for their misfortune. As the crew succumbs to death, the mariner experiences profound isolation and guilt. He eventually finds solace in the beauty of sea creatures, which leads to a spiritual awakening. The albatross falls from his neck, symbolizing his release from guilt. The ship is then miraculously propelled forward by a supernatural force, and the dead crew rises, singing praises. The mariner is rescued by a hermit and returns to land, forever marked by his experience. He feels compelled to share his story as a warning about the sanctity of all living things. The wedding guest, deeply affected by the tale, leaves wiser and more somber, reflecting on the interconnectedness of life and the importance of reverence for nature.
By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1798 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Gothic Literature · 6,223 words
Editions
First lines
I. It is an ancient Mariner, / And he stoppeth one of three. / "By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, / Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?
"The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide, / And I am next of kin; / The guests are met, the feast is set: / May'st hear the merry din."
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The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is listed on Textopian as a novel by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1798 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Date: 1798 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Gothic Literature, Allegory, Ballad
- Length: 6,223 words
- Structure: 1 section, 144 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Romantic Poetry — The poem embodies the characteristics of Romanticism, including a focus on nature, emotion, and the supernatural.
- Narrative Poetry — It tells a story through verse, featuring a clear plot and character development.
- Gothic Literature — The poem includes elements of horror, the supernatural, and explores themes of isolation and madness.
- Allegory — The narrative serves as an allegory for sin, redemption, and the relationship between humanity and nature.
Tags
poetry · romanticism · narrative · adventure · supernatural · guilt · redemption · nature · mariner · albatross · sea · isolation
More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Expostulation and Reply (1817)
- The Tables Turned (1798)
- Animal Tranquillity and Decay (1816)
- Goody Blake and Harry Gill (1798)
- The Last of the Flock (1815)
- Lines Left Upon a Seat in a Yew-Tree, which Stands Near the Lake of Estwaithe, on a Desolate Part of the Shore, Yet Commanding a Beautiful Prospect (1818)
- The Foster-Mother's Tale (1815)
- The Thorn (1798)
- All works by Samuel Taylor Coleridge