Rime of the Ancient Mariner – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Summary in Modern English

Part I

An old sailor stops one of three wedding guests,
“Why are you stopping me?” the guest asks, surprised.
The wedding guest sits down, unable to resist listening.
The old sailor, with intense, bright eyes, starts his tale.

“We sailed away happily,
Leaving the harbor behind.
The sun was shining,
The breeze was just right.

We passed the church and the hill,
Sailing into the open sea.
Everything seemed good,
As we sailed farther from the land.”

Part II

“But soon the weather changed,
A storm hit us suddenly,
Driving our ship toward the south,
Into the icy Antarctic seas.

We were surrounded by ice,
Tall and shining like crystal.
We couldn’t move forward,
Trapped in that frozen world.

Then, through the fog, came an albatross,
A big bird, flying around us.
We welcomed it,
And it seemed to bring us luck.”

Part III

“The ice broke, and we sailed through,
The bird had led us out.
But one day, I did something terrible—
I shot the albatross down.

At first, the sailors were angry,
But when the fog cleared, they said it was fine.
They thought the bird had brought the fog,
And now that it was gone, we’d be okay.

But soon, the wind stopped,
And we were stuck,
In the middle of a motionless sea,
With no breeze to fill our sails.”

Part IV

“We were trapped in the burning sun,
With no fresh water to drink.
Our mouths were dry, our skin blistered,
We were all on the brink of death.

Far away, we saw a ghostly ship,
Coming toward us slowly.
But it wasn’t a rescue—
It brought something much worse.

On that ship were two figures:
Death and Life-in-Death.
They played a game for our souls,
And Life-in-Death won me.”

Part V

“The crew dropped dead,
One after another,
But I stayed alive,
Cursed to live on.

I was all alone,
With nothing but the sea and dead bodies.
I couldn’t pray,
I was weighed down with guilt.

Then one night, I saw beautiful sea creatures,
Shimmering beneath the water.
I felt a sudden love for them,
And the curse began to break.”

Part VI

“Once I felt love again,
The curse was lifted from me.
The dead albatross fell from my neck,
And I could pray once more.

The dead crew rose,
But they didn’t speak.
They worked the ship in silence,
Guided by unseen forces.

Angels moved us forward,
And the ship sailed on its own.
We reached my home country,
Where I would finally be free.”

Part VII

“A boat came out to meet me,
With a hermit, a pilot, and the pilot’s son.
They pulled me from the ship,
And the ship sank beneath the waves.

But my story wasn’t over—
I still had to wander,
Telling my tale to those who need to hear it,
To relieve the pain in my soul.

The lesson I learned is this:
We must love all things, great and small.
For every creature has its place,
And love is what connects us all.”

Get Ready to Analyze!

Remember, when analyzing a poem like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, you’ll want to focus on several key aspects of literary analysis that your syllabus is expecting from you. They include exploration of themes, symbolism, literary devices, structure, context, and its relation to global issues. Below are the main elements to include in your analysis:

1. Themes

Focus on the central themes and how they are developed throughout the poem. Major themes include:

• Sin and Redemption: The Mariner’s journey is a spiritual one, where his act of killing the albatross leads to suffering, repentance, and eventual redemption.
• Nature and the Supernatural: Coleridge explores the awe-inspiring power of nature, both beautiful and terrifying, while incorporating supernatural elements like ghost ships and spirits.
• Isolation: The Mariner’s physical and emotional isolation after killing the albatross reflects themes of alienation and loneliness.
• Fate and Free Will: Consider how much of the Mariner’s fate is determined by his own actions (shooting the albatross) versus external forces (supernatural punishment).
• Punishment and Guilt: The Mariner is condemned to a lifetime of retelling his story as penance for his crime.

2. Symbolism

Identify key symbols in the poem and their significance:

• The Albatross: Traditionally seen as a good omen, it becomes a symbol of sin after the Mariner kills it, representing a moral transgression against nature.
• The Sea: A representation of both life and death, as it alternates between calm and stormy, highlighting the Mariner’s emotional journey.
• The Ship: Often interpreted as a microcosm of human existence, subject to the whims of nature and fate.
• Death and Life-in-Death: These figures represent the inevitable death that faces all, but also the torment of living with guilt.

3. Literary Devices

Analyze how Coleridge’s use of language enhances the poem’s themes and tone:

• Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the natural and supernatural (e.g., the ice “mast-high” in Part II) evoke the mystical and mysterious elements of the story.
• Alliteration and Repetition: Coleridge frequently uses repetition to emphasize the Mariner’s feelings of guilt and suffering (e.g., “Alone, alone, all, all alone”).
• Metaphor and Simile: The poem uses these devices to make abstract concepts like guilt and penance more tangible. For example, the albatross is described as a “weight” around the Mariner’s neck, symbolizing his burden of guilt.
• Personification: Nature and supernatural forces are personified, creating a dynamic relationship between humanity and the natural world.

4. Structure

Consider how the form and structure of the poem contribute to its meaning:

• Ballad Form: The poem is written as a lyrical ballad, which traditionally tells a story. The regular rhyme scheme and meter give it a musical quality, which contrasts with the dark themes of death and supernatural punishment.
• Frame Narrative: The Mariner tells his story to a wedding guest, creating a story-within-a-story. Analyze how this affects the reader’s engagement and adds layers to the narrative.
• Shifts in Tone: The poem alternates between moments of calm (e.g., the ship sailing smoothly) and intense drama (e.g., the appearance of Death and Life-in-Death), reflecting the unpredictability of the Mariner’s journey.

5. Context

Place the poem in its historical and literary context:

• Romanticism: The poem is a key text in Romantic literature, which emphasized emotion, individualism, the beauty and terror of nature, and the supernatural.
• Coleridge’s Philosophical Beliefs: Coleridge was deeply influenced by his religious and philosophical beliefs, which are reflected in the Mariner’s journey from sin to redemption.
• Environmental Message: The poem can be interpreted as an early ecological warning, emphasizing the importance of respecting nature. The Mariner’s crime is against the natural world, and his suffering reflects the consequences of disrupting the balance between humans and nature.

6. Narrative Perspective

The poem is told from the Mariner’s point of view, but the frame narrative (the Mariner speaking to the wedding guest) adds a layer of complexity. Consider:

• Unreliable Narrator: The Mariner’s guilt may make him an unreliable narrator. How does this affect the way we perceive the story?
• Dual Narratives: The wedding guest’s reactions to the story (at first impatient, then horrified) mirror the reader’s reactions and highlight the power of storytelling.

7. Tone and Mood

Analyze the shifts in tone and mood throughout the poem:

• Mystical and Haunting: The supernatural elements, such as the ghost ship and the reanimated sailors, create a haunting mood.
• Somber and Reflective: The Mariner’s penitent reflection on his past actions gives the poem a somber tone, particularly in the closing stanzas.

8. Characterization

• The Mariner: The Mariner’s development from a reckless sailor to a guilt-ridden wanderer is central to the poem. His actions and the consequences of killing the albatross are explored as a cautionary tale about the human impact on the natural world.
• Supporting Figures: The Wedding Guest, Death, Life-in-Death, and the crew serve as important foils to the Mariner, reflecting different aspects of his journey and the larger themes of life, death, and spiritual salvation.

9. Connections to Global Issues

Link the poem to relevant global issues, such as:

• Environmental Ethics: The Mariner’s disrespect for the natural world leads to his downfall, reflecting modern concerns about environmental degradation.
• Spirituality and Redemption: The Mariner’s journey is one of spiritual awakening, where he learns the importance of love and respect for all creatures. This ties into discussions about human morality and ethics.
• Isolation and Alienation: The poem explores the deep psychological effects of isolation, relevant in discussions about mental health and human connection.

10. Coleridge’s Use of the Supernatural

The supernatural elements in the poem are crucial to understanding its Romantic elements:

• Personification of Abstract Concepts: Death and Life-in-Death play literal roles in determining the Mariner’s fate, blending the physical and the metaphysical.
• Supernatural Punishment and Forgiveness: The spiritual punishment the Mariner endures aligns with Romantic ideas about cosmic justice and morality.

Thematic Instances

Wow! We have done half of the work already! The rest is a Thematic Analysis. You can write your essays with the help of these cue points. Get ready!

1. Guilt and Redemption

• “I had done a hellish thing, / And it would work ’em woe” (Part II): The Mariner’s realization of his grave sin after killing the Albatross.
• “Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About my neck was hung” (Part II): The physical manifestation of guilt.
• “The many men, so beautiful! / And they all dead did lie” (Part IV): The Mariner’s guilt deepens as he reflects on the death of his crew.
• “I looked to heaven, and tried to pray” (Part IV): His struggle to find redemption through prayer.
• “The curse in a dead man’s eye!” (Part IV): The crew’s curse symbolizes the Mariner’s internal torment.
• “He’ll shrieve my soul, he’ll wash away / The Albatross’s blood” (Part VII): The Mariner’s hope for redemption through penance.
• “I pass, like night, from land to land; / I have strange power of speech” (Part VII): The Mariner’s eternal penance is to retell his story.
• “And till my ghastly tale is told, / This heart within me burns” (Part VII): Redemption through confessing his guilt to others.
• “The self-same moment I could pray” (Part V): The Mariner’s moment of redemption when he prays after seeing the beauty of the water-snakes.
• “Farewell, farewell! but this I tell / To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!” (Part VII): The Mariner’s warning to others to avoid the guilt he carries.

2. Sin and Consequence

• “With my cross-bow / I shot the Albatross” (Part I): The Mariner’s sin of killing the Albatross without reason.
• “The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew” (Part II): Initially, there are no immediate consequences, giving a false sense of security.
• “Water, water, everywhere, / Nor any drop to drink” (Part II): The crew suffers a dire consequence for the Mariner’s sin.
• “We were the first that ever burst / Into that silent sea” (Part II): The Mariner’s sin leads to unnatural occurrences at sea.
• “As idle as a painted ship / Upon a painted ocean” (Part II): The crew is immobilized as a consequence of the sin.
• “The very deep did rot: O Christ! / That ever this should be!” (Part II): Nature’s decay as a consequence of the Mariner’s sin.
• “Ah! well a-day! what evil looks / Had I from old and young!” (Part IV): The crew’s death is the ultimate consequence of his actions.
• “I closed my lids, and kept them close, / And the balls like pulses beat” (Part IV): The Mariner experiences physical torment as part of his punishment.
• “The souls did from their bodies fly, /—They fled to bliss or woe!” (Part III): The death of his crew is a direct consequence of his sin.
• “The Albatross fell off, and sank / Like lead into the sea” (Part V): The lifting of the curse after the Mariner acknowledges his wrongdoing.

3. Isolation

• “Alone, alone, all, all alone, / Alone on a wide, wide sea!” (Part IV): The Mariner’s intense isolation after his crew’s death.
• “Nor saint, nor angel, but a fiend” (Part IV): His isolation leads to the feeling that even heaven has abandoned him.
• “I looked upon the rotting sea, / And drew my eyes away” (Part IV): The horror of being alone with decaying nature.
• “The curse liveth for him in the eye of the dead men” (Part IV): Isolation in his guilt, haunted by the dead crew.
• “The ship went down like lead” (Part V): The physical isolation of being the sole survivor.
• “An orphan’s curse would drag to hell / A spirit from on high” (Part IV): The Mariner compares his isolation to the loneliness of an orphan.
• “We drifted o’er the harbour-bar” (Part VII): Even upon returning home, the Mariner is isolated by his experience.
• “No voice; but oh! the silence sank / Like music on my heart” (Part V): The Mariner feels isolation within the eerie calm of the sea.
• “The wedding-guest sat on a stone” (Part VII): The Mariner’s tale isolates him from normal human interactions, even at joyful events.
• “I fear thee, ancient Mariner! / I fear thy skinny hand!” (Part VII): His isolation is emphasized by the fear others feel in his presence.

4. The Natural and the Supernatural

• “At length did cross an Albatross” (Part I): The Albatross as a symbol of nature’s innocence.
• “The ice was here, the ice was there” (Part I): The powerful force of nature surrounding the ship.
• “It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, / Like noises in a swound!” (Part I): The supernatural quality of nature’s power.
• “Red as a rose is she” (Part III): The Life-in-Death figure has an eerie, supernatural presence.
• “A spirit had followed them” (Part V): Supernatural forces govern the crew’s fate.
• “And some in dreams assured were / Of the Spirit that plagued us so” (Part II): The supernatural influence of spirits on the sailors.
• “We were a ghastly crew” (Part V): The crew becomes a ghostly, supernatural entity.
• “A thousand thousand slimy things / Lived on; and so did I” (Part IV): The unnatural state of the Mariner’s existence amidst decaying life.
• “And straight the Sun was flecked with bars” (Part II): The supernatural power that alters natural forces like the sun.
• “The stars were dim, and thick the night” (Part V): The supernatural darkness that envelops the ship.

5. Reverence for Nature

• “The Albatross did follow, / And every day, for food or play, / Came to the mariner’s hollo!” (Part I): The crew initially respects and reveres the Albatross.
• “A spring of love gushed from my heart” (Part IV): The Mariner’s newfound respect for nature after seeing the beauty in the water-snakes.
• “O happy living things!” (Part IV): The Mariner finally recognizes the worth of all living creatures.
• “The water, like a witch’s oils, / Burnt green, and blue and white” (Part IV): The Mariner’s awe at the supernatural beauty of nature.
• “God save thee, ancient Mariner! / From the fiends, that plague thee thus!” (Part VII): The Mariner’s reverence for the natural world grows as he endures the consequences of defiling it.
• “The self-same moment I could pray; / And from my neck so free” (Part V): Redemption comes through his acknowledgment of nature’s sacredness.
• “Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, / And from their bodies passed” (Part V): Nature’s beauty, manifested in the song of the reanimated crew.
• “The Sun came up upon the left, / Out of the sea came he!” (Part I): The Mariner’s early appreciation of the natural cycles of the world.
• “For the sky and the sea, and the sea and the sky” (Part II): The Mariner reflects on the interconnection of natural elements.
• “He prayeth well, who loveth well / Both man and bird and beast” (Part VII): The final lesson about revering all forms of life.

Lines of Inquiries

The last step is presenting a few Lines of Inquiries to help you enrich your essays and IOs. Hope you will enjoy this too.

1. How does Coleridge explore the theme of moral and spiritual redemption?

• “With my cross-bow / I shot the Albatross.” (Part I)
• “I had done a hellish thing, / And it would work ’em woe.” (Part II)
• “Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About my neck was hung.” (Part II)
• “The many men, so beautiful! / And they all dead did lie.” (Part IV)
• “The curse in a dead man’s eye!” (Part IV)
• “I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; / But or ever a prayer had gushed, / A wicked whisper came, and made / My heart as dry as dust.” (Part IV)
• “And till my ghastly tale is told, / This heart within me burns.” (Part VII)
• “He’ll shrieve my soul, he’ll wash away / The Albatross’s blood.” (Part VII)
• “I blessed them unaware” (Part IV): The turning point when the Mariner unconsciously appreciates nature.
• “The self-same moment I could pray” (Part V)
• “The Albatross fell off, and sank / Like lead into the sea.” (Part V)
• “And every tongue, through utter drought, / Was withered at the root” (Part II): The Mariner’s physical suffering linked to his spiritual journey.
• “O happy living things! No tongue / Their beauty might declare.” (Part IV): Redemption comes through his recognition of nature’s beauty.
• “The pang, the curse, with which they died, / Had never passed away.” (Part IV): The lingering guilt before redemption.
• “By grace of the holy Mother, the ancient Mariner is saved from his ordeal” (Part V): Spiritual redemption begins to unfold.
• “He prayeth well, who loveth well / Both man and bird and beast” (Part VII): The final lesson, focusing on love for all living things as a form of moral redemption.
• “A thousand thousand slimy things / Lived on; and so did I” (Part IV): The Mariner’s disgust with himself, signaling his need for redemption.
• “Each turned his face with a ghastly pang, / And cursed me with his eye.” (Part III): Guilt haunts him as his shipmates die.
• “Farewell, farewell! but this I tell / To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!” (Part VII): The Mariner’s penance is eternal storytelling.

2. What role does nature play in the moral consequences experienced by the Mariner?

• “At length did cross an Albatross” (Part I)
• “The Albatross did follow, / And every day, for food or play, / Came to the mariner’s hollo!” (Part I)
• “With my cross-bow / I shot the Albatross” (Part I): The turning point where nature is disrespected.
• “The ice was here, the ice was there, / The ice was all around” (Part I)
• “Water, water, everywhere, / Nor any drop to drink” (Part II)
• “The very deep did rot: O Christ! / That ever this should be!” (Part II): Nature decays as a consequence of the Mariner’s action.
• “The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew” (Part II): Positive interactions with nature are brief.
• “The stars were dim, and thick the night” (Part V): Nature reflects the supernatural forces at play.
• “A spring of love gushed from my heart, / And I blessed them unaware” (Part IV): His reverence for nature brings spiritual healing.
• “O happy living things!” (Part IV): Nature is integral to the Mariner’s moral realization.
• “The water, like a witch’s oils, / Burnt green, and blue and white” (Part IV): Nature’s beauty contrasts with his inner turmoil.
• “The ocean hath no blast” (Part V): Nature calms as the Mariner’s journey nears its resolution.
• “And I had done a hellish thing” (Part II): Killing the Albatross disturbs the natural order.
• “The wind did scream and the snow did whirl” (Part I): Nature as a powerful, almost supernatural force.
• “The sky was clear, the sea was blue” (Part II): Nature in its untouched purity before the Mariner’s transgression.
• “The Sun now rose upon the right” (Part I): The regular cycles of nature, disrupted by the Mariner’s actions.
• “The Spirit slid: and it was he / That made the ship to go” (Part V): Nature takes on supernatural qualities.
• “The Albatross fell off, and sank / Like lead into the sea” (Part V): Nature offers forgiveness in the form of physical release.
• “The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, / The furrow followed free” (Part II): Nature assists the ship when it is in harmony.
• “The dead men gave a groan” (Part VI): Nature and the supernatural blur together.

3. How does Coleridge portray the conflict between human free will and supernatural determinism?

• “With my cross-bow / I shot the Albatross” (Part I): The Mariner’s act of free will.
• “Water, water, everywhere, / Nor any drop to drink” (Part II): The supernatural forces punishing the crew.
• “The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, / The furrow followed free” (Part II): Initial freedom of will, but soon to be curtailed.
• “We were the first that ever burst / Into that silent sea” (Part II): Human agency pushing into supernatural territory.
• “The Spirit who bideth by himself / In the land of mist and snow” (Part V): Supernatural forces influence the ship’s fate.
• “A wicked whisper came, and made / My heart as dry as dust” (Part IV): The Mariner’s free will is overwhelmed by a supernatural presence.
• “And every soul, it passed me by, / Like the whizz of my cross-bow” (Part III): Supernatural determinism in the death of his crewmates.
• “The ship went down like lead” (Part V): The Mariner’s fate is sealed by supernatural forces.
• “The Spirit who plagued us so” (Part V): Supernatural power holds sway over the ship.
• “The self-same moment I could pray” (Part V): The Mariner’s moment of redemption coincides with divine intervention.
• “A spirit had followed them; / One of the invisible inhabitants of this planet” (Part V): Free will is subverted by external supernatural forces.
• “The game is done! I’ve won, I’ve won!” (Part III): The dice game between Life-in-Death and Death represents the Mariner’s lack of control.
• “And some in dreams assured were / Of the Spirit that plagued us so” (Part II): Supernatural forces determine the fate of the sailors.
• “He holds him with his skinny hand” (Part I): The Mariner’s loss of agency is immediate and terrifying.
• “They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, / Nor spake, nor moved their eyes” (Part VI): The crew, now supernatural, acts without free will.
• “An orphan’s curse would drag to hell / A spirit from on high” (Part IV): Supernatural powers are invoked to explain human suffering.
• “A noise like of a hidden brook / In the leafy month of June” (Part V): Supernatural forces guide the ship after the Mariner’s moment of grace.
• “We drifted o’er the harbour-bar” (Part VII): The Mariner is carried home by forces beyond his control.
• “The loud wind never reached the ship” (Part V): Nature’s forces are manipulated by the supernatural.
• “Life-in-Death begins her work on the Mariner” (Part III): His fate is sealed by supernatural determinism.

4. In what ways does Coleridge represent the theme of death and resurrection?

• “The souls did from their bodies fly, /—They fled to bliss or woe!” (Part III)
• “Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About my neck was hung” (Part II): Symbolic death of his spirit.
• “The curse in a dead man’s eye” (Part IV)
• “And every soul, it passed me by, / Like the whizz of my cross-bow!” (Part III)
• “The dead men gave a groan” (Part VI): The crew is temporarily resurrected in a supernatural manner.
• “They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, / Nor spake, nor moved their eyes” (Part VI): Resurrection of the dead crew.
• “Is this the hill? Is this the kirk? / Is this mine own countree?” (Part VI): The Mariner’s return to his homeland, symbolizing resurrection.
• “The self-same moment I could pray” (Part V): Spiritual resurrection when he can pray again.
• “The game is done! I’ve won! I’ve won!” (Part III): Life-in-Death wins the Mariner’s soul, highlighting a symbolic death.
• “The Mariner hath his will” (Part I): The Mariner, at the beginning, takes control of his fate, unaware of the cycle of death and resurrection that awaits.
• “Is that Death? and are there two? / Is Death that woman’s mate?” (Part III): Death and Life-in-Death are personified, with Life-in-Death claiming the Mariner.
• “And soon I heard a roaring wind: / It did not come anear; / But with its sound it shook the sails” (Part V): A signal of supernatural intervention, hinting at forces controlling death and resurrection.
• “The self-same moment I could pray; / And from my neck so free / The Albatross fell off, and sank / Like lead into the sea” (Part IV): This moment marks a spiritual resurrection for the Mariner, as his curse is momentarily lifted.
• “The bodies of the ship’s crew are inspired, and the ship moves on” (Part V): The reanimation of the dead crew serves as a literal resurrection.
• “The dead men gave a groan / They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose” (Part VI): Another resurrection of the dead crew.
• “The ship went down like lead” (Part V): Symbolic of the final death of the ship.
• “He prayeth well, who loveth well” (Part VII): Spiritual resurrection through prayer and love.
• “Since then, at an uncertain hour, / That agony returns” (Part VII): The Mariner experiences cyclical spiritual death and resurrection each time he tells his story.

5. How does Coleridge portray isolation as a consequence of guilt and transgression?

• “Alone, alone, all, all alone, / Alone on a wide, wide sea!” (Part IV)
• “And never a saint took pity on / My soul in agony” (Part IV)
• “The very deep did rot: O Christ! / That ever this should be!” (Part II)
• “I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; / But or ever a prayer had gushed, / A wicked whisper came, and made / My heart as dry as dust.” (Part IV)
• “Nor dim nor red, like God’s own head, / The glorious Sun uprist” (Part II): His isolation is magnified by nature’s indifference.
• “The dead men stood together” (Part VI): Despite being surrounded by bodies, the Mariner remains isolated.
• “With a heavy thump, a lifeless lump, / They dropped down one by one” (Part III)
• “And the Albatross began to be / Avenged” (Part II): The Mariner’s isolation grows as the curse sets in.
• “An orphan’s curse would drag to hell / A spirit from on high” (Part IV): Even the supernatural forces contribute to his isolation.
• “Nor rot nor reek did they: / The look with which they looked on me / Had never passed away” (Part IV): The crew’s silent judgment intensifies his sense of solitude.
• “I closed my lids, and kept them close, / And the balls like pulses beat” (Part IV): The Mariner is trapped in his own mind, isolated by his inner torment.
• “My soul in agony” (Part IV): His guilt isolates him from any spiritual relief.
• “The pang, the curse, with which they died, / Had never passed away” (Part IV)
• “I had done a hellish thing, / And it would work ’em woe” (Part II)
• “The sky was dull and dark” (Part II): The oppressive environment mirrors his mental isolation.
• “I looked upon the rotting sea” (Part IV): Even the natural world seems corrupted by his presence, isolating him further.
• “I woke, and we were sailing on / As in a gentle weather” (Part VI): His isolation is made more poignant when normalcy returns, but his internal exile persists.

6. What role does storytelling play as a form of penance for the Mariner?

• “I pass, like night, from land to land” (Part VII)
• “Since then, at an uncertain hour, / That agony returns” (Part VII)
• “And till my ghastly tale is told, / This heart within me burns” (Part VII)
• “He holds him with his skinny hand, / ‘There was a ship,’ quoth he.” (Part I): The act of retelling the story begins.
• “The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: / He cannot choose but hear” (Part I): The Mariner compels others to listen, reinforcing his burden.
• “The moment that his face I see, / I know the man that must hear me” (Part VII)
• “Farewell, farewell! but this I tell / To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!” (Part VII)
• “He’ll shrieve my soul, he’ll wash away / The Albatross’s blood” (Part VII)
• “The ancient Mariner inhospitably killeth the pious bird of good omen” (Part I): The storytelling begins with this pivotal sin.
• “For the dear God who loveth us, / He made and loveth all.” (Part VII): His tale always concludes with a moral.
• “The Mariner, whose eye is bright, / Whose beard with age is hoar” (Part VII): His eternal burden is shown through his aged, weary appearance.
• “He prayeth well, who loveth well” (Part VII): The moral that he must convey in every retelling.
• “Since then, at an uncertain hour, / That agony returns” (Part VII): His penance is never-ending.
• “A sadder and a wiser man, / He rose the morrow morn” (Part VII): The listener, like the Mariner, bears the burden of the tale.
• “He stoppeth one of three” (Part I): The Mariner’s compulsive need to tell his story as part of his penance.
• “And till my ghastly tale is told, / This heart within me burns” (Part VII): The storytelling is a relief, but temporary.
• “It is an ancient Mariner, / And he stoppeth one of three” (Part I): He is drawn to recount his story to certain people, dictated by forces beyond him.
• “There was a ship,” quoth he” (Part I): The repetitive beginning suggests his entrapment in the cycle of retelling.
• “He holds him with his skinny hand” (Part I): The physical act of stopping people to tell his tale shows his burden.
• “The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: / He cannot choose but hear” (Part I): The Wedding Guest becomes a symbol of those burdened by the Mariner’s penance.

7. How does Coleridge use imagery to evoke the theme of punishment and suffering?

• “The very deep did rot: O Christ! / That ever this should be!” (Part II)
• “Water, water, everywhere, / Nor any drop to drink” (Part II)
• “And the Albatross began to be / Avenged” (Part II)
• “The curse in a dead man’s eye!” (Part IV)
• “I looked upon the rotting sea, / And drew my eyes away” (Part IV)
• “With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, / We could nor laugh nor wail” (Part II)
• “And every tongue, through utter drought, / Was withered at the root” (Part II)
• “Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About my neck was hung” (Part II)
• “The souls did from their bodies fly, /—They fled to bliss or woe!” (Part III)
• “A thousand thousand slimy things / Lived on; and so did I” (Part IV)
• “Each turned his face with a ghastly pang, / And cursed me with his eye.” (Part III)
• “The dead men stood together” (Part VI)
• “The pang, the curse, with which they died, / Had never passed away” (Part IV)
• “The water, like a witch’s oils, / Burnt green, and blue and white” (Part IV)
• “The stars were dim, and thick the night” (Part V)
• “The Sun now rose upon the right” (Part I)
• “With a heavy thump, a lifeless lump, / They dropped down one by one” (Part III)
• “I fear thee, ancient Mariner! / I fear thy skinny hand!” (Part IV)
• “Nor rot nor reek did they: / The look with which they looked on me / Had never passed away” (Part IV)

8. How does Coleridge present the theme of guilt as a haunting force in the Mariner’s life?

• “Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About my neck was hung” (Part II)
• “The pang, the curse, with which they died, / Had never passed away” (Part IV)
• “And every soul, it passed me by, / Like the whizz of my cross-bow!” (Part III)
• “I closed my lids, and kept them close, / And the balls like pulses beat” (Part IV)
• “I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; / But or ever a prayer had gushed, / A wicked whisper came, and made / My heart as dry as dust.” (Part IV)
• “The curse in a dead man’s eye” (Part IV)
• “He prayeth well, who loveth well” (Part VII): The Mariner’s guilt is tied to the moral lesson he must share.
• “With my cross-bow / I shot the Albatross” (Part I)
• “The many men, so beautiful! / And they all dead did lie” (Part IV)
• “And never a saint took pity on / My soul in agony” (Part IV)
• “Farewell, farewell! but this I tell / To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!” (Part VII): The Mariner’s guilt lives on through his storytelling.
• “The souls did from their bodies fly, /—They fled to bliss or woe!” (Part III)
• “I fear thee, ancient Mariner! / I fear thy skinny hand!” (Part IV)
• “And till my ghastly tale is told, / This heart within me burns” (Part VII)
• “The pang, the curse, with which they died, / Had never passed away” (Part IV)
• “They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, / Nor spake, nor moved their eyes” (Part VI)
• “Since then, at an uncertain hour, / That agony returns” (Part VII)
• “A wicked whisper came, and made / My heart as dry as dust” (Part IV)
• “The many men, so beautiful! / And they all dead did lie” (Part IV)
• “Alone, alone, all, all alone, / Alone on a wide wide sea!” (Part IV)