The Plot
The story begins with a young man getting stopped by an old Mariner on his way to a wedding with two of his friends. The young man, referred to as the Wedding Guest, “cannot choose but hear” Mariner’s narrative, even though he is anxious to get to the party (Coleridge pt. I). The Mariner depicts his misfortunes at sea, from being stuck in “fog and mist” that clears after he shoots an albatross to almost dying from heat and thirst (Coleridge pt. II). Then, his crew encounters a haunted ship with “Death” and “Life-in-Death” on board, leading to the deaths of everyone but the Mariner (Coleridge pts. III). Although the “ghastly crew” becomes controlled by angels, which allows them to navigate the ship, they do not come back to life, and the Mariner is left alone with the corpses (Coleridge pt. V). Since he was saved and brought back to shore, he has felt a physical need to relate his story to others, which is the reason he stopped the Wedding Guest.
The Narrator’s Character
The narrator, the Mariner, is an old sailor desperate to narrate his story to others. He is described as “bright-eyed” and “ancient” repeatedly, specifically in parts I, IV, and V (Coleridge). Furthermore, he is depicted to be “long, and lank, and brown” and have a “skinny hand” (Coleridge pt. V). Ian McKellen’s narration of the poem in the YouTube video facilitates the creation of the vivid image of the Mariner’s persona (Neufeld). He appears to have been made wiser by his experiences, valuing good friends and God and encouraging the Wedding Guest to do the same.
The Symbolism in this Poem
The message of the poem is to love other people and God, and Coleridge uses symbolism and imagery to convey it in an entertaining way. The poem concludes with the message, “He prayeth best, who loveth best,” but the Mariner’s story itself is a fictional one (Coleridge pt. VII). One of the prominent symbols in the poem is the Albatross that the Mariner shoots, which represents his sinful choices. Before he is saved, the Mariner wishes that the Hermit “wash[es] away the Albatross’s blood” (Coleridge pt. VI). There are also numerous spirits and metaphysical creatures that have an enhancing effect on the moral of the story.
Works Cited
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Poetry Foundation, 1834. Poetry Foundation, Web.
“Ian McKellen reads “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.” YouTube, uploaded by Jeremy L. Neufeld, Web.