Samuel Taylor Coleridge “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

The poet leader of the British Romantic movement, was born on October 21, 1772, in Devonshire, England In 1795 Coleridge befriended William Wordsworth In 1798 the two men collaborated on a joint volume of poetry entitled Lyrical Ballads. The collection is considered the first great work of the Romantic school of poetry and contains Coleridge's famous poem, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

The poem - Written in 1797–98 and was published in The story relates the events experienced by a mariner who has returned from a long sea voyage. The Mariner stops a man who is on the way to a wedding ceremony and begins to narrate a story. The Wedding-Guest's reaction turns from bemusement to impatience and fear to fascination as the Mariner's story progresses, as can be seen in the language style Coleridge uses narrative techniques such as personification and repetition to create either a sense of danger, of the supernatural or of serenity, depending on the mood of each of the different parts of the poem.

The poem The mariner tells the tale of how, in a moment of haste, he kills an albatross. After killing the bird, his ship encounters numerous dangers (some supernatural) and his shipmates require him to hang the enormous bird around his neck as penance for his crime against nature.

How can we connect to Frankenstein?

Tie to Frankenstein Robert Walton’s Letter II (page 21)Robert Walton’s Letter II (page 21) “I am going to unexplored regions to ‘the land of mist and snow’; but I shall kill no albatross, therefore do not be alarmed for my safety, or if I should come back to you as worn and woeful as the ‘Ancient Mariner’. You will smile at my allusion; but I will disclose a secret. I have often attributed my attachment to, my passionate enthusiasm for, the dangerous mysteries of the ocean, to that production of the most imaginative of modern poets.”“I am going to unexplored regions to ‘the land of mist and snow’; but I shall kill no albatross, therefore do not be alarmed for my safety, or if I should come back to you as worn and woeful as the ‘Ancient Mariner’. You will smile at my allusion; but I will disclose a secret. I have often attributed my attachment to, my passionate enthusiasm for, the dangerous mysteries of the ocean, to that production of the most imaginative of modern poets.” Also in chapter V – Victor quotes the poemAlso in chapter V – Victor quotes the poem

Multiple Choice Practice Read the excerpt from “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and answer the questions With a partner: compare your answers – come to an agreement for each question Write your answers on the board

Answers 1. C 2. B 3. C 4. E 5. B 6. D 7. C 8. D 9. E 10. E