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Romanticism In The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

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Influenced by the three major revolutions, Romanticism was sparked as a new era of revolt against all reason and judgment. One major verification viewed by numerous individuals is the creation of Romantic poems. This includes the well-known verses of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, written by the rebellious Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Not only is Romanticism demonstrated in his rebellious lifestyle, but it is also evident in the words he records on paper. His writing describes the events followed by the assassination of a luck-bringing Albatross and a crew member who goes on a disastrous adventure only to learn the true meaning of penance. Coleridge is seen as disobedient to 18th-century ideals due to the emotion and imagination he put into his …show more content…

There are three major examples within the poem, including the death of the Albatross. After realizing that the killing of the ship’s large, magical bird results in bad luck, the crew members take the law into their own hands. They discipline the Mariner by placing the Albatross around his neck. This is a sign of shame that the members convince themselves the Mariner is entitled to. They do not follow rules of their hometown or the captain of the ship itself instead, they follow their own instincts. Another instance of alienation from society is present in the life of the Mariner. The life of the Ancient Mariner is won by the hands of Life in Death, but the remainder of the crew falls into the hands of Death. That saying, Death kills two-hundred men on the ship and the Mariner is the only individual to remain alive. “The many men, so beautiful did lie / And they all dead did lie / And a thousand thousand slimy things / Lived on; and so did I” (236-239). This isolates the Mariner from all life on the ship and for the continuance of his life, he must live with the consequences of his actions. This leads to his penance and the third example of alienation from the rest of the world. The Mariner is able to live under one condition. This condition is the lesson he is enlightened of throughout his journey to break the curse. He takes …show more content…

This description gives the audience a perception of an intense and gory poem. For example, the description of the oncoming ship that holds the two supernatural beings. Given the details of the ship, the audience can determine that is out of the ordinary. Especially due to the fact that it can be seen moving without any wind or sail. It is as if a ghost or celestial creature is pushing the ship, which intrigues the characters as well as the audience. The utmost memorable visualization is in the eyes of the dead men lying on the ship’s floor. “The cold sweat melted from their limbs, / Nor rot nor reek did they: / The look with which they looked at me / Had never passed away” (253-256). The eyes of the men burn into the back of the Mariner’s mind and dramatically traumatize him, influencing the decisions he later accomplishes. The last example of gothic elements is described by the Pilot on his way to rescue the Mariner. This is similar to the genre of details given by the Mariner toward the phantom ship. The ship terrifies even the bravest of men who risk their lives to save the unknown. This juicy descriptive process allows the audience to visualize a mental image in their mind that will help them follow the poem by all means. The reader’s experiences allow them to relate to the poem on a deeper level and understand the emotional state Coleridge was

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