SDean -  Homework 09.12.2009

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1772-1834)

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798)

Part I

1. The captions to the left of the stanza are related to the events in the narrative. Read them first and then proceed to read the stanzas.

1. While reading, make notes about the setting/s, the events, the characters and be ready to give a brief account of what happens in the first part of ballad.

   	SETTING	EVENTS	CHARACTERS
   1st STANZA	Next to a wedding-feast.	Mariner stopped one of three wedding-guests.	Mariner and three wedding-guests.
   2nd STANZA	Wedding-feast.	The feast is set.	Wedding-guest.
   3rd STANZA	Next to a wedding-feast.	Mariner holds the wedding-guest with his skinny hand and begins to tell a story.	Mariner and the wedding-guest.
   4th STANZA	Next to a wedding-feast.	Mariner holds the wedding-guest with his glittering eye and the wedding-guest stands.	Mariner and the wedding-guest.
   5th STANZA	Next to a wedding-feast.	The wedding-guest sits on a stone and listen the ancient mariner.	Mariner and the wedding-guest.
   6th STANZA	Of the story: in an harbour.	The ship sails.	---
   7th STANZA	In the sea.	The time goes by.	---
   8th STANZA	Next to a wedding-feast.	The wedding-guest beat his breast.	Mariner and the wedding-guest.
   9th STANZA	Wedding-feast.	The bride approach into the hall.	The bride, the wedding-guests and musicians.
   10th STANZA	Next to a wedding-feast.	The wedding-guest hears the bridal music; but the mariner continues his tale.	Mariner and the wedding-guest.
   11th STANZA	In the sea.	The ship draws by a storm toward the South Pole.	---
   12th STANZA	In the sea.	The ship draws by a storm toward the South Pole.	---
   13th STANZA	In the sea.	The ship goes on between mist and snow.	---
   14th STANZA	South Pole.	The ship goes on through icebergs.	---
   15th STANZA	South Pole	The ship goes on through icebergs.	---
   16th STANZA	South Pole	A albatross comes through the snow-fog, and it is received with great joy and hospitality.	Albatross and mariners.
   17th STANZA	South Pole	The albatross hats food. The ice splits.	Albatross and mariners.
   18th STANZA	South Pole	The albatross follows the ship.	Albatross and mariners.
   19th STANZA	South Pole	The albatross perchs for nine vespers on the mast or on the sails.	Albatross.
   20th STANZA	Next to a wedding-feast.	The ancient mariner says that he killed the pious bird of good omen.	Mariner and the wedding-guest.

2. How may storylines can you identify?

   There are 3 storylines:

• the stoyline of the ancient mariner and the wedding-guest;

• the storyline of the wedding-fest;

• the storyline of voyage.

1. Consider how the figure of the Mariner is described.

   1. What are his traits? Is his portrait very detailed?

      Mariner was a old man (line 1 "Ancient"), he had a skinny hand (line 9), a grey beard (line 11) and a glittering (line 13) or bright eye (line 20). The portrait isn't detailed because we know only some details (only four).

   2. Does the old man strike you as a real, true-to-life figure?

      Yes, he does. But nowadays there aren't old man telling stories of the seas. The old generation always tells about their young moments.

2. Examine the landscapes, seascapes and elements of nature present in the text and the kind of language used in their description.

   1. Note down the type and features of the scapes passed through during the journey.

      The mariner tells how the ship sailed southward with a good wind and fair weather. After, the ship by a storm toward the South Pole. The land of ice, and the fearful sounds where no living thing was to be seen.

   2. Decide which of the natural elements are personified.

      Storm-blast was tyrannous and strong, and it had wings (lines 41-44).

      Tempest (line 49) and the ice roared and howled (line 61).

      Albatross was compared as a Christian soul (line 65).

   3. On the basis of your answer, would you say that nature is presented in a realistic or symbolic way, or both?

      Nature is presented in a symbolic way because poet, through nature's personifications, might create reader's feelings. For example feeling of fright and impotence in front of nature.

3. Examine the supernatural aspects of the ballad.

   1. ___

   2. Supernatural characters and events stand in contrast with realistic events and people. Where in your view is the contrast between reality and the supernatural most striking? Give reasons.

      The contrast between reality and the supernatural events underlines the pedagogic elements of the story.

      Supernatural characters and events stand in contrast with realistic events and people, it is most striking for the effect, it has on the reader.

Part IV

1. Give a brief account of what happens in Part IV and explain why it marks a turning point in the story.

   The Wedding-Guest is fearful that a spirit is talking to him. But ancient Mariner assured him of his bodily life, and proceeded to relate his horrible penance. He despised the creatures of the calm, and envied that they should live and so many lie dead. But the curse lived for him in the eye of the dead men. In his loneliness and fixedness he yearned towards the journeying. Moon, and the stars that still sojourn, yet still move onward; and everywhere the blue sky belongs to them, and is their appointment rest, and their native country and their own natural homes, which they enter unannounced, as lords that are certainly expected and yet there is a silent joy at their arrival. By the light of the Moon he beheld God's creatures of the great calm. Their beauty and their happiness. He blessed them in his heart.

2. Consider the character of the Ancient Mariner in Part IV.

   1. What traits are empathized?

      He is unique survive, he is alone.

   2. The mood of the Mariner at the beginning of Part IV is very different from his mood at the end. In what way?

      The mood of the Mariner at the beginning of Part IV is terrified,agony and he is disgusted from vision hideous of other man died.

      The mood of the Mariner at the end of Part IV is quenched.

   3. The mood of the Mariner is not describe directly; it is reflected in what surrounds the Mariner. Illustrate with words and phases from Part IV.

      The mood of the Mariner is describe with words: "alone" (lines 9-10), "drew" (line 18).

      The mood of the Mariner is describe with phases: "And never a saint took pity on/My soul in agony."(lines 11-12), "a spring of love gushed from my heart" (line 61)

3. The Rime is a ballad. Look at the main features of traditional ballad from given below and decide which are present in the Rime and which are not. Give examples from the parts you have read.

• 4-line stanzas rhyming 'abab' NO

  The moving Moon went up the sky

  And nowhere did abide:

  Softly she was going up,

  And a star or two besides -

• stress pattern: 4343 NO

  I looked to heaven, and tired yo pray;

  But or ever a prayer had gusht,

  A wicked whisper came, and made

  My heart as dry as dust.

• storyline: short and simple, often tragic YES

• the stoyline of the ancient mariner and the wedding-guest;

• the storyline of voyage.

• characters: simple with straightforward emotions NO ex. 2.3

• narrative technique: narration and/or dialogue YES

• themes: universal themes (love, death, revenge)YES                                                     supernatural themes (ghost, evil forces) YES

• language: simple; use of graphic details and repetition NO