Samuel Taylor Coleridge

• The English poet was born in

England, 1722
• The poet of nature, the purity
of childhood, memory and
imagination, relationships
between nature and the mind.
• He looks at fantastic imagery
and magic.
• He was an opium addict and
wrote the poems in his
twenties – romanticism was
always a movement about the
youth.
Let’s read the summary: The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner

Who is he?
What is rime?
What is a mariner?

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 In pairs, order the events as they are currently
jumbled up!
a) The mariner kills the albatross with a crossbow and the sailor are furious with
him. Eventually, they find out that the albatross brought fog, not a breeze. The
wind dies down and the ship becomes as ‘idle as a painted ship/ upon a
painted ocean.’
b) The sailors blame the mariner for their disastrous journey and hand the corpse
of the albatross around his neck like a cross.
c) The Ancient Mariner has a ‘glittering eye’ and is sailing into a cheerful sea. He
can hear a wedding in the distance and the mariner retells a story.
d) A weary time passes and their mouths become so dry they are unable to speak,
‘a sail,a sail’ and they see a ghostly skeletal hull of a ship and is surrounded by
death and the night. Death and life begin to throw dice.
e) There is a giant storm and the land of ‘mist and snow’ and encounters an
albatross which flies around the ship. The ice cracks and splits. The albatross
follows behind it for good luck.
f) The ocean thickens and there is ‘water, water everywhere’ but not ‘a drop to
drink.’
 Use the summary in
the extract pack to
Answers add key quotes and
detail to each photo.

a) The Ancient Mariner has a ‘glittering eye’ and is sailing into a cheerful sea. He can
hear a wedding in the distance and the mariner retells a story.
b) There is a giant storm and the land of ‘mist and snow’ and encounters an
albatross which flies around the ship. The ice cracks and splits. The albatross
follows behind it for good luck.
c) The mariner kills the albatross with a crossbow and the sailor are furious with him.
Eventually, they find out that the albatross brought fog, not a breeze. The wind
dies down and the ship becomes as ‘idle as a painted ship/ upon a painted
ocean.’
d) The ocean thickens and there is ‘water, water everywhere’ but not ‘a drop to
drink.’
e) The sailors blame the mariner for their disastrous journey and hand the corpse of
the albatross around his neck like a cross.
f) A weary time passes and their mouths become so dry they are unable to speak,
‘a sail,a sail’ and they see a ghostly skeletal hull of a ship and is surrounded by
death and the night. Death and life begin to throw dice.
Create a story board detailing the key events in the
ballad, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.’
Using the order on
your whiteboards –
fill in the gaps.
 Who is the Ancient Mariner?
What did we learn about the story?
 Let’s read the
The opening summary of the
ballad. P.7
Three young men are walking together to a wedding, when
one of them is detained by a grizzled old sailor. The young
Wedding-Guest angrily demands that the Mariner let go of
him, and the Mariner obeys. But the young man is transfixed
by the ancient Mariner’s “glittering eye” and can do nothing
but sit on a stone and listen to his strange tale. The Mariner
says that he sailed on a ship out of his native harbor
—”below the kirk, below the hill, / Below the lighthouse
top”—and into a sunny and cheerful sea. Hearing bassoon
music drifting from the direction of the wedding, the
Wedding-Guest imagines that the bride has entered the hall,
but he is still helpless to tear himself from the Mariner’s
story. The Mariner recalls that the voyage quickly darkened,
as a giant storm rose up in the sea and chased the ship
southward. Quickly, the ship came to a frigid land “of mist
and snow,” where “ice, mast-high, came floating by”; the ship
was hemmed inside this maze of ice. But then the sailors
encountered an Albatross, a great sea bird. As it flew around
the ship, the ice cracked and split, and a wind from the south
propelled the ship out of the frigid regions, into a foggy
stretch of water. The Albatross followed behind it, a symbol
of good luck to the sailors. A pained look crosses the
Mariner’s face, and the Wedding-Guest asks him, “Why
look’st thou so?” The Mariner confesses that he shot and
killed the Albatross with his crossbow.
 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by
Coleridge
This And now there came both mist and snow,
And it grew wondrous cold :
extract is And ice, mast-high, came floating by,
taken from As green as emerald.
The Rime of  
And through the drifts the snowy clifts
the Ancient
Did send a dismal sheen :
Mariner by Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken—
Coleridge. The ice was all between.
In this  
The ice was here, the ice was there,
extract, The ice was all around :
from the It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
beginning of Like noises in a swound !
 
the ballad,
At length did cross an Albatross,
the Mariner Thorough the fog it came ;
describes to As if it had been a Christian soul,
the wedding We hailed it in God’s name.
 
guest how It ate the food it ne’er had eat,
his sea And round and round it flew.
journey The ice did split with a thunder-fit ;
The helmsman steered us through!
began.
Form and structure
And now there came both mist and snow,
And it grew wondrous cold :
And ice, mast-high, came floating by,
As green as emerald. Is there any
  rhyme?
And through the drifts the snowy clifts
Did send a dismal sheen :
Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken—
The ice was all between.
 
The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around : Any repeated
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, words/phrases?
Like noises in a swound !
Effect?
 
At length did cross an Albatross,
Thorough the fog it came ;
As if it had been a Christian soul,
We hailed it in God’s name.
 
It ate the food it ne’er had eat,
And round and round it flew.
The ice did split with a thunder-fit ;
The helmsman steered us through!
 Title: How does Coleridge present the Mariner’s journey as threatening and
dangerous?
Point: Coleridge presents the Mariner’s journey as __ and __ through the use of ‘language
technique’ to illustrate __
Evidence: “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is symbolic
of _
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of _____which evokes pity/sympathy from Sophisticated
the reader as __ vocabulary
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent image/message in the ballad is ___because__ Colour
imagery
Similarly, the phrase “ “ highlights…
Deliberate
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is symbolic Repetition
of _ Alliteration
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy from the Melancholic
reader Metaphor
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___ Mystical
Point: Coleridge presents the Mariner’s journey as __ and __ through the use of ‘structural Foreshadow
device’ to explore/ illustrate __ anticipation
Evidence: The phrase/ noun “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The repetition/anaphora/refrain/rhyme scheme/rhythm ” “depicts__
emphasises__which could be symbolic of ___
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy from the
reader
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could also mean___
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent structural device in the ballad is ___because__
Which is the most effective image in the
ballad and why?
Independent Reading
Take out your
planners.
Write down your
homework:
• Learn 10 themes
• Complete the
PEARL.
 Learning objectives
• To understand how
to comment on
language and
structure in the
ballad, ‘The Rime
of the Ancient
Mariner.’
 Let’s read the
The journey summary of the
ballad. P.8
At first, the other sailors were furious with
the Mariner for having killed the bird that
made the breezes blow. But when the fog
lifted soon afterward, the sailors decided
that the bird had actually brought not the
breezes but the fog; they now congratulated
the Mariner on his deed. The wind pushed the
ship into a silent sea where the sailors were
quickly stranded; the winds died down, and the
ship was “As idle as a painted ship / Upon a
painted ocean.” The ocean thickened, and the
men had no water to drink; as if the sea were
rotting, slimy creatures crawled out of it and
walked across the surface. At night, the
water burned green, blue, and white with
death fire. Some of the sailors dreamed that
a spirit, nine fathoms deep, followed them
beneath the ship from the land of mist and
snow. The sailors blamed the Mariner for
their plight and hung the corpse of the
Albatross around his neck like a cross.
 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by
Coleridge In your groups answer
Read the Day after day, day after day, these questions:
extract below, We stuck, nor breath nor motion ;
•
As idle as a painted ship What does this
which has been stanza mean? What
Upon a painted ocean.
taken from   inferences can you
The Rime of Water, water, every where, make?
And all the boards did shrink ; • What are the
the Ancient connotations of key
Water, water, every where,
Mariner by Nor any drop to drink. words?
Coleridge. In   • What are the
literal/
this extract, The very deep did rot : O Christ !
That ever this should be ! metaphorical
Coleridge meanings?
Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs
describes the Upon the slimy sea. • What imagery is
conditions of   generated?
About, about, in reel and rout • What symbolism is
the mariner there?
The death-fires danced at night ;
and his crew, The water, like a witch’s oils, • How might the
after they Burnt green, and blue and white. reader respond to
this?
have shot the  
•
And some in dreams assurèd were How can you link
albatross. this to Coleridge
Of the Spirit that plagued us so ;
Penance Nine fathom deep he had followed us and context?
Repenting From the land of mist and snow.
their sins
Form and structure
Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion ;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean. Is there any
  rhyme?
Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink ;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.
 
The very deep did rot : O Christ !
That ever this should be ! Any repeated
Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs words/phrases?
Upon the slimy sea. Effect?
 
About, about, in reel and rout
The death-fires danced at night ;
The water, like a witch’s oils,
Burnt green, and blue and white.
 
And some in dreams assurèd were
Of the Spirit that plagued us so ;
Nine fathom deep he had followed us
From the land of mist and snow.
 Title: How does Coleridge present the mariner and his men after he 16/5/16
kills the Albatross?
Point: Coleridge presents the Mariner’s journey as __ and __ through the use of
‘language technique’ to illustrate __
Evidence: “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is
symbolic of _
Sophisticated
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of _____which evokes vocabulary
pity/sympathy from the reader as __
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___ Colour imagery
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent image/message in the ballad is ___because__ Deliberate
Similarly, the phrase “ “ highlights… Repetition
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and- ___ which is Inconsistent
symbolic of _ rhyme scheme
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy Alliteration
from the reader Melancholic
Metaphor
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___
Mystical
Point: Coleridge presents the Mariner’s journey as __ and __ through the use of Foreshadow
‘structural device’ to explore/ illustrate __ anticipation
Evidence: The phrase/ noun “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The repetition/anaphora/refrain/rhyme scheme/rhythm ” “depicts__
emphasises__which could be symbolic of ___
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy
from the reader
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could also mean___
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent structural device in the ballad is
___because__
In green pen only

Write one WWW/EBI for your partner.

You must choose one from the list = I will check this.
Learning question: E.g how might the reader react to the strange journey?
 You make a clear point that answers the question directly.
 You find accurate evidence to support your quote.
 You “embed” your evidence.
 You make accurate inferences (implies/suggests)
 You form multiple layers of analysis (symbolic of, generates imagery of,
alternatively)
 You develop your ideas fully (as, since, thus, because)
 You explain the effect of the language/structure/form and effect on
reader (depicts, emphasises, highlights)
 You show understanding of themes/ideas/feelings/attitudes.
 You include evaluative language (effectively, deliberately, prominent/
ultimately)
 You link to context (Romanticism, opium addiction, Christianity,magic and
the mind)
 Plenary
Which is the most effective image in the
ballad and why?
Independent Reading
 Learning objectives
• To understand how
to comment on
language and
structure in the
ballad, ‘The Rime
of the Ancient
Mariner.’
 Let’s read the
The journey summary of the
ballad. P.8
A weary time passed; the sailors became so
parched, their mouths so dry, that they were
unable to speak. But one day, gazing westward, the
Mariner saw a tiny speck on the horizon. It
resolved into a ship, moving toward them. Too dry-
mouthed to speak out and inform the other sailors,
the Mariner bit down on his arm; sucking the blood,
he was able to moisten his tongue enough to cry
out, “A sail! a sail!” The sailors smiled, believing
they were saved. But as the ship neared, they saw
that it was a ghostly, skeletal hull of a ship and
that its crew included two figures: Death and the
Night-mare Life-in-Death, who takes the form of a
pale woman with golden locks and red lips, and
“thicks man’s blood with cold.” Death and Life-in-
Death began to throw dice, and the woman won,
whereupon she whistled three times, causing the
sun to sink to the horizon, the stars to instantly
emerge. As the moon rose, chased by a single star,
the sailors dropped dead one by one—all except
the Mariner, whom each sailor cursed “with his
eye” before dying. The souls of the dead men leapt
from their bodies and rushed by the Mariner.
 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by
Coleridge In your groups answer
Read the Alas ! (thought I, and my heart beat loud) these questions:
extract below, How fast she nears and nears !
Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, • What does this
which has been Like restless gossameres ? stanza mean? What
 
taken from Are those her ribs through which the Sun
inferences can you
The Rime of Did peer, as through a grate ? make?
And is that Woman all her crew ? • What are the
the Ancient Is that a DEATH ? and are there two ? connotations of key
Mariner by Is DEATH that woman’s mate ? words?
 
Coleridge. In Her lips were red, her looks were free,
• What are the
literal/
this extract, Her locks were yellow as gold :
Her skin was as white as leprosy, metaphorical
Coleridge The Night-mare LIFE-IN-DEATH was she, meanings?
describes how Who thicks man’s blood with cold. • What imagery is
a ghostly   generated?
The naked hulk alongside came, • What symbolism is
figure has And the twain were casting dice ;
there?
"The game is done ! I’ve won ! I’ve won !"
appeared. Quoth she, and whistles thrice.
• How might the
  reader respond to
The Sun’s rim dips ; the stars rush out : this?
At one stride comes the dark ; • How can you link
With far-heard whisper, o’er the sea, this to Coleridge
Off shot the spectre-bark.
and context?
Form and structure
Alas ! (thought I, and my heart beat loud)
How fast she nears and nears !
Are those her sails that glance in the Sun,
Like restless gossameres ? Is there any
 
Are those her ribs through which the Sun rhyme?
Did peer, as through a grate ?
And is that Woman all her crew ?
Is that a DEATH ? and are there two ?
Is DEATH that woman’s mate ?
 
Her lips were red, her looks were free,
Her locks were yellow as gold :
Her skin was as white as leprosy, Any repeated
The Night-mare LIFE-IN-DEATH was she, words/phrases?
Who thicks man’s blood with cold.
  Effect?
The naked hulk alongside came,
And the twain were casting dice ;
"The game is done ! I’ve won ! I’ve won !"
Quoth she, and whistles thrice.
 
The Sun’s rim dips ; the stars rush out :
At one stride comes the dark ;
With far-heard whisper, o’er the sea,
Off shot the spectre-bark.
 Whiteboards: How does Coleridge present the mariner’s experience on his
journey?
Point: Coleridge presents the Mariner’s journey as __ and __ through the use of
‘language technique’ to illustrate __
Evidence: “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is
symbolic of _
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of _____which evokes Sophisticate
pity/sympathy from the reader as __ d vocabulary
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent image/message in the ballad is ___because__ Colour
imagery
Similarly, the phrase “ “ highlights…
Deliberate
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is Repetition
symbolic of _ Alliteration
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy Melancholic
from the reader Metaphor
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___ Mystical
Point: Coleridge presents the Mariner’s journey as __ and __ through the use of Foreshadow
‘structural device’ to explore/ illustrate __ anticipation
Evidence: The phrase/ noun “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The repetition/anaphora/refrain/rhyme scheme/rhythm ” “depicts__
emphasises__which could be symbolic of ___
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy
from the reader
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could also mean___
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent structural device in the ballad is
___because__
 Plenary
Which is the most effective image in the
ballad and why?
 Learning objectives
• To comment on
attitudes, themes
and ideas in ‘The
Rime of the
Ancient Mariner.’
• To write an essay
on ‘The Rime of
the Ancient
Mariner.’
Attitudes, themes and ideas
What is the poet trying to say?
What themes do you recognise?
What ideas are repeated?
In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the
mariner is stripped of his ability to speak as part
of his extreme punishment and, consequently,
left incapable of praying. “The Pains of Sleep”
(1803) contrasts the speaker at restful prayer,
in which he prays silently, with the speaker at
passionate prayer, in which he battles imaginary
demons to pray aloud. In the sad poem, “Epitaph”
(1833), Coleridge composes an epitaph for
himself, which urges people to pray for him
after he dies. Rather than recommend a manner
or method of prayer, Coleridge’s poems reflect a
wide variety, which emphasizes his belief in the
importance of individuality.
Context
Coleridge believed that symbolic
language was the only acceptable
way of expressing deep religious
truths and consistently employed
the sun as a symbol of God. In
“The Rime of the Ancient
Mariner,” Coleridge compares the
sun to “God’s own head” (97) and,
later, attributes the first phase
of the mariner’s punishment to the
sun, as it dehydrates the crew. All
told, this poem contains eleven
references to the sun, many of
which signify the Christian
conception of a wrathful, vengeful
God. Bad, troubling things happen
to the crew during the day, while
smooth sailing and calm weather
occur at night, by the light of the
moon. Frequently, the sun stands
in for God’s influence and power,
as well as a symbol of his ausince
this ballad was set in 1833?
 Title: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner /5/16

Subtitle: How does Coleridge present the

Mariner’s journey as frightening and
dangeroud?

Write about
• TheAncient Mariner’s journey in this
extract.
• The Ancient Mariner’s journey in the
ballad as whole. (structure/form)
 Whiteboards: How does Coleridge present the Mariner’s journey as
frightening and dangerous?
Point: Tennyson presents the death of the Lady of Shalott as __ and __ through the use
of ‘language technique’ to illustrate __
Evidence: “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is
symbolic of _
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of _____which evokes Sophisticate
pity/sympathy from the reader as __ d vocabulary
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent image/message in the ballad is ___because__ Colour
imagery
Similarly, the phrase “ “ highlights…
Deliberate
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is Repetition
symbolic of _ Alliteration
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy Melancholic
from the reader Metaphor
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___ Mystical
Point: Tennyson presents Sir Lancelot as __ and __ through the use of ‘structural device’ Foreshadow
to explore/ illustrate __ anticipation
Evidence: The phrase/ noun “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The repetition/anaphora/refrain/rhyme scheme/rhythm ” “depicts__
emphasises__which could be symbolic of ___
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy
from the reader
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could also mean___
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent structural device in the ballad is
___because__
In green pen only

How does Tennyson present the death of the Lady of

Shalott as melancholic?
Write one WWW/EBI for your partner.
You must choose one from the list = I will check this.

 You make a clear point that answers the question directly.

 You find accurate evidence to support your quote.
 You “embed” your evidence.
 You make accurate inferences (implies/suggests)
 You form multiple layers of analysis (symbolic of, generates imagery
of, alternatively)
 You explain the effect of the language/structure/form and effect
on reader (depicts, emphasises, highlights)
 You show understanding of themes/ideas/feelings/attitudes.
 You include evaluative language (effectively, deliberately,
prominent/ ultimately)
 You include contextual information (link to Coleridge’s life/
Christianity)
 How to be more evaluative
Evaluative words:
Prominent
P: The poet suggests.. Distinguishable
E: Perhaps, the most prominent Effectively
image/message is… Criticises
A: Through the noun ‘____’ Coleridge appears Suggests
to be saying… States
A: He endeavours to expose the realties of It is unclear
A: According to Coleridge the albatross is… Arguably
L: Ultimately, for Coleridge the irony lies in… Ambiguously
Appears to be
saying
My turn to be evaluative: _____________ According to the
poet
Endeavours to
explore
Ultimately
 Sin and redemption
• Christianity = being
relieved from your
sins.
• Redemption means
repurchase or buy
back.
• Death of Christ pays
the price of freedom –
releasing Christians
All life is sacred!
from sin and death.
 How does Coleridge present the mariner and his men after they kill the
Albatross?
Point: Coleridge presents the Mariner’s journey as __ and __ through the use of
‘language technique’ to illustrate __
Evidence: “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is
symbolic of _
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of _____which evokes Sophisticate
pity/sympathy from the reader as __ d vocabulary
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___
Similarly, the phrase “ “ highlights… Colour
imagery
Analysis: The noun/adjective/verb/etc “ “connotes____, ___and ___ which is
Deliberate
symbolic of _
Repetition
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy Alliteration
from the reader Melancholic
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could mean___ Metaphor
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent image/message in the ballad is ___because__ Mystical
Foreshadow
Point: Coleridge presents the Mariner’s journey as __ and __ through the use of anticipation
‘structural device’ to explore/ illustrate __
Evidence: The phrase/ noun “embedded quotation” effectively implies____
Analysis: The repetition/anaphora/refrain/rhyme scheme/rhythm ” “depicts__
emphasises__which could be symbolic of ___
Analysis: Furthermore, “_____“ generates imagery of __which evokes pity/sympathy
from the reader
Analysis: Alternatively/ metaphorically it could also mean___
Challenge: Ultimately, the most prominent structural device in the ballad is
___because__