The Theme of Supernaturalism in The Ages of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge not concerned with reason, unlike most 18th century intellectuals. Rather, they were able to recognize the importance of non-rational processes in the mind. ST Coleridge was particularly interested in the supernatural. As a result, the supernatural is a common theme in many of Coleridge's poems. Scholar John Beer comments that Coleridge incorporated "magic" into his poetry, asking readers not to question its practicality. This is evident in his poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", where Coleridge asks readers to suspend their disbelief in order to see the meaning behind supernatural or magical elements. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssaySupernatural Elements in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”MesmerismThe power of hypnosis or mesmerism is one of the main supernatural themes from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” the ancient mariner. The sailor is able to hold the wedding guest against his will, as if possessing the power of hypnosis. “He holds it with his shining eye - The wedding guest has stopped and listens like a child of three: The sailor has his will.” The wedding guest is forced to listen, as if under a spell. A three-year-old child doesn't have much say in what's going on in his life, and likewise, the wedding guest doesn't have a choice about whether or not to stay to listen to the sailor's story. He would prefer to go to the wedding, but he is held back by the sailor's gaze. “He cannot choose but hear.” Mesmerism was the word they used for hypnosis in the 18th century, because it concerned the inner mind and perhaps the unconscious, subjects that Coleridge was very interested in. Not only is the wedding guest obligated to listen to the story; but the Mariner is also obliged to say it. “Immediately my body was torn apart in a lamentable agony which obliged me to begin my story; and then it left me free.” The sailor must tell his story, otherwise he will remain in agony. “I pass, like the night, from land to land; I have a strange power of speech; The moment I see his face, I know the man who must hear me: I teach him my story”. When he tells his story, it releases his agony, but it adds to the agony of the listener, who "is in despair: a sadder and wiser man." The sailor's story is so vivid and magical that it also captures the reader's attention, as if he too is hypnotized. Once the sailor begins his story, neither he, nor the listener, nor the reader can stop. The Albatross Coleridge presents The Albatross as Christ-like and returns to it frequently throughout the poem to illuminate elements of supernaturalism. “He came through the fog; as if it were a Christian soul.” The Albatross is a good omen, especially when it follows the sailor's ship and ensures the safety of the crew. “And a good south wind rose behind; the Albatross followed.” The fog, mist, and wind brought by the albatross imply that it possesses some sort of divine power. When the sailor shoots the albatross, it symbolizes the severing of the bonds between humans and nature. It was only after the albatross had left that the sailor realized how much he needed it. “And I had done a hellish thing, and it would bring misfortune to them: obviously, I had killed the bird that made the breeze blow.” The calm that follows isa strange stillness, a sailor's worst nightmare, as he depended on the wind to move. “Instead of the cross, they hung the Albatross around my neck.” Coleridge depicts the albatross as Jesus, and many painters of this era actually depicted the albatross as being crucified. As Coleridge later writes in the poem, the albatross loved the sailor, just as Jesus once loved the people who crucified him. The albatross hanging around the Mariner's neck separates him from the rest of the crew because it is a visual symbol of his sin. Once the sailor realizes the beauty of the world and his connection to nature, he unknowingly blesses the creatures he once considered cursed. “At the same time I could pray; and from my neck so free The Albatross fell and sank like lead into the sea.” The albatross falling from the sailor's neck is a symbol of his redemption. The sailor learned to love and see the beauty of nature. It's as if a higher power has lifted his burden from him. However, once the albatross is gone, the sailor can never forget his sin. The curse that arises from the Albatross' death is inexplicable, and Coleridge asks the reader to suspend disbelief and look beyond the events to discover symbols of punishment and redemption. Death and Life in Death One of the most horrific events in the poem is when the ghost ship arrives, bringing Death and Life in Death to gamble for the souls of the crew. At first, the sailor and crew are excited: “And [the sailor cries], a sail! a sail.” However, as the ship gets closer, they realize that “without a breeze, without a tide, she is stabilizing with the right keel!” ". The fact that this ship is moving while theirs is stuck provides a frightening contrast between the two. Movement without wind is scary because it is logically impossible. However, this is exactly why Coleridge chose to include the ghost ship, as he explores the supernatural in his work. The calm atmosphere also signals strange events. Sailors are cursed, unable to move, sailors cannot die. The "ghost ship" is a traditional mythical/supernatural element. The crew of this ship consists of only 2 "people", Death and his companion, Life-in-Death. Coleridge describes the ghost ship as having "ribs", an image that brings to mind the sailor who is old but unable to die. “The naked carcass next door came and the two were playing dice.” Death and life in death is a gamble for the souls of the crew, which is also a very traditional myth, similar to the Davy Jones myth. Death takes the souls of all the crew members; but Life in Death gains the sailor's soul, meaning that he will live, but his life will be like death, which is a worse punishment than Death itself. Leaving life to chance shows the lack of control human beings actually have over our own lives. In this way, Coleridge uses the supernatural element of the ghost ship to represent the fragility and unpredictability of human life. Nature Abrupt changes in weather are strange and unnatural and show the presence of a higher power that controls everything. When the Albatross arrives, it brings fog and mist to cover the bright sun. It also brings a vital breeze to keep the ship moving. Upon the death of the bird by the hand of the sailor, the blessings cease immediately. “All in a hot, coppery sky, the bloody Sun, at noon” (2.111-112). The hot sun turns red, the sea changes color, and all sorts of strange slimy sea creatures come out at night. These events cannot be explained by nature. It wouldn't seem so unnatural if it had happened slowly,over time, but the fact that it happened right after the albatross died makes it seem less of a coincidence. Once the sailor recognizes the interconnectedness of nature, he is able to sleep. However, another change occurs in the weather, he says: “And when I woke up, it rained.” Not only does the rain come only when the sailor's state of mind has changed, but the wind also returns abruptly: "And soon I heard a roaring wind." This meteorological phenomenon can be explained by science, but the fact that it occurs immediately after the sailor's repentance gives it a supernatural quality. It is as if a higher power is creating pathetic things. There is an error in the poem, only because of the circumstances, rain and wind are considered good. Even though the Mariner is "saved" at the end of the poem, he is still cursed. This would explain his happiness when he sees the rain. It's bittersweet. As it happens, the sailor is delighted to feel it, but he knows it is only a temporary pleasure, because he is now forced to travel the earth telling his story. Likewise, the Mariner and crew definitely do not appreciate the heat and intensity of the sun while they are parched. However, a nice balance between sun and rain, wind and calm would be preferable. When the sailor shoots the albatross, it is as if he is ruining the balance of nature and can only restore it through his prayer and repentance.SpiritsThe spirits, which Coledridge uses to personify certain aspects of nature, are perhaps one of the most frightening aspects of supernaturalism in the poem, at least to the Mariner. The first spirit is “the Spirit who tormented us so much; nine fathoms deep, he had followed us from the land of mist and snow.” Spirits also take the form of ghosts in the grotesque figures of Death and Life in Death. For the Mariner, some of the most frightening spirits are those of his dying crew, who curse him as he dies. “Everyone turned his face with a terrible pinch and cursed me with his eye.” The Mariner uses a simile for the souls that pass by him, comparing their movement to the whistling sound of his crossbow. This is important because it is the same tool that the Mariner used to kill the albatross. The wedding guest fears that the Mariner himself is a ghost due to his strange powers and skeletal appearance, but the Mariner assures him that this is not the case. However, the Mariner might prefer to be a ghost to this fate. When he first wakes up after his soul has been taken, he thinks "that he died in his sleep and that he is a blessed ghost." By calling a ghost blessed, the Mariner insinuates that he would consider this fate a better option than the one imposed on him. When his dead crew rises as ghosts and begins to steer the ship, the sailor is frightened. “It is not those souls who fled in pain who returned to their corpses, but a troop of blessed spirits,” he said to the frightened wedding guest. Although the Mariner is frightened by the harmonies of the ghosts, he recognizes the beauty of it all. When the Mariner hears two spirits speaking about him and the suffering he has endured and still must endure, it is an allusion to the Holy Spirit, whom the Mariner would receive upon his salvation. Spirits represent an element of supernaturalism and fear, but also personify forces of nature such as life, death and punishment. When the spirits all harmonize, their sound signifies that the universe has been returned to its normal, natural order. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now., 2007.

Essay / The Theme of Supernaturalism in The Ages of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge not concerned with reason, unlike most 18th century intellectuals. Rather, they were able to recognize the importance of non-rational processes in the mind. ST Coleridge was particularly interested in the supernatural. As a result, the supernatural is a common theme in many of Coleridge's poems. Scholar John Beer comments that Coleridge incorporated "magic" into his poetry, asking readers not to question its practicality. This is evident in his poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", where Coleridge asks readers to suspend their disbelief in order to see the meaning behind supernatural or magical elements. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssaySupernatural Elements in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”MesmerismThe power of hypnosis or mesmerism is one of the main supernatural themes from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” the ancient mariner. The sailor is able to hold the wedding guest against his will, as if possessing the power of hypnosis. “He holds it with his shining eye - The wedding guest has stopped and listens like a child of three: The sailor has his will.” The wedding guest is forced to listen, as if under a spell. A three-year-old child doesn't have much say in what's going on in his life, and likewise, the wedding guest doesn't have a choice about whether or not to stay to listen to the sailor's story. He would prefer to go to the wedding, but he is held back by the sailor's gaze. “He cannot choose but hear.” Mesmerism was the word they used for hypnosis in the 18th century, because it concerned the inner mind and perhaps the unconscious, subjects that Coleridge was very interested in. Not only is the wedding guest obligated to listen to the story; but the Mariner is also obliged to say it. “Immediately my body was torn apart in a lamentable agony which obliged me to begin my story; and then it left me free.” The sailor must tell his story, otherwise he will remain in agony. “I pass, like the night, from land to land; I have a strange power of speech; The moment I see his face, I know the man who must hear me: I teach him my story”. When he tells his story, it releases his agony, but it adds to the agony of the listener, who "is in despair: a sadder and wiser man." The sailor's story is so vivid and magical that it also captures the reader's attention, as if he too is hypnotized. Once the sailor begins his story, neither he, nor the listener, nor the reader can stop. The Albatross Coleridge presents The Albatross as Christ-like and returns to it frequently throughout the poem to illuminate elements of supernaturalism. “He came through the fog; as if it were a Christian soul.” The Albatross is a good omen, especially when it follows the sailor's ship and ensures the safety of the crew. “And a good south wind rose behind; the Albatross followed.” The fog, mist, and wind brought by the albatross imply that it possesses some sort of divine power. When the sailor shoots the albatross, it symbolizes the severing of the bonds between humans and nature. It was only after the albatross had left that the sailor realized how much he needed it. “And I had done a hellish thing, and it would bring misfortune to them: obviously, I had killed the bird that made the breeze blow.” The calm that follows isa strange stillness, a sailor's worst nightmare, as he depended on the wind to move. “Instead of the cross, they hung the Albatross around my neck.” Coleridge depicts the albatross as Jesus, and many painters of this era actually depicted the albatross as being crucified. As Coleridge later writes in the poem, the albatross loved the sailor, just as Jesus once loved the people who crucified him. The albatross hanging around the Mariner's neck separates him from the rest of the crew because it is a visual symbol of his sin. Once the sailor realizes the beauty of the world and his connection to nature, he unknowingly blesses the creatures he once considered cursed. “At the same time I could pray; and from my neck so free The Albatross fell and sank like lead into the sea.” The albatross falling from the sailor's neck is a symbol of his redemption. The sailor learned to love and see the beauty of nature. It's as if a higher power has lifted his burden from him. However, once the albatross is gone, the sailor can never forget his sin. The curse that arises from the Albatross' death is inexplicable, and Coleridge asks the reader to suspend disbelief and look beyond the events to discover symbols of punishment and redemption. Death and Life in Death One of the most horrific events in the poem is when the ghost ship arrives, bringing Death and Life in Death to gamble for the souls of the crew. At first, the sailor and crew are excited: “And [the sailor cries], a sail! a sail.” However, as the ship gets closer, they realize that “without a breeze, without a tide, she is stabilizing with the right keel!” ". The fact that this ship is moving while theirs is stuck provides a frightening contrast between the two. Movement without wind is scary because it is logically impossible. However, this is exactly why Coleridge chose to include the ghost ship, as he explores the supernatural in his work. The calm atmosphere also signals strange events. Sailors are cursed, unable to move, sailors cannot die. The "ghost ship" is a traditional mythical/supernatural element. The crew of this ship consists of only 2 "people", Death and his companion, Life-in-Death. Coleridge describes the ghost ship as having "ribs", an image that brings to mind the sailor who is old but unable to die. “The naked carcass next door came and the two were playing dice.” Death and life in death is a gamble for the souls of the crew, which is also a very traditional myth, similar to the Davy Jones myth. Death takes the souls of all the crew members; but Life in Death gains the sailor's soul, meaning that he will live, but his life will be like death, which is a worse punishment than Death itself. Leaving life to chance shows the lack of control human beings actually have over our own lives. In this way, Coleridge uses the supernatural element of the ghost ship to represent the fragility and unpredictability of human life. Nature Abrupt changes in weather are strange and unnatural and show the presence of a higher power that controls everything. When the Albatross arrives, it brings fog and mist to cover the bright sun. It also brings a vital breeze to keep the ship moving. Upon the death of the bird by the hand of the sailor, the blessings cease immediately. “All in a hot, coppery sky, the bloody Sun, at noon” (2.111-112). The hot sun turns red, the sea changes color, and all sorts of strange slimy sea creatures come out at night. These events cannot be explained by nature. It wouldn't seem so unnatural if it had happened slowly,over time, but the fact that it happened right after the albatross died makes it seem less of a coincidence. Once the sailor recognizes the interconnectedness of nature, he is able to sleep. However, another change occurs in the weather, he says: “And when I woke up, it rained.” Not only does the rain come only when the sailor's state of mind has changed, but the wind also returns abruptly: "And soon I heard a roaring wind." This meteorological phenomenon can be explained by science, but the fact that it occurs immediately after the sailor's repentance gives it a supernatural quality. It is as if a higher power is creating pathetic things. There is an error in the poem, only because of the circumstances, rain and wind are considered good. Even though the Mariner is "saved" at the end of the poem, he is still cursed. This would explain his happiness when he sees the rain. It's bittersweet. As it happens, the sailor is delighted to feel it, but he knows it is only a temporary pleasure, because he is now forced to travel the earth telling his story. Likewise, the Mariner and crew definitely do not appreciate the heat and intensity of the sun while they are parched. However, a nice balance between sun and rain, wind and calm would be preferable. When the sailor shoots the albatross, it is as if he is ruining the balance of nature and can only restore it through his prayer and repentance.SpiritsThe spirits, which Coledridge uses to personify certain aspects of nature, are perhaps one of the most frightening aspects of supernaturalism in the poem, at least to the Mariner. The first spirit is “the Spirit who tormented us so much; nine fathoms deep, he had followed us from the land of mist and snow.” Spirits also take the form of ghosts in the grotesque figures of Death and Life in Death. For the Mariner, some of the most frightening spirits are those of his dying crew, who curse him as he dies. “Everyone turned his face with a terrible pinch and cursed me with his eye.” The Mariner uses a simile for the souls that pass by him, comparing their movement to the whistling sound of his crossbow. This is important because it is the same tool that the Mariner used to kill the albatross. The wedding guest fears that the Mariner himself is a ghost due to his strange powers and skeletal appearance, but the Mariner assures him that this is not the case. However, the Mariner might prefer to be a ghost to this fate. When he first wakes up after his soul has been taken, he thinks "that he died in his sleep and that he is a blessed ghost." By calling a ghost blessed, the Mariner insinuates that he would consider this fate a better option than the one imposed on him. When his dead crew rises as ghosts and begins to steer the ship, the sailor is frightened. “It is not those souls who fled in pain who returned to their corpses, but a troop of blessed spirits,” he said to the frightened wedding guest. Although the Mariner is frightened by the harmonies of the ghosts, he recognizes the beauty of it all. When the Mariner hears two spirits speaking about him and the suffering he has endured and still must endure, it is an allusion to the Holy Spirit, whom the Mariner would receive upon his salvation. Spirits represent an element of supernaturalism and fear, but also personify forces of nature such as life, death and punishment. When the spirits all harmonize, their sound signifies that the universe has been returned to its normal, natural order. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now., 2007.

Navigation

« Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

Get In Touch