The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge, is a poem that was written in 1798 during the Industrial Revolution. The tale guides the reader through the adventures of an ancient mariner. The mariner begins telling his tale during a wedding. The mariner learns his lesson after killing an innocent Albatross on a voyage. Coleridge uses symbolism and diction to instill the lesson of respect for nature and all of God's creation. The lesson imparted by Coleridge in the poem is done so partly through the use of symbolism. The first example of symbolism showing the lessons of respect for nature is when the mariner kills the Albatross at the beginning of the story. The mariner says"With my cross-bow / I shot the Albatross" (Coleridge
…show more content…
The first example of where diction shows the poet's lesson in the work is when the shipmates say the Albatross was a bad sign because it brought bad weather. "Then all averred, I had killed the bird / That brought the fog and mist. / Twas right, they said, such birds to slay, / That bring the fog and mist" (96-99). This diction shows the negativity from the shipmates, and the the word choice of "averred" shows their selfishness, deciding the rightfulness of the action based on how it benefits them. The whole quote is exemplary of the poet's message because it shows the original thoughts of the crew, all of who do not care about the preservation of this part of nature. Another example of diction revealing the author's message is when the mariner has remorse for killing the Albatross and is admiring the water-snakes. He says, "O happy living things! no tongue / Their beauty might declare: / A spring of love gushed from my heart..." (279-281). This quote shows the change of heart the mariner undergoes. At the beginning of the story, he shows a complete lack of respect for the bird, even wearing it as a trophy after killing it. Now, the mariner has a respect for nature and the word choice of " a spring of love gushed from my heart" demonstrates how he has a new appreciation for the beauty of creatures and the sanctity of them. The last example is when the mariner is talking about the spirits of his shipmates being freed from their bodies. He says "Around, around, flew each sweet sound, / Then darted to the Sun; / Slowly the sounds came back again, / Now mixed, now one by one" (351-354). This quote indicates the light and joyful outlook on the situation that the mariner did not have before. At first, the mariner was very distraught and suffered under the curse of the dead men, but now he is happy as he sees and hears their
The first example of where diction shows the poet's lesson in the work is when the shipmates say the Albatross was a bad sign because it brought bad weather. "Then all averred, I had killed the bird / That brought the fog and mist. / Twas right, they said, such birds to slay, / That bring the fog and mist" (96-99). This diction shows the negativity from the shipmates, and the the word choice of "averred" shows their selfishness, deciding the rightfulness of the action based on how it benefits them. The whole quote is exemplary of the poet's message because it shows the original thoughts of the crew, all of who do not care about the preservation of this part of nature. Another example of diction revealing the author's message is when the mariner has remorse for killing the Albatross and is admiring the water-snakes. He says, "O happy living things! no tongue / Their beauty might declare: / A spring of love gushed from my heart..." (279-281). This quote shows the change of heart the mariner undergoes. At the beginning of the story, he shows a complete lack of respect for the bird, even wearing it as a trophy after killing it. Now, the mariner has a respect for nature and the word choice of " a spring of love gushed from my heart" demonstrates how he has a new appreciation for the beauty of creatures and the sanctity of them. The last example is when the mariner is talking about the spirits of his shipmates being freed from their bodies. He says "Around, around, flew each sweet sound, / Then darted to the Sun; / Slowly the sounds came back again, / Now mixed, now one by one" (351-354). This quote indicates the light and joyful outlook on the situation that the mariner did not have before. At first, the mariner was very distraught and suffered under the curse of the dead men, but now he is happy as he sees and hears their