Short Note on Supernaturalism in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

Answer

Write a short note on Supernaturalism In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

Or, Comment on Supernaturalism in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

Supernaturalism is the representation that is beyond human reach. In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (1798) by the romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834), we see the use of supernatural forces. In this writing, I will show you the supernatural forces used in the poem. 

Mysterious Albatross Encounter: The poem’s first and foremost supernatural element is the killing of the mysterious bird, Albatross. At one point in the poem, the Mariner kills the Christ-like bird. The Albatross symbolizes both good and bad luck throughout the story. The unnatural qualities of the Albatross are apparent in the Mariner’s portrayal: 

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.

In his narration, the Mariner tells the wedding guests that they think of the bird as God’s creation like them. They welcome it, and it makes their ship run. 

Death and Life-in-Death: These two are also supernatural forces. They arrive at the sailor’s ship by the specter ship. They gamble on the deck of the phantom ship to win the Mariner and Crew’s life. Death wins the two hundred crews and takes away their life. Life-in-Death claims the Mariner and brings intolerable suffering to him. Let it be evident in a quotation. 

The Night-mare LIFE-IN-DEATH was she, 

Who thicks man’s blood with cold.

Curse of the Dead Albatross: The ancient Mariner suffers from a curse after killing the Albatross. His sudden killing of the bird brings suffering to the ship and its crew. The curse is expressed with a supernatural quality in the following manner: 

Instead of the cross, the Albatross 

About my neck was hung.

The dead Albatross around the Mariner’s neck tangibly symbolizes the supernatural curse he must bear.

Redemption and Release: After his long curse, the Mariner gets released. His redemption comes through his love for a miniature sea creature. He realizes the value of all living creatures. It is in his tongue.

He prayeth best, who loveth best

All things both great and small;

For the dear God who loveth us,

He made and loveth all.

Here, the poet says they pray to God earnestly, who loves all the creatures equally. 

In termination, supernatural elements are essential to form the poem’s moral and thematic aspects. Combining the natural and supernatural worlds creates an atmosphere of mystery, consequence, and eventual redemption for the Mariner. This displays the effects of shattering the natural order and the power of spiritual refinement.