"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" : Literary devices
"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a notable literary work by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner".
Literary devices
Powerful Symbol
The Albatross: The most prominent symbol in the poem, the dead albatross represents a burden of guilt and sin. Initially, the mariner and his crew view it as a good omen, but the bird becomes a curse, hanging around the mariner’s neck after the mariner kills it.
Water: Water symbolizes both the life-giving and life-threatening aspects of nature. It surrounds the ship and serves as a source of suffering for the crew, highlighting the unpredictable and dangerous nature of the sea.
The Sun and Moon: These celestial bodies symbolize the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life and death. They also represent the presence of supernatural forces in the poem.
The Wedding Guest: The Wedding Guest represents the rational, everyday world. He is drawn into the mariner’s supernatural tale, symbolizing the reader’s engagement with the story and the power of storytelling itself.
The Skeleton Ship: The ghostly, spectral ship that appears toward the poem’s end symbolizes death and the afterlife. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of the mariner’s actions.
The Hermit: The hermit who rescues the mariner represents redemption, forgiveness, and the possibility of spiritual renewal. His prayers help absolve the mariner of his sins.
Figures of Speech
Imagery: Coleridge uses vivid and detailed imagery to depict the mariner’s harrowing journey and the natural world. For example, describing the “slimy things” in the sea and the “rotting sea” conveys a sense of decay and horror.
Symbolism: The poem is filled with symbolic elements, such as the Albatross, representing both a burden and a curse. It serves as a symbol of guilt and redemption throughout the poem.
Alliteration: Coleridge employs alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, to create a musical and rhythmic quality in the poem. An example is “water, water, everywhere.”
Assonance: This device involves the repetition of vowel sounds within words or phrases, contributing to the poem’s musicality. For instance, “And the dead were at my feet.”
Irony: The poem contains dramatic irony, especially when the mariner is surrounded by water but is dying of thirst. This contrast adds to the poem’s sense of suffering and despair.
Metaphor: Coleridge uses metaphors to compare the mariner’s suffering to various supernatural forces. For example, he describes the ship as “a skeleton ship” and the moon as a “ghostly galleon.”
Personification: The poem personifies natural elements and supernatural forces. The ship is described as having a “speaking eye” and the ocean as a “witch’s oils” – attributing human qualities to them.