How Does Coleridge's Use Of Characterisation In The Ancient Mariner
What methods of characterisation does Coleridge use to portray the Wedding Guest and The Ancient Mariner?
In part one of The Ancient Mariner, Coleridge introduces us to two characters, The Ancient Mariner, the main protagonist, and the Wedding Guest. Through their name, appearance, dialogue and actions we can portray a lot about them.
From the title alone, being eponymous, we can infer that the events of this story will happen to the Ancient Mariner. His name especially portrays the mariner as being something unique, Coleridge uses definite article, calling him 'the' ancient Mariner, rather than 'an' giving him a sense of importance. The use of 'ancient' in his name is also important, it has connotations of being wise, and experienced. …show more content…
'Skinny hand' gives him an ill image, and the same with 'loon', we portray him as not only physically, but mentally ill through the Wedding Guest's eyes, which raises questions as to why? And while reading his story we keep in the back of our mind that it is likely to be untrue. The Mariner's eyes are especially described as 'glittering' and Coleridge tells us this twice, and the use of repetition emphasises the point that there is more to him. Outside, yes, he has this ancient sort of image but inside there is something unusual, catching and powerful, to the point it hypnotises the Wedding Guest into …show more content…
He considers himself as 'next of kin' obviously seeing himself as important, and has no time for 'loons'. The fact that he calls the mariner this to his face portrays him as insulting and offensive, and most probably a younger man with not much respect for elders. Coleridge adds exclamation marks to the Wedding Guest's speech, 'Hold off! Unhand me' giving him a sense of impatience, the use of imperative language 'unhand me' portrays him as demanding and angry. Overall he is given a negative introduction, he obviously doesn't want to be there, but the fact that he does stay there, listening like 'a three years child' shows us that he has lost his authority, and of course the fact that it gives Coleridge a way of having the Mariner tell his
In part one of The Ancient Mariner, Coleridge introduces us to two characters, The Ancient Mariner, the main protagonist, and the Wedding Guest. Through their name, appearance, dialogue and actions we can portray a lot about them.
From the title alone, being eponymous, we can infer that the events of this story will happen to the Ancient Mariner. His name especially portrays the mariner as being something unique, Coleridge uses definite article, calling him 'the' ancient Mariner, rather than 'an' giving him a sense of importance. The use of 'ancient' in his name is also important, it has connotations of being wise, and experienced. …show more content…
'Skinny hand' gives him an ill image, and the same with 'loon', we portray him as not only physically, but mentally ill through the Wedding Guest's eyes, which raises questions as to why? And while reading his story we keep in the back of our mind that it is likely to be untrue. The Mariner's eyes are especially described as 'glittering' and Coleridge tells us this twice, and the use of repetition emphasises the point that there is more to him. Outside, yes, he has this ancient sort of image but inside there is something unusual, catching and powerful, to the point it hypnotises the Wedding Guest into …show more content…
He considers himself as 'next of kin' obviously seeing himself as important, and has no time for 'loons'. The fact that he calls the mariner this to his face portrays him as insulting and offensive, and most probably a younger man with not much respect for elders. Coleridge adds exclamation marks to the Wedding Guest's speech, 'Hold off! Unhand me' giving him a sense of impatience, the use of imperative language 'unhand me' portrays him as demanding and angry. Overall he is given a negative introduction, he obviously doesn't want to be there, but the fact that he does stay there, listening like 'a three years child' shows us that he has lost his authority, and of course the fact that it gives Coleridge a way of having the Mariner tell his