A Sensual Experience: an Explication of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

A Sensual Experience: An Explication Of “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” In what has been arguably identified as the beginning of the Romantic Movement, Samuel Taylor Coleridge partnered with a close friend, William Wordsworth to put together a collection of poems titled Lyrical Ballads. One piece, in particular, is considered one of Coleridge’s most famous works. In the poem titled, “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner,” a tale is told by a third person persona from the perspective of the poem’s protagonist, the ancient mariner. In Part I, the poem begins with the ancient mariner meeting a group of three guests heading to a wedding reception. The ancient mariner focuses in on one in particular with whom he feels he must share his story. Initially resistant, the wedding guest reluctantly obliges as if under a spell from the ancient mariner. The ancient mariner begins his testimony of a recent a sea voyage that ultimately changed his life. As the ship set sail on its southerly course, it came into a storm. It made its way through the storm and into icy waters. As the ship and its crew traveled on with no life to be seen, an albatross appeared as if to lead the ship northward to safety. For some unexplained reason, the ancient mariner shoots the albatross with his crossbow. In Part II, the crew, initially, cursed the ancient mariner for killing the bird that had led them to safety. However, the next morning they cheered him as the bird “had brought the fog and mist” (100). It was not until the ship stood still that the crew eventually realized their fate. They blamed the ancient mariner for their plight and hung the dead albatross around his neck.
Part III continues the ships plight. As time passes by, water and food become scarce. The entire crew nearly reaches complete dehydration when another ship appears on the horizon. It turns out to be a “skeleton” ship carrying the spirits of Death and Life in Death and they were playing dice to decide the fate of