Plot of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

 

Plot of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Introduction
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is the longest poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It was first published in 1798 in Lyrical Ballads. The poem belongs to the Romantic Age, which gave importance to imagination, nature, and human emotions. It tells the strange story of an old sailor who stops a wedding guest and tells him about his sea voyage. The tale is full of supernatural events, deep suffering, and a strong moral lesson.

The Voyage Begins
The Mariner’s story starts with a ship leaving the harbor. At first, the journey is happy, and the sailors are full of energy. The ship sails southwards and soon enters unknown seas. The weather changes, and the ship is driven into the icy waters of the Antarctic. At this moment, an albatross appears. The bird is seen as a sign of hope, and the sailors welcome it. The bird guides the ship out of the dangerous ice.

The Sin: Killing the Albatross
One day, the Mariner shoots the albatross with his crossbow. This sudden and meaningless act shocks the other sailors. At first, they blame him, but later, when the weather improves, they change their minds and support him. Soon, however, they realize that the killing of the bird has brought misfortune. The ship is caught in a terrible calm, and the sailors suffer from thirst and despair.

The Punishment and the Crew’s Death
The sailors hang the dead albatross around the Mariner’s neck as a mark of his guilt. Soon after, a ghostly ship appears. On board are Death and Life-in-Death, who gamble for the souls of the crew. Death wins the sailors, and they all fall down dead. Life-in-Death wins the Mariner, so he is condemned to live in suffering. He becomes completely alone on the silent sea, surrounded by the dead bodies of his shipmates.

The Turning Point
In the middle of his misery, the Mariner sees the water snakes moving in the moonlight. He feels their beauty and blesses them with love. At once, the albatross falls from his neck and sinks into the sea. This shows that his sin is partly forgiven. Soon after, rain falls, and the ship begins to move again. Spirits from Heaven enter the dead sailors’ bodies and make the ship sail back toward his country.

Return to Land
As the ship nears land, the spirits leave, and the vessel sinks. The Mariner is saved by a small boat with a Pilot, the Pilot’s boy, and a Hermit. The Hermit hears his confession. From that moment, the Mariner feels a need to tell his story to others. His life becomes a kind of penance. He wanders from place to place, telling people about his sin and the lesson he has learned.

The Lesson of the Story
After finishing the tale, the Mariner leaves the wedding guest, who is deeply moved and thoughtful. The lesson of the story is clear: man must love and respect all of God’s creatures. To harm nature is a great sin, but forgiveness is possible through prayer, humility, and love.

Conclusion
The plot of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner moves from a joyful sea voyage to a tragic act of sin, followed by punishment, repentance, and redemption. Coleridge combines natural beauty, supernatural elements, and moral teaching. The poem is not only a thrilling sea story but also a timeless moral tale about man’s duty towards nature and God.

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