ENGL 1101 Prof. Morgan A. Brown

RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER: Reading QuestionsRIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER: Reading QuestionsRIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER: Reading QuestionsRIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER: Reading Questions/Guide/Guide/Guide/Guide

PART IPART IPART IPART I

1.1.1.1. Where is the Ancient Mariner standing at the beginning of the poem?

2.2.2.2. In lines 10-11, how is the Ancient Mariner portrayed?

3.3.3.3. In lines 36-40, and even in 13-16, why does the Wedding Guest sit and listen to the

Mariner’s story rather than joining the wedding party?

4.4.4.4. What kind of symbolism surrounds the white Albatross (see 59-66)?

5.5.5.5. How does the Mariner view the Albatross as an omen? (see 67-60)?

6.6.6.6. What is it that the Mariner does which he so much regrets?

PART IIPART IIPART IIPART II

1. 1. 1. 1. In lines 107-119, what happens?

2.2.2.2. When the sun begins to take its toll, what do the men need? (121-122)

3.3.3.3. Why do the seamen hang the Albatross from the Mariner’s neck? (141-142)

Copyright (c) 2012 by Morgan A. Brown This work is made available under the

terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license,

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.

PART IIIPART IIIPART IIIPART III

1. The men spot a sail on the horizon in lines 160-161, and the men think that this ship is

going to come to the rescue. But the ship is standing completely upright. Why should

the men be a little suspicious about this ship on the horizon? (see line 169)

2.2.2.2. Who does the Mariner see on the decks of the ship? (see 185-194)

3.3.3.3. What are the “twain” (pair of persons) doing on the approaching ship? (195)

4.4.4.4. Why do you think that they are doing what they’re doing?

5.5.5.5. What happens to all the other seamen except the Mariner? (see 216-219)

PART IVPART IVPART IVPART IV

1. The mariner is the only man left alive on his ship, but what are all the corpses on the

ship doing? (see 255 and 260)

2.2.2.2. Why does the Albatross fall from the Mariner’s neck? (see 284-287)

PART VPART VPART VPART V

1.1.1.1. The rain comes and quenches the Mariner’s thirst, and wind begins to fill the sails.

What then happens in 330-340?

PART VIPART VIPART VIPART VI

1.1.1.1. The Mariner falls into a trance, and he hears voices talking. Whose do you think those

voices are?

2.2.2.2. What happens to the crew as the Mariner nears his homeland shore? (488-491)

3.3.3.3. What are seraphs?

4.4.4.4. At this point in the story, do you think that Coleridge is simply telling the tale of a

Mariner, or do you think he’s making a point through allegory?

5.5.5.5. Define “allegory.”

PART VIIPART VIIPART VIIPART VII

1.1.1.1. What happens to the Mariner’s ship as the Hermit’s little boat approaches? (see 549)

2.2.2.2. When the Mariner wakes up, he is in the Pilot’s / Hermit’s boat. What does the

Mariner then do in 580?

3.3.3.3. The Mariner is thereafter cursed, and what must he do? (see 581-585)

Copyright (c) 2012 by Morgan A. Brown This work is made available under the

terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license,

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.