The Rime and the Ancient Mariner

The Rime and the Ancient Mariner

1).The 21st century has made a miraculous turn towards the supernatural outlook, such as, the books we read, the movies we see, and even television shows. Readings on the supernatural can date back hundreds of years, for example, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The supernatural elements in this poem are the appearance of the Albatross, the behavior of the dead, and the appearance of the spirits.

2).In "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" Colridge wrote, "At length did cross an Albatross/Through the fog it came" (line63-64). The Albatross was considered a great sea bird that brought good luck to the ship that the Mariner and his crew road in. But low and behold, the ancient Mariner killed the Albatross the bird of good omen. The shipmates were not pleased at what the Mariner had done because this meant bad luck from here on after.

3).Another example of the supernatural was the spectre-woman and her death mate. The Mariner said,

Is that a death? And are there two?

Her lips were red, her looks were free,

Her locks were yellow as gold:

Her skin was as white as leprosy…"(line 88-92)

What the Mariner saw was a ghost a supernatural entity because there was no woman on crew and all the shipmates were dead. More over, the Mariner heard, "The dead men gave a grown/They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose" (lines 331-332).

4).Lastly, the two spirits that came to him and spared his life to return southward were supernatural. The ancient Mariner said, "I heard, and in my soul discerned/ Two voices in the air" (lines 97-98). The Mariner described two spirits as mist and snow having a discussion about the ancient Mariner and what he had done to the Albatross.

5).So as one can see "The Rime and the Ancient Mariner written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge has supernatural elements in this poem. I feel that the supernatural catches the reader or audience's attention because it is out of the ordinary.