Two Birds, One Stone

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One of the most important contributions to writing is characterization. The way to do so requires many different things, but especially great detail. If a writer can’t fully describe their character, then they don’t truly have one. Two instances in which writers were able to create an amazing character is Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven. Poe’s poem is one of the greatest, and Trent Lorcher describes this when he states: “Poe's ‘The Raven’ is not only an American classic, it's a favorite of high school students around the world, as well as their teachers.” In Poe’s poem, he describes a desolate man who is visited by a bird who torments him by reminding him of his past. In Coleridge’s poem, a sailor kills a peaceful albatross and lives the rest of his life with a curse. Sandra L. Meyer describes this when she writes: “Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ is about a man on a voyage by ship, who in one impulsive and heinous act, changes the course of his life – and death. The Mariner faces an inner struggle over the crime he has committed, and must understand his actions and perform his penance.”(Meyer, 2010) The similarities between both of these poems are extreme, especially looking at their appearance, their actions, and what they represent.
First of all, we must look at the similarities between the appearances in both of the birds of Poe and Coleridge. When the albatross enters into the story, it comes with glory. Coleridge describes this when he states: “At length did cross an Albatross, though the fog it came; as if it had been a Christian soul, we hail’d it in God’s name.” (lines 59-62) The way in which the albatross is described so majestical...

... middle of paper ...

...ttp://www.gradesaver.com/poes-poetry/study-guide/section8/>. This provided great information.
Lorcher, Trent. "Summary of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven.'" Bright Hub
Education. BHE, 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.

49958-the-raven-by-edgar-allan-poe-summary/>. This rovidd great information. Meyer, Sandra L. "Brief Review: 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.'" Student
Pulse. SP, 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. articles/144/brief-review-the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner>. This provided great information.
Tane, Susan Jaffe. "Nevermore: The Edgar Allan Poe Collection of Susan Jaffe
Tane." Cornell University. CU, 2006. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
. This provided great information.

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