The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

1. What are some instances of repetition (of words, phrases, images, etc.) in the poem? What effect does Coleridge’s use of repetition have on you as a reader? How does it contribute to the poem’s mood or underscore its meaning?

2. The poem never explains why the Mariner shot the albatross. How do you interpret it—as an act of hubris, cruelty, or something else? Why do you think Coleridge allows for such ambiguity in this key moment?

4. Who or what might the mysterious First and Second Voices be? Does the poem provide any clues to their identity?

5. The Mariner ultimately draws a spiritual lesson from his ordeal, arguing that it is important to love “[a]ll things both great and small” as part of God’s creation (Part 7). Do you think the rest of the poem supports this interpretation? If so, what particular passages or moments convinced you? If not, what other morals or life lessons could you draw from the work?

6. What role (narrative, thematic, etc.) does the Wedding Guest play in the poem? Would the poem impact the reader differently if the Mariner told his story directly to them? Why or why not?