How does Coleridge use setting in the first two parts of "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner"?

How does Coleridge use setting in the first two parts of the poem?

Coleridge uses setting in the first two parts of ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ to reflect the mood of the poem and represent the metaphysical journey that occurs within the Ancient Mariner. Compass points are used by Coleridge to highlight the different stages that the Ancient Mariner and the sailors go through during their journey. This is because the different compass points are also very symbolic as they each represent an array of different moods and they are used to examine both the physical and spiritual journey that they experience.

Their journey begins in the North and Coleridge uses the inherit safety that this compass point implies to juxtapose the start of their journey with the different settings that follow. The North is seen as a place of security because it highlights the safety of being at home. ‘The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, and merrily did we drop’ highlights the security of the place that they are embarking on their journey from because they are around the people they love. Also, the use of a wedding at the start of the poem adds to the Northerliness of the setting as marriage encompasses many things that are symbolised by the north. Not only is it a unity of human love but marriage is also a form of security as it creates an unbreakable bond between two people. This first setting highlights the fact that prior to the journey both the sailors and the Ancient Mariner’s lives solely revolved around the physical aspect of life and Coleridge uses this setting as a starting point for what is to follow.

This is a preview of the whole essay

After embarking on their journey, the setting quickly changes from the safety of the north to the danger of the south. ‘The ice was all around: / It cracked and growled, and roared and howled’ conjures images of a living hell and Coleridge uses this deathly scene to quickly alter the mood of the poem. The personification of the ice portrays nature as some sort of living being that is raging against the ship. This deathly setting highlights the emotions of the spirits from the metaphysical world in reflection to their journey thus implying that the crew’s journey is cursed because nature itself is turning against them. This could have been used by Coleridge in order to foreshadow the unjust murder of the Albatross at the hands of the Ancient Mariner, it is almost as if the gods are warning the sailors that they are about to commit evil.

The sin itself takes place during almost a suspension of two settings, although on one hand the sailors are still encumbered by snow and fog when they first spot the albatross, it is a symbol of hope for them and it is leading them back to the safety of the north when the Ancient Mariner shoots it. The first response of the sailors unveils a theme that continues throughout the poem- that nature has a connection with spiritual beings outside of this world which control the fortunes of those living within the physical world. ‘Ah wretch ! said they, the bird to slay, That made the breeze to blow’ suggests that by killing one of gods pure creations the Ancient mariner has destroyed their good fortunes.

However, instead of becoming worse, their situation actually improves and the sailors justify the Ancient Mariners actions. This angers the spirits and the setting quickly changes to resemble that of damnation for the sailors and the ancient mariner. Coleridge represents their situation with the west compass point, suggesting that they have brought punishment upon themselves from beings that exist in the metaphysical world for their crimes against nature. The water that surrounds their ship, ‘Water, water, everywhere, / nor any drop to drink, symbolises how the Albatross is being avenged as although they are surrounded by vast amounts of water, they remain parched of liquid because it is undrinkable.

Finally, the west also symbolises a lack of reality and this is prevalent at the end of part two when the Ancient Mariner describes the beasts that lurked within the murky depths of the water. ‘Slimy things did crawl with legs’ reflects the punishment the Ancient Mariner is receiving for killing the albatross as they are probably a hallucination that is being induced on him by the spiritual beings that are avenging the death of the albatross. This setting is used to reflect the anger of the metaphysical world at the destruction of one of god’s natural creations.

In conclusion, Coleridge uses setting in the first two parts of the poem to shape the story as each setting is intertwined within the narrative to create the mood of the events. Setting is used to create and change both the tone and mood and it is used throughout the first two parts of the poem to vividly illustrate the journey.

Shahan Lake Page