Commentary on Rime of the Ancient Mariner Essay

In the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" Coleridge presents a poem that is written as a frame narrative. Coleridge's use of the frame narrative was purposeful, and used to add to his story. By using the frame narrative Colerdige was able to enhance the meaning of his poem, more easily relate to the reader, and continuously remind the reader of the frame.

The use of the frame narrative by Coleridge enhanced the meaning of his poem. Coleridge could have easily had the mariner just recite his tale. He could of opened the poem by describing the Mariner, and then continuing on to tell his past. Instead Coleridge decided to write his poem in a frame. This basically means that Coleridge tells a story inside of a story. The opening story would be the Ancient Mariner walking on the street and stopping the wedding guest. The secondary story is the tale that the Mariner tells to the wedding guest. This style enhances his poem because it causes the reader to think alot more openly. While reading the poem many questions arose. The reader is able to question as to why the Mariner wants to tell his tale, why the wedding guest is hypnotized and drawn into the story, and why the Mariner has chosen a wedding guest who is already busy trying to attend his friend's wedding. All of these questions make the poem more interesting, and causes you to want to read on. I firmly believe that the use of the frame makes the poem better. The poem would have been not as interesting if Coleridge just told the tale of the Mariner, and that was it. Now knowing that the use of the frame narrative was used, it is easy to see how it positively affected the poem. The use of the frame was done perfectly. The reader can imagine the scene, and easily picture the Mariner stopping the guest. The Mariner's story is also easily pictured in the reader's mind, the use of the frame causes the story to be a flashback, and and easily followed since it was told in chronological order. The use of the frame was the best narrative technique that Coleridge could have used in the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner".

The use of the frame also serves another purpose for the poem. I believe that another important use of the frame technique is to relate to the reader. Many people throughout their lives meet other people they probably believe to be wiser and more experienced then they are. This is evident through the Ancient Mariner. He is an older guy, who probably looks as though he has seen alot throughout his life. The Wedding guest pays attention to the mariner, and wants to hear his story. While reading the poem this part related to me closely. Throughout your life many people tell you stories, and through those stories you most likely interpret some sort of message or lesson learned. This is quite like the poem, and the scenario gives a similar type of feeling. The Mariner is known as ancient which gives the reader the idea that he is pretty old and with age comes experience. The part that brings this altogether and causes it to relate to the reader is the fact that most people during there lives learn through experience, or stories they have been told. This is the same in the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". The Mariner stops the guest and begins to tell him a story.

The use of the frame narrative is quite special, and serves a great purpose for Coleridge. The only flaw sometimes with the frame narrative is the fact that the reader can easily forget that the story is being recited, and that it is the primary story. The way to keep the frame acknowledged is by reminding the reader of it, through dialogue. This is done quite well in the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". In part IV, from lines 16-20 the wedding guest says the following to the Mariner;

"I fear thee, Ancyent Marinere!

I fear thy skinny hand

And thou art long and lank and brown

As is the ribb'd sea sand.

I fear thee and thy glittering eye."

This dialogue from the wedding guest to the ancient mariner reminds the reader of the frame narrative. It allows them to realize that the mariner is indeed telling the story to the wedding guest. Coleridge continuously does this throughout his story, for example later on in part V, line 362; the Mariner says "Listen, O listen, thou wedding guest!". He does this so that the frame narrative technique is constantly running through the reader's mind. The reader does not forget that the story is being recited to a stranger. This causes the reader to know that the story is going to tell a lesson or moral to be learned.

The "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is quite a classic tale. Coleridge decided to depict this poem through the use of a frame narrative. A few purposes that he intended for it to serve is to enhance the meaning of his poem, relate directly to the reader, and to continuously remind the reader to keep him thinking. All of these purposes were met throughout the poem. I think that the use of the frame narrative is just as important as the details during the Mariner's tale that derive common themes. The frame narrative brought the literature work by Coleridge more together, allowed it to relate to the reader at more of a personal level.