The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Poetry | Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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What is an Allegory? Is The Rime of the Ancient Mariner an allegory?

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What is an allegory? Is The Rime of the Ancient Mariner an allegory?

An allegory is a long narrative poem. It conveys a hidden meaning, especially of moral values or political issues. "The Rime of The Ancient Mariner" (1798) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) is an allegorical poem of crime, punishment, and redemption. It tells the importance of considering all creatures equally. An ancient mariner describes this tale to a wedding guest. Here, I am going to explain the story.

Environmental Allegory: This poem is an allegory regarding the environmental issue. Through our study of the poem, we notice the destructive impact of human actions on the environment. The Mariner shoots the innocent bird. It brings a dire consequence. Here is a quotation to support the idea.

Instead of the cross, the Albatross 

About my neck was hung.

After k
illing the bird, the Mariner was punished. The dead bird was hung in his neck. This suggests a burden imposed by environmental violations.

Religious Allegory: The poet infuses religious allegory. It is mixed with Christian symbolism. This is apparent in the Mariner's journey. This evidence resembles a spiritual quest of the Mariner. Let us explain the following quotation to get a deeper understanding of the point. 

He prayeth best, who loveth best 

All things both great and small.

These lines convey a moral lesson. Besides, these offer a connection between spiritual devotion and environmental stewardship. The poet says that those who love all creatures equally and follow God's will offer their best form of prayer to God. 

Sin and Salvation: The Mariner's journey is a symbolic one. It allegorically shares the human experience of sin and salvation. His lamentation for shooting the albatross reflects the burden of remorse. 

Like one that on a lonesome road 

Doth walk in fear and dread.

This quotation, as mentioned earlier, illustrates the emotional importance of guilt.

In conclusion, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" has symbolic elements that unfold its meaning beyond the literal description. Coleridge uses various symbols and characters to convey profound themes. These are environmental responsibility, guilt, redemption, isolation, and religious morality. These themes create the poem as a manifold allegorical masterwork.

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Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner