Samual Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a lyrical fantasy ballad based on the story of a weathered sailor and his ordeals. The poem begins with the antiquated English mariner capturing the attention of a passer by on his way to a wedding. With this the mariner proceeds to reminisce and tell his spell bound listener of his voyage between the equator and the South Pole, and then back to England. The story follows the mariner and his ship through life and death, heaven and hell, and everything in between.

Symbolism is used in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to convey powerful and complex themes that in turn create an Allegory. In this paper allegory as well as symbolism will be defined. Following the definitions will be examples of how they are used and explanations of their meanings in relation to the poem and to life.

An allegory is a story with two or more symbolic levels. The events, settings, objects, or characters in an allegory stand for ideas or qualities beyond themselves. In a sense it is a description of one thing under the image of another. On almost the same level, symbolism is a literary device that uses one thing in representation of

Another example of symbolism in the poem involves the figurative hell mentioned in the last paragraph. The South Pole represents this hell. No visible wind or current drives the ship there. Rather, an unseen force draws it and its crew there just as worldly temptation lures lost souls to hell. The South Pole was filled with hardship; it is easy to see how Coleridge made the connection between the desolate cold of the Antarctic and the agony of hell (Coleridge).

With the poem being looked at as a religious allegory the slaying of the albatross takes on a new form, original sin (Hill 3). Several other significant events in the poem also begin to tell a different story. Since the mariner had no reason to shoot the bird it was almost like he did it unknowingly just as original sin is unknowingly placed on all souls. The mariner then realizes the impact of his deed and wears his guilt, just like a guilt stricken Christian that has not been baptized. To begin the healing process the mariner must ask for forgiveness and face his punishment just as a soul struggles to rid itself of evil as it is baptized. The last scene of the poem ties the allegory together with the poem. While the ship sinks to end the curse, it shows similarity with the use of holy water in a baptism. Both events symbolize the rebirth and forgiveness of the soul, and both events involve water and cleansing (Beckson 258).

Aside from the religious approaches to the poem being an allegory is that it is actually an autobiography of Samual Taylor Coleridge himself. Some critics propose that the story parallels a pathological depression resulting from his lack of social ties and his abnormal need for love. Others say it coincides with his gradual addiction to opium and his guilt because of it (Hill 7).

With the different perceptions of the true story in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" noted, the collective meaning or moral behind the story should be apparent. Was this twisted and seemingly pointless story written merely to entertain or express an emotion? No, it was meant to teach a lesson. As a religious alleg

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Approximate Word count = 1419
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)