Status Updates From The Rime of the Ancient Mar...

I just read “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” aloud and in one sitting. I was better able to track along with the story. I can’t help but wonder if there is some alchemy lurking here because there was a lot of white at the beginning and red at the end. I will reread after I read John Granger’s book on alchemy.

Apparently, I’m not supposed to understand the ending of Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Three cheers for imagination. Thanks, Lit Life.

Next up is Kubla Khan which is on Well-Read Poem podcast. Woo hoo!! I get my hand held again!

Oh, apparently, I need to read poetry aloud. What? Maybe I should read the whole thing again in one sitting. Lol

Part VII So a pilot and the pilot’s boy and I think the hermit are in a boat to guide the ship safely into the harbor. The ship begins to sink and they manage to rescue the mariner. Down goes the ship but he is safe. I don’t quite get the ending. Hopefully my Lit Life friends will help me see what I’m not seeing.

Rime VI There seems to be an angel standing by each man while they sang. Thee’s also a pilot and pilot’s boy and some Hermit. Is it God, Jesus, and John the Baptist? No idea.

Part VI The ship is moved by unseen forces and the Mariner falls into a trance. Two heavenly spirits speak to each other while the Moon looks down on the ship. Then the dead men stood up and heavenly sounds came from their voices! The Mariner woke up and all eyes turned toward the Moon. They realized that the curve was finally lifted but he felt something purshing him until the ship rose and saw the church!

Oopps! Part V Whoa! I can’t decide if these are vampires or zombies. It’s medieval so vampires. LOL However, after they accomplish their task, sweet music pours out of their mouths and flew to the Sun. Thus, they are blessed spirits, not damned spirits. This makes me think of Screwtape--heavenly music or silence. So he swoons (image of death) and hears two spirits dicussing him--he’s been refined (Purgatory).

Part V Sleep is a precious thing that we underestimate until we are so old we can no longer ignore it. I see many images. The quality of mercy dropping from Heaven. The mariner also seems to be drinking living water and the waters of Lethe. The sails are thin (maybe like a veil). Now a roaring wind comes blowing in and the ship moves (maybe like when the curtain was torn at Christ’s death and bodies left the grave.

Lit Lif Episode 248 Mind Blown WRT Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Frankenstein.

Rime Part IV The wedding guest is afraid of the mariner. He reassures them that he had sailed under a curse for seven days and seven nights. The corpses didn’t rot but he was hanging out alone on the ship with a thousand slimy things in the deep. He couldn’t die. He saw some beautiful water snakes swimming in the elfish light and suddenly his heart filled with love and the albatross fell off his neck.

Rime Part III There are only two on the ship and the crew wonders how they all died. One is a woman (Jadis if you ask me) and she cries out her victory. The crew has a premonition of death. She whistles THREE times. The stars com out and fear fills every hard. The crescent moon climbs. Then 200 of the crew drop dead before the ancient mariner’s eyes. Some to bliss and some to woe. That’s not good!

Rime Part III I can see why this poem is confusing. I’m not a poet so I’m really confused. So here goes. The crew is weary, thirsty, lips backed, glazed eyes. They see a hint of hope in the West (Jesus is supposed to come from the East so there’s that). They come from the sun so their masted ship look like prison bars (getting worse). It looks like the water is onfire and the sun sets. The crew prays to Mary.

Rime Part II So, there are death fires on the water burning green and blue and white like witch’s oils. Is this some kind of purification or purgatory? A spirit that is nine fathoms below (3 x 3) plagueing them and the albatross is hung about the mariner’s neck. It seems to me like the ship is receiving the consequences but there may also be a refining fire here, too.

Rime Part II So, the sea is silent (becalmed) because there is no albatross that brought the breeze. The crew too became silent and sad. Is the weather mirroring their mood? With no wind, there is no rain and now they are dehydrated. Is this death? They have no living water (albatross) and now they are silent. It talks about rotting in the deep and slimy things. Is that the decay of death?

Rime Part II Here’s what this modern rational thinker (math brain) is thinking. The ship has a stiff south wind blowing the ship north. In the southern hemisphere, that’s a cold wind. The crew misses the albatross, the bird of good luck, and after the sun rises and clears the fog, they blame themselves. Is that like how believers blame themselves even though we did not literally kill Christ?

Rime Part I This part reminds me of Endurance. They are trapped in the ice. It’s cold, foggy, frozen. No sign of life. So they are lost and suddenly *cross” an albatross (Christ figure). It eats their food (human nature?) and spent time with the mariners for food or play and even hung out for vespers (evening prayer). The mariner had the audacity to shot it with a crossbow of all things! “Pious bird of good omen”

Rime Part I The ancient mariner tells his tale and everything stops. Makes me think of Chaucer. They left during fair weather looking at a church (kirk) and lighthouse as they leave (both sources of light). Even though the wedding music is playing, every one listens to the story. A terrible storm blows his ship to the South Pole (isn’t that where Dante ended up after leaving Hell)?

Playing catchup LitLif 2024. So, there is a Latin inscription that points to medieval thinking--seeking the invisible and who or what is not seen. There are seven parts to Rime. Also, mariners sail the seven seas. The Ancient Mariner (“Battle of Books”) and I also think “There Is No Frigate Like a Book.” He meets THREE wise men with glittering eye (reflecting light) at a wedding feast (very medieval thing to have).