In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the Polar Spirit’s fellow demons describe him as follows: “The spirit who bideth by himself / In the land of mist and snow, / He loved the bird that loved the man / Who shot him with his bow.” Write an essay analyzing the role that these lines play in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Why are these lines important to the plot of the poem? What poetic effects does Coleridge use in these lines? What tone is created by the poetic effects in these lines?
Answer

Students’ answers should note that these lines explain why the Mariner’s voyage became so disastrous after he killed the albatross—the Polar Spirit was taking revenge on him. Some students may note that the Mariner’s problems, created by the Polar Spirit’s love for the albatross, can only be resolved when the Mariner himself begins to feel love for the natural world. Students should identify the assonance created by the i sound in the first line and the simple repetition of words in the third line (loved . . . loved). The stark simplicity of these lines produces a lonely tone that, some students may suggest, implies that lack of appreciation for nature results in loneliness and disconnectedness