The famous French writer and philosopher François-Marie Arouet (better known as “Voltaire”) once said: “One of the merits of poetry that few people will deny: it says more and in fewer words than prose. Indeed, his words could not ring truer when used to describe the Romantic period (1785-1830). Ranging from the artistic styles of William Blake to the antiheroic verses of Lord Byron, the era was defined by poets who used their works to reflect the ideals, controversies, and new knowledge of the time. One such poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, managed to do this to an astonishing degree in his 625-line epic, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Detailing a sailor's path to redemption, the poem is known for its unique insight into human existence and the spiritual role of nature. However, more than anything, "Rime" accurately reflects the times in which it was written by combining elements of horror, natural awe, imagination and individuality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essay Coleridge's use of supernatural elements in "Rime" clearly reflects the common Romantic sentiment of disdain toward authors who used horror, violence and antiheroism as means. to entertain their readers. A rebuttal to the overwhelming turn toward scientific and mental realism during the Industrial Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment, these thematic elements of terror were more prevalent in the then fashionable Gothic novels. Although the commercial success of these dark and malevolent works undoubtedly inspired many authors to write more stories of this type, other Romantic thinkers – such as Coleridge – had a very negative perception of the Gothic genre. Digressing on the idolatry of the romantic, or "satanic," hero in his work The Statesman's Manual, Coleridge went so far as to say that these works would lead to the rejection of God and the mental conversion of honest people into Napoleonic monsters. . 491). While "Rime" itself is filled with specters and supernatural forces, the poem's thematic use of the paranormal does not have mere entertainment value. Quite the contrary, the protagonist's eternal misery in "Rime" is the result of his pervasive curiosity about the unknown (specifically, what would happen if he killed an Albatross). Thus, the poem makes it clear that people should be wary of what they do not understand, because it could eventually come back to haunt them. Respect for nature, one of the compelling messages of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” was undoubtedly included for a reason similar to that of the supernatural elements: the unknown is not something to be reckoned with, because it can have devastating effects on human life. The Industrial Revolution was a time of significant scientific advancement that caused many people to question topics such as faith, the existence of a god, and what happens when human beings die. Being of devout religious faith and a strong believer in the authority of nature, Coleridge responded to these new ideas in "Rhyme" by saying that too much curiosity could actually lead to the demise of humanity. For example, the sailor's penance for being curious and killing the albatross is worth a lifetime of telling his story to others and informing them of what might happen if they decide to have fun with the unknown. At a time when people were electrocuting themselves just to find out what it felt like, Coleridge clearly believed that some of hiscontemporaries pushed their experiments too far and that they would have to pay the price when confronted with God's judgment. The setting of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a distinct manifestation of what imagination means as it relates to the Romantic period. Often considered a key element of the poetry of this era, the imagination of the Romantics was the ultimate creative power that humans could harness. To paraphrase Coleridge's contemporary William Wordsworth, it allows humans to play a role in the process of creating the world in which they live and ultimately leads to spiritual nirvana ("A Guide to the Study of Literature"). Much like the importance of supernatural themes in literature at this time, the idea of ​​expanding the imagination was likely a response to movements in scientific reasoning (the Enlightenment already mentioned) that were important in the mid-18th century. In “Rhyme,” Coleridge did not hold back his appreciation for human creativity. Besides the specters and supernatural forces mentioned above, he created a strange, alien world with icy landscapes, rotting seas, and dark forests. Coleridge is known to have used opium during the creation of “Rime” in order to induce hallucinations that would help inspire his writing. Whatever his methods of expanding his mind, it is clear that he had a deep concern for the human imagination that reflected the ideals of what it truly meant to be a Romantic writer. Before discussing the final reason why "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" accurately reflects the thoughts and ideals of the Romantic era, it is first crucial to understand the significant structural and cultural changes that occurred in Europe and in the United States during this period. The 18th century marked a pronounced move away from monarchies (the American and French Revolutions took place during this time) and, as a result, individual freedoms and rights became central points of interest and debate among the people of that time. era. These ideas were so important that the founding fathers of the United States decided to base their new country's government on the fundamental principles of individual liberty. These concepts also led to the development of Scottish economist Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, the book that inspired the establishment of free markets based on the idea that people operate according to their own personal interests and incentives. The post-Romantic poet Oscar Wilde summarized these ideological advances concisely and effectively in his work The Soul of Man Under Socialism: “A man who does not think for himself does not think at all” (47). So that’s the theme of individuality. this makes “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” a distinct reflection of the Romantic period. To begin with, the most important use of individualism in the poem is its first-person narrative. The majority of the poem is told through the eyes of the sailor, and the exclusion of other perspectives allows the reader to connect to the protagonist on a personal level. This literary style also reflects the idea that earthly liberation can only come through personal experience and the development of the imagination: ideas that were highly valued during this era. The tale of the sailor's voyage represents the cycle of life that all humans experience (the peaks and troughs of existence are depicted), and his penance symbolizes the idea that salvation can only come through personal acceptance and repayment for his sinful nature. . Essentially, humans individually choose their own path, and they are each responsible for what might happen if they chose to venture down the path...