Supernatural elements in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

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"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is infused with supernatural elements that contribute to its mysterious and eerie atmosphere. Here are some of the key supernatural elements present in the poem:

1. The Ghostly Ship: The appearance of a ghostly ship, crewed by spectral figures, is one of the most prominent supernatural elements in the poem. This supernatural vessel approaches the mariner's ship, and its crew, led by Death and Life-in-Death, engage in a game of dice to determine the fate of the mariner and his companions. The presence of this ghost ship represents a supernatural intervention in the mariner's journey and serves as a harbinger of doom.

2. The Curse and the Albatross: After the mariner kills the albatross, a curse befalls the ship and its crew. The curse is depicted as a supernatural force that brings death, suffering, and supernatural occurrences upon the mariner and his fellow sailors. The albatross itself is described as a supernatural creature, a symbol of nature's purity and divine grace, and its killing represents a violation of natural and spiritual laws.

3. Life-in-Death and Death: These two supernatural figures appear after the crew members die, and they play a significant role in the mariner's fate. Life-in-Death, a female figure, wins the game against Death, signifying the mariner's punishment of eternal life-in-death. These supernatural personifications symbolize the forces that govern life and death, and their presence underscores the supernatural dimension of the mariner's journey.

4. The Spectral Crew: Throughout the poem, the mariner encounters supernatural visions and apparitions, such as the ghostly crew members of the ship. These skeletal figures are described as having "ribbed sea-wracks" and "glittering eyes," representing the haunting remnants of those lost at sea. Their presence emphasizes the realm of the supernatural and the mariner's descent into a ghostly, otherworldly realm.

5. The Hermit: Towards the end of the poem, the mariner encounters a supernatural figure, the Hermit, who is described as a holy man with a "glittering eye." The Hermit's ability to discern the mariner's inner turmoil and offer him spiritual guidance suggests a supernatural insight and wisdom beyond mortal understanding.

These supernatural elements, ranging from ghostly apparitions to divine interventions, contribute to the poem's sense of the uncanny and its exploration of the supernatural forces that govern the mariner's journey. They heighten the mystical and otherworldly atmosphere, underscoring the poem's themes of sin, redemption, and the profound consequences of transgressing natural and spiritual boundaries.

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