Year 12 LESSON THIRTEEN [13th Dec 12]: Homework.

The whole focus of this session was Samuel Taylor Coleridge's THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER. Students were bullied into discussing the representation of the natural world in the first four sections of the poem. Feedback was offered to the 'paragraph' produced last week and the class explored the final section of the poem that explains the reasons for the Mariner's behaviour. The class were asked to consider the following questions:
Why does the Mariner have to tell his story?
What skills has he developed because of his experience on the 'albatross' voyage?
What has he lost?

The class were then asked to consider the question:
HOW DOES COLERIDGE PRESENT THE NATURAL WORLD IN SECTIONS ONE TO FOUR OF THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER?
Class discussion produced a series of decent notes and below is a potential essay structure based upon today's class discussion...

• The first paragraph could explore how Coleridge represents the natural world as beautiful, powerful and intimidating in the opening section. Students should refer to their paragraphs. Students need to provide evidence of nature's power over man as your writing never really explored how Coleridge suggests that man is vulnerable when faced with the 'STORM BLAST' and the 'growling' ice. Be aware of the significance of the words 'chased' and 'pursued', and the significance of 'southward aye we fled'. Furthermore, students should consider why Coleridge would present this environment in the opening section of the poem. Why does he present this supernatural world? What clues may he be providing about the thematic nature of this epic narrative? Narrative expectation?
• The second paragraph could explore the representation of nature after the Mariner admits that he 'had done a hellish thing' in killing the Albatross and there is a suggestion that the environment becomes a form of hell on earth. The quote 'We were the first that ever burst Into the silent sea' is significant as Coleridge is suggesting that this place is unique, almost as if it has been designed to punish the crew. The 'wondrous cold' is replaced by a heat so powerful that it shrinks the boards of the ship. Students need to explore why the 'very deep did rot' and why 'slimy things did crawl with legs upon the slimy sea.' The sea becomes an abnormal carnival of colour as 'death fires danced at night' and the water 'burns....like a witch's oils...green, and blue, and white.' Reference could also be made to Section Three with its immediate change from light to dark, the appearance of Death and Life in Death, and the movement of the 'skeleton ship' that appears to defy the laws of motion. THIS IS A SUPERNATURAL WORLD. The natural world seems to have evolved into a surreal and nightmarish world. Students need to consider why Coleridge is presenting the environment in this manner. How might this link to the view that the poem is a Christian fable? You could link this to the final section and the stanza that begins 'He prayeth best who loveth best..'
• The third paragraph could explore why the Mariner is able to 'pray' at the end of the fourth section having been unable 'pray' at the beginning of the fourth section. What changes? Be specific. Again, this needs to be linked to Coleridge and his aim to construct a poem within which a figure is punished for a crime against God.
• The final paragraph could explore why Coleridge uses the irregular ballad form when representing the natural world? Remember, we discussed how nature is so vast and magnificent in this poem that the traditional ballad form is unable to constrain the power of this world. If you can deal with this argument, you will access the higher grades. LISTEN TO MY PODCAST.
• The conclusion needs to answer the question in a brief manner and consider author's aim. What kind of world is being presented here and why? How significant is the power of nature in this poem.

This is not a compulsory essay structure, it is posted to offer a potential structure.

HOMEWORK: Complete the Coleridge essay. Prepare for next week's timed task:
Write about some of the ways Fitzgerald tells the story in Chapter 7?
Click on link to access a reading of the poem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGH4p4z4s5A 
Here is another reading...Orson Welles....great voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EpuaCaPML8
Here is my podcast. Listen to it lit-freaks....it will help with this essay:
https://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/literature-podcast-two-the