YEAR 12 LESSON THIRTY-FOUR/THIRTY-FIVE [5th Feb 14]: Homework

These two sessions were important as both lessons attempted to construct content suitable for answering the examination question:
THE HERMIT ASKS THE MARINER 'WHAT MANNER OF MAN ART THOU?'
DO YOU THINK THE POEM AS A WHOLE ANSWERS THIS QUESTION?
Both sessions included tasks that were designed to improve student ability to structure a written response in an effective manner. Paragraph structure was the focus of both sessions.
Below are some notes that may guide essay structure:

• The Mariner is presented in a deliberately ambiguous manner. The reader is unsure whether The Mariner is alive or dead and this is a deliberate ploy by Coleridge to amplify the mysterious nature of this character. For example...'Like one that hath been seven days drowned My body lay afloat'..'I moved my lips- the Pilot shrieked And fell down in a fit'..The Pilot's Boy laughs 'loud and long, and all the while His eyes went to and fro...full plain I see, The Devil knows how to row.'...and The Hermit 'prayed where he did sit'. This mix of hysterical reactions to the distortion of humanity that appears to be The Mariner suggests the ambiguity of his physical form. Even The Mariner is puzzled by his own nature as he states that he now has 'strange power of speech'. The key word being 'strange'. The deliberately ambiguous representation of The Mariner allows Coleridge to emphasise the extreme nature of The Mariner's punishment for the sin of killing the Albatross. His human characteristic appear to have been removed and replaced with supernatural qualities that suggest that The Mariner is not in control of his own destiny. It is not clear whether The Mariner is a 'Man' at all and not some kind of ghost. The Mariner is being controlled by God as a punishment for his arrogance. The magical ambiguity of The Mariner is shaped by Coleridge to amplify the idea that God will punish any individual who fails to respect all God's creatures. 

• The idea that the Mariner is some form of supernatural being rather than a 'Man' is reinforced in the opening section of the poem. Key quotes: 'glittering eye...the Wedding-Guest stood still, and listens like a three years child: The Mariner hath his will.'...'The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He can not chuse but hear; ' STUDENTS NEED TO EXPLAIN HOW THESE QUOTES SUPPORT OPINION. Then students need to refer to author's aim and offer a very sharp question focus. REMEMBER..THE FINAL SECTION OF THE PARAGRAPH IS OUR KEY LEARNING FOCUS. So...From the very beginning of the poem Coleridge suggests that The Mariner is much more than a 'Man'. He appears to have magical powers and a supernatural physical appearance. This representation reinforces the perception that The Mariner is invested with special powers. We are not aware at this point in the poem that this hijacking of his personality is the result of a divine punishment due to his sin of killing the Albatross. 

• Just as it is difficult to define the true nature of The Mariner, Nature itself seems difficult to define. Nature is represented as being animalistic and the aural imagery used by Coleridge suggests the Natural World is like an aggressive animal. For example..'The ice..cracked and growled, and roared and howled..' These fearful sounds are used by Coleridge to suggest....YOU TELL ME!! Not only is it difficult to define the nature of the Mariner but in this poem the landscape itself is difficult to define. The fact that the natural world appears to be sentient reinforces the idea that the landscape is alive and is worthy of human respect. God created this magnificent environment and will punish any individual ignorant enough to harm any of HIS creations. Not only does Coleridge present The Mariner as an ambiguous character to amplify the power of God and his power to punish sin but the representation of nature as a living creature helps to shape the meaning that all God's creation is worthy of human respect. The landscape is as alive as humanity.

• We discussed The Mariner's disconnection and reconnection with God. Reference was made to the lines...'I looked to heaven and tried to pray; But or ever a prayer had gusht, A wicked whisper came, and made my heart as dry as dust...O happy living things!..I blessed them unaware..' We discussed how The Mariner's change in perception reconnects him with God but God continues to punish the Mariner. The Mariner is a Man who has sinned and despite being reconnected with God through prayer, he continues to be punished. Author's aim? Question Focus? YOU CAN DO IT. SHOW ME YOU WERE LISTENING.

• THE CONCLUSION...Students need to explore the idea that The Mariner's true nature is ambiguous because Coleridge may be using this character to shape a Christian Fable that champions the idea that all God's creatures are worthy of respect. The Mariner has his human identity removed as a punishment for killing the Albatross, a bird that was hailed by the crew in 'God's name.' The divine punishment The Mariner receives, which makes it very difficult for the reader to define this character's true identity, allows Coleridge to construct a poem that represents the power of God, the sanctity of nature, and the arrogance of mankind. DIFFERENT READINGS COULD ALSO BE PLACED WITHIN THE CONCLUSION. CRUEL GOD? CONFUSING MORAL? DIDACTIC CHRISTIAN FABLE? THE SHIP IS A SLAVE SHIP THAT IS BEING PUNISHED? A MODERN ECOLOGY POEM? A BRILLIANT SECULAR GHOST STORY?  'He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all' ....SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS QUOTE?

Remember that you need to be aware of the views of other critics. Here are some quotes you might like to use within your essay:

Coleridge described this as a poem of 'pure imagination'.

Charles Burney 1799: '..the strangest story of cock and bull we ever saw on paper.'

The Literary Gazette 1834: 'the finest instance of the supernatural sustained in narrative that we have in our language.'

Thomas De Quincey: ...this poem is ' teeming with power and beauty.'

William Wordsworth: Criticised the poem because The Mariner ' has no distinct character'.

Mrs. Barbauld in Table Talk 1830: 'the poem has no moral'.

I am not massively convinced that students are reading this poem with a precise and critical eye therefore this essay is a real challenge. OUR LEARNING FOCUS IS PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE. I have made it perfectly clear how students can improve the structure and detail of written work. NOW IS THE TIME TO STEP UP!! THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF WORK. I WILL NOT BE HAPPY IF, AFTER ALL THE PREP WE HAVE INVESTED IN THIS ESSAY, STUDENTS DO NOT ACHIEVE AT LEAST A C GRADE. 

Show me you were listening. I need to see some evidence of learning.

HOMEWORK : Complete the essay. Read Jerusalem.