Reviews

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

shr13's review

3.0

divine

kstericker's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

downsophialane's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

There's a reason this ballad is so celebrated. It was surprisingly readable, despite the deliberately archaic language. Even though I've historically loved Romantic poetry, I was procrastinating my preparation for teaching "Rime" because I suppose I discriminate against maritime narratives, I suppose? But this supernatural quest is wild, and Gothic as hell. I'd recommend taking a look at the original version, first printed in 1798's Lyrical Ballads for Gustave Doré's intricate Romantic realist illustrations. 
Some of the annotations are useful, particularly in drawing connections between different parts of the poem; some annotations particularly relating to critical intepretations, weren't as relevant to my purposes. I skimmed the Intepretations section at the back. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Animal death

tregina's review against another edition

4.0

Coleridge was my first favourite poet. He hasn't held the position in perpetuity, but when I first really started reading poetry, in high school, Xanadu was just about my favourite thing ever. That was also when I discovered Dover Thrift Editions, which I could actually afford to own in HS and uni. This book is well loved and many times read, but it's hard to get tired of it.

sinningsammy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is a very insightful poem and truly makes you look inside of yourself and think

dyslexzak's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 I read it on the recommendation of Philip Pullman in his book Daemon Voices.
I wasn't disappointed. 

ihyuca's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

vickelusing's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The prose is what i want it to be ❤️ 

fr_eddie's review against another edition

3.75

3,75 Ok magari non odio davvero le poesie

Una raccolta di poesie e ballate molto carina, approvata. Non mi sono messa a leggere tutte le parti in inglese, ma quando lo facevo e notavo le rime ero molto contenta. Ci piace un po' di ritmo✨

La ballata del vecchio marinaio molto carina, il concetto di amore per tutte le cose, la punizione per quel peccato d'odio, il marinaio che insegna la sua lezione di vita ai poveri innocenti invitati ai matrimoni. Morale cristiana ma anche solitudine e pazzia in mezzo al mare, ci piace.

Christabel molto carino, peccato che Samuel si fosse scocciato e abbia deciso di non fare un finale. Uomini stupidi, una strega e rapporti omoerotici? Sono tutta tua. E Geraldine, pur minacciando Christabel, non le ha torto un capello, quindi io vivrò nella mia illusione che lei è solo una maga saffica che vuole essere amata, non mi interessa del serpente o di nient'altro. I defend women.

Kubla Khan era giusto Samuel che si immaginava un giardino molto carino, quindi buon per lui ig.

Le altre poesie sicuramente carine e capibili, soprattutto 'A una giovinetta per la sua guarigione': «Besides, what vexed us worse, we knew,
They have no need of such as you
In the place where you were going:
This World has angels all too few,
And Heaven is overflowing!»
(Suona meglio in inglese, shh). Però giggling my feet, smiling, blushing a little. Potrà essere una poesia per una giovane in convalescenza, però queste rime proprio carine mi piacciono.

Lo consiglierei? Ovvio. L'ho trovato un libro veloce, scorrevole, e soprattutto capibile. Molto carino, peccato che non ci sia un vero finale per Christabel.

rosielazar1's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0