Director -- Raul daSilva
Narrated by -- Michael Redgrave

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a tale told by Samuel Taylor Coleridge about a mariner who has no reverence for nature and thus shoots an albatross as the ship he's on rounds Cape Horn. Because of his misdeed, he is forced to pay penance by wearing the albatross around his neck and suffering under the cursed stares from his shipmates. Life-in-Death wins the game of chance in controlling his fate and only after he has learned his lesson and finally blesses nature does the horrible curse wear off. However, he still has penance to pay for the rest of his life as he is forced to roam the countryside in search of other young souls who do not revere nature and to tell them his horrific tale.
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Please choose one of the following questions below to write a 2-3 page paper (see previous handout on format). If you choose to write on this film, this paper will be due: September 27.
 

1. How do the animated sketches add to the understanding and depth of the tale?

2. Discuss the significance of having no reverence for nature, the lack of imagination, and finding the true self as expressed through Coleridge and the Romantic movement.

3. Discuss the notion of "willing suspension of disbelief" especially as presented visually through this animated version. In other words, how does this film visually aid in helping the viewer to willingly suspend disbelief?