25 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Part 2- Lesson Plan PDF

Katelynn Sutton
LESSON PLANS
12 th Grade British Literature
Lesson Plan IX: May 1, 2018
Lesson Topic
Objectives
Samuel Taylor Coleridge: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The students will…
1. Connect an author’s background information with the truths and attitudes
displayed in his works
2. Discern thoughts, ideas, and descriptions from a literary text
3. Take part in meaningful discussion based on thoughts gleaned from a
literary text
4. Answer informal assessment questions about a literary text throughout its
reading
5. Read poetry with proper expression and emphasis
Materials
Needed
‣ 12 th Grade BJU Press textbooks—British Literature
‣ 12 th Grade BJU Press Teacher’s Edition Book 2—British Literature
‣ Pen/pencil/highlighter to take notes or highlight info in book about
Coleridge and his masterpiece.
Content or
Skills to Be
Reviewed
New Content or
Skills
Procedures
Content, setting, and meaning of the narrative we have read so far
Background information of Coleridge and his poem
Content, setting, and meaning of the rest of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Procedure Outline
I. (8:55-9:00) Review the background information about Coleridge and
the parts of the narrative we read yesterday before jumping back into
the reading.

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II.
(9:00-9:25) Continue reading the poem The Rime of the Ancient
Mariner together. Try to finish at the poem’s end on p. 553.
A. Ask a few students to help me read.
B. Stop to discuss important or interesting items from the text.
(Ask students to explain what I want to emphasize before I
tell them what they should have noticed—make them think!)
C. Make the narrative sound exciting and suspenseful to capture
student interest.
III.
Ask informal assessment questions throughout to test student
understanding.
Key Questions
(1) What did transcendentalists look to as “God”? (nature)
(2) What protected the Mariner’s crew as they traveled? (the albatross)
(3) What heinous crime had the Mariner committed—for no reason? (killed
the albatross)
(4) What hangs from the Mariner’s neck, weighing him down? (the
albatross—his sin and guilt)
(5) What does his sin bring about? (loneliness, separation, and consequences
for himself and those around him—they all die while he is left alone in the
doldrums; inability to pray)
(6) How does the Mariner’s point of view change? (he begins to find beauty
in nature, and even inadvertently blesses the water snakes)
(7) What is Mariner able to do immediately once he is restored to nature
again? (pray)
(8) What else happened as a result of his restoration to nature? (the albatross
fell off his neck; he could sleep; it rained; the ocean began supernaturally
blessing and carrying him homeward; the dead mean were given “spirit life”
to help him work the ship)
(9) Whose spirit was truly helping the Mariner? (The Albatross—from the
land of the mist and snow; nine-fathoms deep under the ocean)

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(10) What events indicate that another spirit is still unhappy with the
Mariner? (ship stops moving; Mariner is injured when it starts back up; the
first voice keeps asking why the Mariner’s ship is moving without wind)
(11) Who is showing the Mariner favor and grace according to the spirits’
conversation? (the ocean)
(12) What brings peace to the Mariner when he starts to feel fear again? (the
gentle breeze blowing only on him)
(13) What does the Mariner wish on himself if he is not truly home as it
appears? (death)
(14) What happens to the dead crewmen that brings the Mariner joy? (he sees
the lighted spirits departing in peace)
(15) What is so special about the Hermit that Coleridge can identify with?
(he lives alone in the woods and sits on seats of nature—he is worthy to help
the Mariner because he is one with nature—Coleridge was a
Transcendentalist)
(16) What is the Mariner’s eternal punishment? (his heart burns with anguish
within him until he shares his story; he knows exactly what people to share
his story with)
(17) Why is the wedding guest a sadder and wiser man the next day? (he now
realizes that he has to be “one with nature” to be at peace with God)
Activities
‣ Reviewing of the background info and parts of the narrative we have
read so far
‣ Reading of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
‣ Discussion of the narrative as it is read aloud
‣ Answering of informal assessment questions throughout the lesson
Summary or Conclusion
As the Mariner is brought safely back home, he is given peace and
protection, but he still has a price to pay for his sin. Although we can be
forgiven for our wrongdoings and find joy and peace and blessing in Christ,
we will still have to face the consequences for our actions. It is also wise to
learn from others around us—if they make mistakes and end up paying

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terrible consequences, we should not do the same things. Heed the warning
of their examples like the Wedding Guest heeded the story of the Ancient
Mariner. Be willing to listen to those who indeed have a story to tell and
lesson to teach—we could end up being eternally thankful if we choose to
listen and avoid terrible mistakes and consequences.