Coleridge and other romantic writers such as Wordsworth, Keats and others revolted in the eighteenth century against the artificial philosophy that separated man from nature. Coleridge developed a highly analytical, spiritual and passionate interest in nature. His belief that God speaks in the “eternal language” of nature fuels his eclectic collection. Images and themes are based almost exclusively on the natural environment and used as a means to explore broader issues.
The Circassian Love-Chaunt’s hypnotic rhythm, which is created by mixing two regular rhyme schemes and used throughout the poem, captures the equilibrium, tranquility and beauty Coleridge felt nature could provide. In addition, the use of the word “Lewti”, repeated five times within the first two lines of the poem, and natural imagery (such as “rocks”, “streams”) are used to create a monotonous and peaceful atmosphere. The poem’s muted colors, such as “palest-hued clouds” and the “greyish” landscape that surrounds the clouds, heightens the feeling of tranquility. These muted images, however, are contrasted by bolder images like the “rich amber light” that shines through the cloud. Lewti has almost equal references to muted as well as vibrant images, which gives the poem a sense of balance. In Sonnet to an Otter, the character recalls “what happy hours and what mournful ones” he spent by a river in a paradoxical manner. The juxtaposition of images creates a sense of balance and equilibrium. The juxtaposition of Lewti with the native brook and the more mundane “native brook”, however, creates a sense of universal beauty that transcends all of nature. Lewti and other poems like it are driven by a deep-seated interest in natural beauty, which was threatened by many industrialists during the 18th century. The paradoxical statement of the “ancient Mariner” that “there’s water, everywhere, / but no drop to drink” contributes to the paradoxical nature of the world. The “beauty, and happiness” of what the mariner sees while at sea also creates an image of paradox. Agony can refer to both mental pain and joy, which is why it’s paradoxical that the word was used to describe a mariner’s “soul”. The mariner’s “soul”, with its double meaning, symbolizes that nature and the balance it maintains are at the heart. Coleridge chooses a subject that he can describe in detail and with precision, symbolizing a larger natural world. Coleridge uses equal balance in his imagery and style to create a sense of a world in which there is a perfect harmony, even when the world is at odds. Kubla Khan’s words hint at this timelessness, using quasi-superlatives like “measureless”, “ancient”, and “measureless”. It is important to note that these images appear in the opening stanza. Coleridge suggests that man’s creation isn’t infinite, as he mentions obscure names like Xanadu. The poem’s unspecified, stereotypical natural subjects (such as “green hills”, “caves made of ice”) give us a feeling of timeless nature.
In addition, the poem’s first stanza has an almost hypnotic consistency. Coleridge uses alliteration to give the poem a regular, but bombastic rhythm. The use of short exclamations, like “but Oh!” and “a Savage Place!” along with long exclamations enjambment created by “as Holy and Enchanted as Ever beneath a Waning Moon was Haunted by a Woman Wailing for Her Demon Lover!” can create the feeling of an infinite flow. In a similar way, the Ancient Mariner’s story is told in a regular manner that reflects the timelessness of his tale. Due to his rhyme scheme, he speaks in a way that can sound like a ‘nursery song’ at times. The word “ancient”, used in the story, reinforces this sense of eternity. It is often reserved for non-living and only natural things. It is also evident from his attention in telling the story that he must have told it before.
It is also implied that he’s become a spokesman for the nature, due to his untidy appearance.
Coleridge presents the idea of eternity in nature as a paradox. By focusing only on images or events which represent a broader natural world, Coleridge conveys an infinite sense through specific examples. Coleridge suggests paradoxes by pointing out the infinite in a particular event or picture.
Again, the poets of romanticism, including Wordsworth, have a strong belief in “religion as nature”. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner uses religious imagery and “naturalizes” it. The mariner in part three says, “I saw/ Something in the sky”, which is a subtle reference to the star that the three wisemen followed. Albatross, just like the star of the Bible story is the symbol of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. “LIFE IN DEATH” and “DEATH”, “were throwing dice” for souls and this mirrors the soldiers who rolled dice for Jesus’ clothing after his death.
In the end, the ancient Mariner is less arrogant. He has changed his perspective after repenting. His crime of killing the albatross was directly against the nature of the animal and not an imagined ‘God.’ Although the idea of religion in the natural world is appealing, it becomes less so when we discover that the ancient mariner does not receive forgiveness for his crimes unlike the Christian God.
The poems examine religion and nature in a way that also focuses on the power of the natural environment. The Mariner is tortured, as are his entire crew, by the Mariner’s mistake. The poem’s core is the line “I killed the ALBATROSS”. Because it is shorter, has a “part one” ending and includes the word in capitals “albatross”, the line makes a strong impression. Kubla Khan’s “pleasure domed” is also dwarfed in the biblical, apocalyptic description of the natural environment that surrounds the dome. The poem also has a very sensual description, which covers all of our senses. The description of nature’s images is sensuous and powerful, echoing Coleridge’s suggestion of nature’s power. Both the “sunless ocean” and “gardens brilliant” are striking visual images. Our ears are filled with sounds from the “woman wail” and “damsel”, singing of Mount Abora. The incense tree awakens us to smell. The suggestion that the persona “drank milk of paradise” and has been “breathing the earth” makes us feel and taste this powerful language.
Coleridge relies on detailed nature analysis to further explore his ideas like’religion’ in nature. Coleridge’s poetry relies heavily on a zooming effect, allowing him to look at the whole scene and then concentrate on a single small subject, which becomes symbolic of all nature.
