The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Setting 1 key example

Definition of Setting

Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition
Setting
Explanation and Analysis—A Wedding & The Sea:

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has two main settings: the first is a wedding, which the Wedding Guest is trying to attend, and the second is the open sea. The wedding reception serves as a frame story that magnifies the ominous atmosphere of the Mariner's tale. As the Mariner and the Wedding Guest stand alone outside of the joyous celebration, their conversation turns to the serious and somber topic of the Mariner's story. The isolation of the young man by the Mariner and the intense atmosphere of his story create a sense of unease, signaling that the forthcoming narrative will be one of darkness and consequence.