Imagery, Irony, and Lifes and Lessons from a Cursed Mariner and Children - Essay Example

The stories have strong imagery, irony, and relevant lessons that revolve around religious themes, although “The Rime” focuses more on respect for all life forms, while “Ode” emphasizes the value of being a “child” in having a meaningful life.

            “The Rime” and “Ode” use vibrant imagery, where for “The Rime,” it contributes to the effectiveness of the plot in depicting scintillating events and characters, while for “Ode,” it underscores the “natural” essence of insight. When Coleridge says: “As idle as a painted ship/Upon a painted ocean,” this image is quite fitting to the situation of the sailors, not just as an effective “picture” of what is occurring, but as a representation of their hopelessness. “Ode” employs numerous elemental imagery, such as sun, moon, mountains, and flowers. They are natural and seem simple at first, but they are also viewed as “grand” examples of nature that implicate the religious theme of “remembering” the natural nature of “remembering” and they are connected to the raw and natural dispositions of children, whom Wordsworth attests as the bosom of meaning and a source of true insight.  

            The irony is one of the most interesting figures of speech in literature and Coleridge and Wordsworth's apt use of it has made their works more intellectually stimulating. These lines demonstrate the irony of being surrounded by water and yet suffering from thirst in “The Rime”: “Water, water, everywhere,/ Nor any drop to drink” (Coleridge). It is similar to being surrounded by food, but not being able to eat them because they are poisoned. Situational irony is also present in how the mariner lives on when he is the main reason that his co-crew members died. Nevertheless, “The Rime” shows that life is not better than death if it is cursed to be filled with guilt. “Ode” applies irony when it says that celestial knowledge is only held during childhood, instead of being learned throughout adulthood. “Heaven's” (Wordsworth 67) knowledge submerges into a process of “forgetting” (Wordsworth 59) and it is only through “remembering” (Wordsworth 59) that people can regain true insight into life.

            These poems share religious lessons, although “The Rime” focuses on respecting all life forms, while “Ode” emphasizes the value of intuition in having a meaningful life.  Coleridge also leaves a moral on respecting life: “He prayeth best, who loveth best/ All things both great and small.” People should truly respect, not only human beings but other creatures also. Wordsworth emphasizes the importance of “remembering” through becoming a child again. By being a child, people rekindle their insight of the universe and retrace their roots to “God, who is our home” (Wordsworth 66).

            “The Rime” and “Ode” are classic legendaries, because of their imagery, irony, and lessons. “The Rime” has a colorful plot and memorable characters, where its lesson asks people to respect all living creatures because they all come from God.