Poem

One aspect of Romanticism that is seen in this poem is a supernatural element. The supernatural elements in this poem are the appearance of the Albatross, the appearance of spirits, and the behavior of the dead men. "At length did cross an Albatross/Through the fog it came" (II,63-64). The Albatross was considered a bird that brought good luck. However, the Mariner killed the Albatross, brining about bad luck. In addition to the Albatross, there was a ghostly woman. The Mariner said, “
Is that a death? And are there two?/ Is Death that woman’s mate?/ Her lips were red, her looks were free, 
Her locks were yellow as gold;/ Her skin was as white as leprosy…” (III,188-192). 
The Mariner saw a ghost of supernatural being. There was no woman on the ship. Also, the Mariner heard, "The dead men gave a grown/They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose" (V,330-331). The Mariner was encountering supernatural beings once again, hearing the reactions of the dead men.

In Romantic works nature offered an alternative to the ordered world of Enlightenment thought. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” references nature often. Nature is used in both a beautiful way and a tragic way, “the ice was here, the ice was there, the ice was all around: it cracked and growled, and roared and howled, like noises in a swound!” (II,59-62). Also, Romanticism often emphasized an importance animals in natural life. This poem includes an animal, the Albatross, representing nature. In this story, the power of nature shows forgiveness in many ways.  In the story, the mariner betrays nature by shooting an Albatross. The Albatross represented nature. The Mariner thinks nothing of the murder of a creature of nature. Due to his carelessness, nature begins punishment, which will eventually lead to penance and forgiveness. "Water, water, everywhere nor any drop to drink” (II,119-122). Water acts as a punishment. When the mariner begins to look at the “slimy things” as beautiful, his repentance...