Structure Points

Question 1

Structure Point: Frame Narrative (Beginning and End)

Answer 1

• The poem starts and ends with the Mariner telling his story — this circular structure shows that his guilt never really ends.
• This narrative framing positions the entire tale as a ritual of confession—a necessary act of moral self-exposure.
• Coleridge deliberately blurs the line between personal sin and public storytelling, much like crime fiction that interrogates guilt through form, not just plot.

Question 2

2. Sudden Shifts in Tone and Mood

Answer 2

• The poem frequently shifts from calm to terror, beauty to horror — mirroring the Mariner’s emotional and moral instability.
• These shifts enhance the psychological intensity of the narrative — a key feature of crime texts focused on internal consequences.
• Structurally, this helps the reader feel the Mariner’s guilt and panic, not just understand it.