Doré Graphics Ancient Mariner Package
This resource contains 36 original Doré illustrations for teaching or classroom use. Each illustration is accompanied by a quotation from the poem, and the picture sets are arranged in parts one to seven. This corresponds to the seven parts of the classic poem.
These high resolution pictures are enhanced for viewing from an overhead or multimedia projector. They can be printed and used as overheads for a variety of literature activities, or as simply an accompaniment to the poem.
Using Doré Graphics in the
Classroom
The graphics in this package are a rich way to capture the interest of readers. The poem itself - long and quite heavy to read, can come alive through using these outstanding classic illustrations. Each one is filled with detail, and is an engaging source of discussion. In the classroom they can be used for retelling a segment of the story recently read, or used in a predicting activity where student are given a graphic preview of the next section of the poem. These two activities, oral retelling, and predicting, used along with the Doré Graphics package, are an outstanding way to build comprehension, and to support learners.
Other activities could be using printed graphics from this package for sequencing activities, and as starters for detailed research into the themes and sources of this poem.
Background of Colerige's Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Rime of
the Ancient Mariner is an excellent example of a poem from the Romantic
Period of English Literature, (1798 - 1832). The main philosophy of this
period was outlined by Rousseau. Rousseau believed that people are
essentially good and kind, and are happiest and best in a state of harmony
with nature, free from the institutions and restraints of organized
society. This philosophy had a great influence on Coleridge. Coleridge was
a brilliant dreamer; his imagination as a boy often made him fearful of
the dark. He suffered from ill health, and he took opium for pain relief.
This went on for a long time, until he became an addict. His vivid
imagination and the use of opium make up another great influence to his
writing. Although this was his misfortune, the very vivid imagery in this
poem is a wonderful example of how written words can evoke strong
feelings. The poem was first written in 1798, and revised a number of
times until it appeared in its final form in 1817. Doré prints are a
faithful artistic representation of the classic poem.
