Willing Submission of Disbelief

Of the two poems that we read, I liked The Rime of the Ancient Mariner  the most. I found it the more sensible of the two, and easier to understand. I really liked the imagery that the poem conveyed, as well as the story that it told. 

I almost sensed that Coleridge was mocking the superstition of the people at the time, specifically when referencing the death of the albatross, at first it was seen by the crew as a terrible thing, 'Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay, That made the breeze to blow!' that it was the bird that somehow made the wind blow, and then immediately after cursing his actions, they seemed to applaud them 'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, That bring the fog and mist' giving the killing of the bird credit for the passing of the fog. It seemed that he was almost mocking the changing opinions of the common man, always looking for some supernatural explanation for normal occurrences

This superstition seems to be a reoccurring theme in the poem, later he uses the almost 

superstitious religious beliefs of the common people at the time to explain the story and make the tale almost believable. Giving credit to the fantastic rescue of the mariner to his guardian Saint was something that the common man of the time would understand, and even relate to. Yet at the same time it would require more than the belief in the power of a protecting saint, it would require the reader to surrender their understanding of reality, and become part of this tale.