The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as a Lyrical Ballad:

The form of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is that of a ballad. A ballad is a narrative song poem, usually relating a single, dramatic incident, in a form suitable for singing. There are two types of ballads: folk ballads (whose authors are unknown) and literary ballads written by modern poets, in imitation of the folk ballads. Folk ballads are characterized by simplicity of language, terseness of expression, directness of narration, abrupt transitions, the use of archaic words and repetition of phrases and lines to achieve a cumulative effect. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is one of the best literary ballads of English language.

The Poem, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” as a Narrative Poem in the Ballad Tradition:

In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Coleridge here combines many of the features of the old form with the modern. Some of these may be noted here.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as a Lyrical Ballad in its tradition

The language of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is extremely simple. Coleridge’s language is never unpoetic, but sometimes its simplicity approaches most nearly to the prosaic:

We could not speak, no more than if

We had been choked with soot.

Coleridge has outdone his model in terseness of expression. In this poem some of the descriptions of Nature are presented with great economy, but they are vivid. For instance, we can refer to the description of the sudden fall of the tropical night:

The Sun's rim dips, the stars rush out;

At one stride comes the dark;

Two other qualities of the poem are the directness of narration and the sudden introduction of new elements. For example, the Ancient Mariner begins his story abruptly paying no heed to the wedding Guest's protest:

He holds him with his skinny hands,

There was ship, "quoth he".

Coleridge's use of archaic words also forms the folk ballads. He makes frequent use of such archaic words and spellings-- kirk for church, gan for began, quoth for say, or ever for never, nor--- nor for neither--- nor, countree for country--- are all out of date and out of use.

The repetition of words, lines and sometimes stanza is a special feature of folk ballads. Coleridge makes use of repetition for emphasis. In the following lines repetition is clearly meant for emphasis:

Water, water, every where

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where

Nor any drop to drink.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner surpasses the folk ballads in its delightful and delicate melody. The melodious movement of verse in the following lines is noteworthy and sweet to hear:

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,

The furrow followed free;

We were the first that ever burst

Into that silent sea.

In the light of the above discussion it may be concluded that The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a lyrical ballad in its form. It is a beautiful ballad possessing all the characteristics of a ballad in a more polished and finished form.