Final answer:
Coleridge uses a frame narrative in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' to create dialogue, highlight contrast between joy and sorrow, and examine the impact of storytelling. This technique adds depth to the narrative by questioning the reliability of the narrator and enhancing the poem’s themes.
Step-by-step explanation:
By framing Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' through a story within a story, Coleridge accomplishes several literary effects. Firstly, the usage of a frame narrative allows Coleridge to create a dialogue between the Mariner and the Wedding Guest, mirroring the way the reader might react to the story. This technique advances the plot and establishes the conflict, as the Mariner's tale unfolds in a personal and direct manner. It also adds layers to the narrative, making the reader question the reliability of the Mariner as a narrator and thus introducing a sense of mystery and an examination of bias.
The addition of this frame story sets up a stark contrast between the joy of the wedding and the dark, ominous tale of the Mariner, which enhances the thematic elements of the poem. The listener, representative of society, is heading towards a symbol of new beginnings and celebration, yet is intercepted by a grim tale of caution and sorrow. This juxtaposition underscores Coleridge's themes of interruption and the consequences of one's actions. Moreover, the vivid details and imagery the Mariner uses to recount his story make the events more evocative and gripping to both the Wedding Guest and the reader.
Lastly, the structure of a frame narrative demands a more complex engagement from the reader. As the story is not only about the Mariner's adventure but also about his act of telling it and the impact it has on his audience, readers are asked to consider the importance of storytelling itself and how it influences people and their choices.