From IHM School

Sister Maria Philomena gives some directions in art class.

by Sister Maria Philomena, M.I.C.M.

My high school literature class just finished reading Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner. If you haven’t read this classic recently, it is well worth your time. Besides the obvious sailors’ superstitions, there is a lot of Catholicity in Coleridge’s work. We have a beautiful, large edition of Dore’s woodcuts that adds a stunning visual element to our study.

One of the students’ assignments was to pick two quotes to memorize; then, each quote was taken and elaborated on, with each student giving extended meanings and metaphors. I thought you might like to see a few. (The accompanying pictures are from the high school/junior high art class.)

“The line in the Ancient Mariner: ‘The sun’s rim dips; the stars rush out; At one stride comes the dark . . .” is like when I broke my leg. It happened when I was on someone’s lawn and some kids twice my weight were aggressively playing football. All of a sudden, someone yelled, “Watch out!” I felt one of those kids slam into me, and I blacked out.”

The art class, held in the high school classroom. The shelves along the side are waiting to be put up; we got a deal when the local Borders closed.

“ ‘I moved, and could not feel my limbs; I was so light – almost . . .’ A person who is hungry and hasn’t had water for a while finally gets to drink, but he is light-headed because he hasn’t had food and is really tired. He couldn’t feel his limbs because his body was so tired that he was just moving to survive. If you’re nervous, you can’t feel your legs, sometimes; because you’re so afraid, you act without thinking.”

A little encouragement and guidance . . .

“ ‘He prayeth best who lovest best.’ I believe whole-heartedly that those who are happy and loved and who love well on the natural level have the advantage on the spiritual level as well. It gives them something to reference God’s love for us to. If someone knows how it feels to love, then they know that the stronger the love the more it enlivens at the reciprocation and hurts when it is not returned, giving them just the right empathy for God’s plight in us. If someone understands someone else’s pain, then he tries hard to same him from it; and the one who understands best will try hardest.”

This next is an interesting mix of literal and figurative: “ ‘His great bright eye most silently Up to the moon is cast . . .’ After I thought a little about it, the moon represents Our Lady and the ocean is looking up and obeying her commands to guide the Mariner’s ship to his homeland because his punishment is now over.”

First layer of color

“ ‘The harbor bay was clear as glass So smoothly was it strewn!’ There are other things that we can say are clear as glass. Maybe, if someone has given a speech or something, you could say that he was as clear as glass, that he helped you to understand fully what he was talking about. Or, you could [use this quote] when just the way he talked was very clear and distinct. These are just a couple of the ways it could be used.”

“ ‘The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around . . .’ Just like God, it was everywhere. [That was the first attempt. The second was:] This line could be used metaphorically for the time when the terrible news became known that the Patriots were going to the Super Bowl, and everyone all around me couldn’t stop boasting about the losing team.”

And last but not least, a longer, senior submission that goes to a much deeper level:

“ ‘ Since then, at an uncertain hour, That agony returns: And till my ghastly tale is told, This heart within me burns.’ (lines 582-585)

Finishing touches

“There are many different ways that people are drawn or attracted to others. Physical attraction is probably what most people would think of first, but that’s not really the kind of attraction I am referring to. Pain attracts individuals to each other. I am thinking of this in two ways. First, two people who have suffered (especially if it is in a similar way) find a sort of camaraderie within the emotional ache stored in each other’s heart and mind. It is almost refreshing to find someone who can give you more than pity – someone who knows what you’re going through. Second, sheltered, inexperienced, and possibly young people who haven’t felt or identified much (pain or otherwise) are drawn to someone who has experienced pain that is deep and transforming.

“This second way applies, I think, to the Wedding Guest who was compelled to hear the Mariner’s tale.

Sister Marie Therese lends a hand

“The Mariner was left on earth to teach two classes of people: those like the Wedding Guest, who have been sheltered from deep pain, and those who have experience. His soul is troubled during his travels when his role is unfulfilled when and how it should be. And his role is twofold: Teacher, to those who can learn life’s lessons from others’ life experiences; and Father/Big Brother, to those with pain, who haven’t yet drawn the right lesson from it.

“The Mariner’s lesson lives on, through each reading and re-reading of The Rime.”

“ ‘ Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.’ (lines 121-122)

“This related in my mind to love. (If you’ve never experienced the situation I’m going to describe, you might not understand.)

Teaching

“Picture sitting (at some point in your life) on a bench at a park, on a seat at a restaurant, etc., where you can see a lot of people. Imagine (if you haven’t experienced it) being emotionally alone. People in your life don’t understand and/or show concern for the pain you’re experiencing. The only understanding comes from yourself, and that is mixed with self-hatred and loathing. Now picture all the people you’re seeing basking in the sunshine of love. Little children holding their parents’ hands and laughing; a young couple with their arms around each other, or even kissing; a person holding some happy secret, and going home to love.

“All this you see, but nothing you feel or know. And then you will understand: ‘Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.’”

Pretty impressive, yes?