How does is the story told in part 3 of Coleridge's 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'.

In part 3 the reader is present with the Mariner as he is suffering through the punishment of having the Albatross being 'hung' around his neck. Later on he has an encounter with 'Life-in-Death' and 'Death' which results with the death of the Mariner's crew.

The Albatross that is 'hung' on the Mariner's neck is his punishment for the penance he must pay in order to be redeemed of the sin of murdering the Albatross. Alternatively it may also connote the heavy 'cross' Jesus was crucified on. This could be the reason for why the narrative ballad of 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' (TROFTM) may be viewed as an allegoric didactic tale, as it draws on the well-known religious story of Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of man who would then be redeemed by God. This is partly mirrored in moments of the ballad to highlight a message to the reader that warns against the ignorance of sinning through destroying God's beloved creations-highlighting heavy and dark consequences.

The Mariner further tells the wedding-guest how it was 'weary' to bare the Albatross as a 'cross'. The word 'weary' is repitious at the start of part three which has the effect of elongating time- this may have a mirroring effect on the reader who is present with the Mariner whilst he is suffering. This may be a symbolic lesson that teaches the effects of punishment after sinning.

However, whilst the Mariner is in a state of repentance, himself and his crew fall prey to a ship which is inhabbited by 'Life-in-Death' and 'Death'-predatory characters which are shown through Colderidge's use of adjectives:'Plunged', 'tacked' and 'veered'. These adjectives are added to through the use of pronouns (like 'it') which create suspense and tension as the Mariner describes the unknown danger that was fastly approaching. This foreshadows the danger that will later occur by Life-in-Death and Death when they play a deadly game of 'dice' with the Mariner over the lives of his crew. The original readership may have been shocked/surprised by the gender of the captain- Life-in-Death (a woman) who has Death as her 'second mate'- due to the patriarchal society Coleridge was writing in. This may be a tool used by Colderidge to further reflect that the Mariner and his crew are completely distanced away from society where patriarchal society ideals would apply.

Whilst the mysterious ship is advancing towards the Mariner and his crew the Mariner is unable to speak due to the 'drought'. Therefore the Mariner has to 'suck' his own 'blood' in order to quench his thirst in order to warn his crew. This parallel's the symbolic death of Jesus who famously shed his own blood so mans sins would be forgiven and man would be redeemed, just as the Mariner is shedding his own blood to save his crew. Furthermore in stanza four, the literary device of enjambent is employed to show the Mariner's desperation in not being able to communicate the oncoming danger of the 'speck' in the distance that was fastly approaching. The rhyme scheme of the stanza is in ABCCBA-similar to the iambic pentameter rhyme scheme- adds to the suspension as the pace is increased throughout the stanza. This could reflect the Mariner's fastly beating heart as he panics about the oncoming threat that is being un-noticed by his crew.