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About this quote

What does it mean?
The sun sets and darkness falls quickly over the sea, accompanied by a mysterious ship.
In plain terms
Night falls fast as a ghost ship sails across the water.
What can you take from it?
Nature's changes can feel sudden and supernatural.

Where it applies

  • reading poetry
  • describing nightfall
  • telling ghost stories

Putting it to work

  • setting a scene
  • evoking mood
  • describing landscape

Questions to consider

  • How does the setting influence the mood?
  • What does the ship represent?

Another view

The imagery is dense and may obscure the literal meaning.

More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge

  1. 'The game is done! I've won, I've won!' Quoth she, and whistles thrice.

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  2. We listened and looked sideways up! Fear at my heart, as at a cup, My life-blood seemed to sip!

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  3. Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Night-Mare Life-in-Death was she, Who thicks man's…

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