In 1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge published his poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. Several editions followed, the most notable being that of 1815, which included a gloss. This poem has become well known and debated, especially regarding the message Coleridge was attempting to impart. The interpretation of the poem as a whole and of various characters, settings and objects has been the subject of numerous essays, articles, books and conferences. There are about four things that are major symbols in this work, along with the possibility that the structure itself is symbolic. To best determine what these things symbolize in “The Rime,” one must look at what Coleridge considered a symbol. and then analyze the text accordingly. James McKusick skillfully accomplishes this first task, weaving Coleridge's writings into his essay and then explaining them so that the reader can understand Coleridge's views, which should then influence how the poem is interpreted. In this, he precisely finds that Coleridge felt that to be a symbol, the object in question must be humble and of everyday life, while "witnessing the presence of the Eternal". The process of creating a symbol was twofold in that “poetic images emerge fully formed from the imagination, but do not become symbols, laden with meaning, until appropriated and reconstituted by a reader's awareness” (McKusick 223). Therefore, the purpose of a symbol was to convey the Eternal. Another important characteristic of Coleridge is that in creating a symbol, he often uses nature and its elements, as can be seen in “The Rime” (Bostetter 242, Perkins 433). Depending on the interpretation of the poem as a whole with...... half of the paper...... the poem and possibly imply that it is also the center of the universe (Dilworth).Interpretation of a literary work is often difficult to determine, but the author often leaves many hidden clues to help the reader. Symbols are one of the main features used by authors in this endeavor and Coleridge was no different in writing “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” There are many other symbols beyond the main four discussed, along with other literary features that could serve as symbols or simply help expose the message the author wanted to get across. Ultimately, the beauty of literature is the fact that each person can perceive it differently and not wrongly, and through open-minded discussion people can share, create and impart new pieces of wisdom, spread appreciation and share the love of Christ as GOOD.