TRAUMA, LOSS AND MEMORY: HAUNTINGS IN COLERIDGE`S “RIME” AND BYRON`S “GIAOUR”

Abstract

This paper delves into the traumatic experiences of the central characters
in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner and George Gordon Byron’s
The Giaour, positioning these works as compelling narratives of trauma. By examining the
Mariner’s guilt-ridden journey and the Giaour’s vengeful quest, the paper explores how these
figures’ transgressions and subsequent losses shape their identities and the ways in which
they navigate their traumatic experiences. The paper will consider the role of memory in both
poems, analyzing how the characters’ recollections of past events haunt them and contribute
to their ongoing suffering. Additionally, it will investigate the concept of redemption,
examining whether the Mariner and Giaour are able to find solace or healing through their
narratives. Ultimately, this paper aims to shed light on the complex ways in which trauma can
be expressed and processed through literary texts, offering valuable insights into the human
experience of suffering and resilience.