English Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

Who wrote the narrative poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"?

1. William Wordsworth

2. John Keats

3. William Blake

4. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The correct answer is: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"Rime of the Ancient Mariner" was written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, making option D the correct answer. This poem, published in 1798, is regarded as one of the greatest works of English Romantic literature. Option A, William Wordsworth, may be a tempting choice as he was a close friend and collaborator of Coleridge's, but he did not write "Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Similarly, option B, John Keats, was a Romantic poet but did not write this particular poem. Option C, William Blake, may also seem like a possible answer as he was a contemporary of Coleridge's, but he did not write this poem either. It is important to pay close attention to the name of the poem in the question, as well as the publication date, to correctly identify the author.