ETS Major Field Test English Literature (British) Practice Test

The line about the "wedding-guest" and "a sadder and a wiser man" comes from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." This poem is a famous work that blends elements of adventure, spiritual exploration, and moral lessons. The narrative follows the mariner as he recounts a harrowing sea voyage marked by supernatural events and personal transformation.

The specific line reflects the profound impact the mariner's tale has on the wedding-guest, emphasizing themes of learning through experience and the potentially transformative effects of storytelling. This moment encapsulates the moral journey that is central to the poem, illustrating how encounters with the mysterious and unknown can lead to wisdom, albeit often through suffering.

Other works listed, such as "The Raven," "The Waste Land," and "Ode to a Nightingale," are by different authors and focus on distinct themes and styles, making them unrelated to Coleridge's exploration of existential and moral questions through the lens of the supernatural and nature in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."