There is a Latin epigraph before the poem that is a quote by Thomas Burnet from Archaeologiae philosophicae. It says that there are forces in nature and that people should study them. There are also notes beside the poem that summarize and explain the corresponding passages. There are two versions of this poem, one written in 1798 and the other in 1817. In the later edition, some passages are changed or left out. There are also fewer older words.

An old sailor, or Ancient Mariner, stops three young men who are going to a wedding. The sailor grabs one of the men and tries to speak, but the man wants him to let go. However, the man, or Wedding Guest, is captivated by the sailor's "glittering eye" and listens obediently like a child. The Wedding Guest sits on a stone, and the sailor begins his tale, explaining how...