ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -In the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, an albatross follows a ship setting out to sea, which is considered a sign of good luck. However, the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow, an act that will curse the ship and cause it to suffer terrible mishaps.

Detailed explanation-2: -The marriner kills the albatross because he associated the lack of wind with it. At first all the men thought the bird was good luck since a good wind blew and they moved swiftly. Then the wind died and they blamed the bird. The sailors cheered when the mariner killed the bird which is symbolise of animal abuse.

Detailed explanation-3: -The poem conveys a message to the readers that one can never escape punishment from God after committing a crime. The poem starts with an old mariner approaching one of the wedding guests and stopping him from attending the wedding by telling him tales about his life.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Mariner is forced to wear the bird about his neck as a symbol of guilt. “Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About my neck was hung”. Coleridge, the poet of this poem was a known user of opium.