Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Arts
  4. / Books And Writing
  5. / Books

by Spixxy on February 11th, 2004

Spixxy

Question

Help answer this question below.

In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, why does the ancient mariner kill the albatross?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by DOSJockey382 on February 13th, 2004

    DOSJockey382

    Why the ancyent Marinere (the spelling in the text I have) kills the Albatross is not clear. The Marinere is telling his story to a guest at a wedding. The Marinere tells how the Albatross follows the ship he is on and the sailors on board treat it well. The Albatross is a sign of good luck to mariners and is a Christ symbol in the poem. While he is detailing the happy times and good sailing the ship has while the crew treats the Albatross well, the wedding guest asks why the Marinere looks so poor. "'God save thee, ancyent Marinere!/ 'From the fiends that plague thee thus --/ 'Why look'st thou so?'" The Marinere replies "with my cross bow/ I shot the Albatross." This is the only explanation given in the entire poem, the mere act of killing without a real reason or respect for life. Because of his actions, the Marinere goes through the hellish voyage on the ship and is doomed to tell his tale to whoever will listen for the rest of his days, so that others might have the respect he did not.

    Comments

    • The text seems to me correct.

      Rita MariaFelixdaSilva

      by Rita MariaFelixdaSilva on October 20th, 2005

    • Know nothing about it sadly, but filled the metaphorical "albatross round one's neck", niche a bit more.

      IsZatSo

      by IsZatSo on April 10th, 2006

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, why does the ancient mariner kill the albatross?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company