The ancient mariner. Why will the Mariner do more penance? Does the continued penance mean more than that the spirit cannot be repaid for his loss?
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It was a sailor's belief that killing an Albratross was a serious sin, and had to be paid for. In the case of the Ancient Mariner, it was to watch all his shipmates die and to suffer himself for many many years until he saw that his sin was not to bless the sea creatures. WHen he did, his penance was over, or so he thought, but now he was responsible for the deaths of his crew, so the penance grew again, until he was forgiven for it. Remember this is only a poem: it does not reflect any real religious belief.
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