“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” a poem that describes a mariner and his crew struggling to sail through ice and other weather conditions, when they encounter an albatross which they take as a sign from god which they let lead them through the horrible conditions. But their fortune ends when the greedy mariner takes advantage of the albatross and shoots it down for him to have to himself. The crew has mixed thoughts of the killing of the albatross but the crew dies over time and they place a curse on the mariner. In “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Coleridge uses personification, imagery, and symbols to signify the consequences to the mariners actions.
First off, personification in “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” are used to show the Mariner and his …show more content…
The poem had many symbols. The most obvious being the albatross. The magnificent bird can be interpreted as a symbol of god, Coleridge’s opium addiction, and a sign of help for the crew. Other symbols in the poem could be the moon, the sun , stars, and the weather. But back to the idea about the albatross. The albatross is seen as a person, a “christian soul” by the sailors. The albatross could be a symbol for christ, since Jesus Christ is sometimes metaphorically compared to a bird.The albatross becomes a defining symbol of the mariners big mistake. As a symbol of the burden of sin the albatross haunts the crew, and the mariner especially. Also the albatross is compared to the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, shown in the quote “instead of the cross, the albatross around my neck was hung” the burden of killing the albatross is compared to crucifixion and the mariner is the one who has to pay. Also the mariner is placed under a curse by his sailors. This curse ties directly with the mariner killing the albatross, this is proven when the sailors die, each soul passes the mariner like the whizz of his crossbow. Once the mariner learns and starts praying, the albatross falls off his neck into the sea “The self same moment I could pray; and from my neck so free the albatross fell off, and sank like lead into the sea” The mariner feels relieved when the burden of the albatross finally is lifted off his
First off, personification in “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” are used to show the Mariner and his …show more content…
The poem had many symbols. The most obvious being the albatross. The magnificent bird can be interpreted as a symbol of god, Coleridge’s opium addiction, and a sign of help for the crew. Other symbols in the poem could be the moon, the sun , stars, and the weather. But back to the idea about the albatross. The albatross is seen as a person, a “christian soul” by the sailors. The albatross could be a symbol for christ, since Jesus Christ is sometimes metaphorically compared to a bird.The albatross becomes a defining symbol of the mariners big mistake. As a symbol of the burden of sin the albatross haunts the crew, and the mariner especially. Also the albatross is compared to the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, shown in the quote “instead of the cross, the albatross around my neck was hung” the burden of killing the albatross is compared to crucifixion and the mariner is the one who has to pay. Also the mariner is placed under a curse by his sailors. This curse ties directly with the mariner killing the albatross, this is proven when the sailors die, each soul passes the mariner like the whizz of his crossbow. Once the mariner learns and starts praying, the albatross falls off his neck into the sea “The self same moment I could pray; and from my neck so free the albatross fell off, and sank like lead into the sea” The mariner feels relieved when the burden of the albatross finally is lifted off his