Question

why mariner killed the albatross ?


5 marks question and need detailed answer

Answer 1

Coleridge goes not give an exact psychological reason that the Mariner shoots the Albatross, and in truth, a simple explanation might work against the poem's metaphorical, poetic and elusive strengths. The bird is following the ship for a while, but the narrating Mariner does not express any emotional response to it. It seems clear that the motivation is meant to be unclear. If the albatross represents the "Christian soul," which the Mariner suggests a few stanzas above the shooting, perhaps this is Coleridge's observation of how we, as humans, sabotage our greatest assets for no discernible cause. The "soul" connection comes later when the souls of his dead passengers fly from the water and the Mariner compares them to the speed of his crossbow. Regardless, the Mariner's murder of the bird is meant to come off as impetuous and unjustified, an act he likely thought was of little consequence but which proved entirely otherwise.

Answer 2

The Mariner 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 symbolic of animal abuse.  By killing the bird, he is disrespecting all of nature--a sin since the poem states:  all creatures great and small the lord God created them all.

Once the Mariner "blesses the snake unaware," then he begins the long trek back to being forgiven and living out the rest of his life wandering the earth and teaching others how to treat mother nature and all her creatures.

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