Question

Why does the poet refer to the albatross? Do you find some similarity between the act of the poet and the act of the ancient mariner in Coleridge’s poem? Give a reasoned answer.

Answer 1

Both the poet and the ancient mariner had committed a sin against humanity and nature. The ancient mariner had killed an innocent and auspicious bird, the albatross. Here, the poet acts like the old mariner. In a fit of senseless ‘protest’ or anger, he throws a log at the snake. He had come to his water-trough to seek his hospitality. Both of them commit a sin and repent afterwards for their ‘vulgar’ and mean act.