In Samuel Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” what bird was hung around the Mariner’s neck?
Crow
Seagull
Pelican
Albatross
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, is a poem that explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the supernatural through the story of a ship’s encounter with an albatross. When the mariner shoots the bird with his crossbow, he unwittingly brings a curse upon himself and his crew. The dead albatross is hung around his neck, symbolizing his wrongdoing and becoming a burden that torments him on his solitary journey. This act catalyzes the mariner’s profound spiritual transformation as he grapples with the consequences and seeks redemption amidst the vastness of the sea.
Correct Answer: Albatross