The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Questions and Answer - part-I

Answer the following by choosing the right option:

Question: 1 - The Ancient Mariner stopped one of the three wedding guests because....

He wanted to attend the wedding with him

He wanted him to sit with him
He wanted him to listen to his story
He wanted to stop him from going to the wedding
Answer: (c) He wanted him to listen to his story

Question: 2 - The wedding guest remarked that he was 'next of kin' which means that ......

He was a close relation of the bridegroom

He was a close relation of the bride
He was next in line to get married
He had to stand next to the bridegroom during the wedding
Answer: (a) He was a close relation of the bridegroom

Question: 3 - 'He cannot choose but hear' means .........

The mariner was forced to hear the story of the wedding guest
The wedding guest was forced to hear the story of the mariner
The mariner had the choice of not listening to the story of the wedding guest
The wedding guest had the choice of not listening to the story of the mariner
Answer: (b) The wedding guest was forced to hear the story of the mariner

Question: 4 - 'The sun came up upon the left, /Out came he' This line tells us that the ship .........

Was moving in the northern direction

Was moving eastwards
Was moving in the western direction
Was moving towards the south
Answer: (d) was moving towards the south

Question: 5 - The Wedding-Guest beat his breast because .......

He could hear the sound of the bassoon

He was forced to listen to the Mariner's tale when he wanted to attend the wedding
The sound of the bassoon meant that the bride had arrived and the wedding ceremony was about to
begin and he could not attend it.
The sound of the bassoon announced the arrival of the bride and the start of the wedding ceremony.
Answer: (b) He was forced to listen to the Mariner's tale when he wanted to attend the wedding
Question: 6 - The storm blast had been described as being tyrannous because .......

It was so fierce that it frightened the sailors

It took complete control of the ship
The storm was very powerful
The sailors were at its mercy
Answer: (d) The sailors were at its mercy

Question: 7 - The sailors felt depressed on reaching the land of mist and snow because..........

There was no sign of any living creature

They fell they would die in that cold weather
They were surrounded by icebergs and there seemed to be no sign of life
Everything was grey in colour and they felt very cold
Answer: (c) They were surrounded by icebergs and there seemed to be no sign of life

Question: 8 - The sailors were happy to see the albatross because .........

It was the first sign of life and therefore gave them hope that they might survive
It split the icebergs around the ship and helped the ship move forward
It was a messenger from God and it lifted the fog and mist
It gave them hope of survival by splitting the icebergs
Answer: (a) It was the first sign of life and therefore gave them hope that they might survive

Question: 9 - The two things that happened after the arrival of the albatross were .........

The icebergs split and the albatross became friendly with the sailors
The icebergs split and a strong breeze started blowing
The ship was pushed out of the land of mist and the ice melted
The albatross started playing with the mariners and ate the food they offered
Answer: (b) The icebergs split and a strong breeze started blowing

Question: 10 - 'It perched for vespers nine' means ........

The ship stopped sailing at nine o'clock every day

The albatross would appear at a fixed time everyday
The albatross would sit on the sail or the mast everyday
The albatross was a holy creature
Answer: (b) The albatross would appear at a fixed time everyday

Question: 11 - 'God save thee, ancient Mariner, /From the fiends that plague thee thus! Why look'st at
thou so? Means ......
The mariner wanted to know why the wedding guest was looking so tormented
The wedding guest wanted to know why the mariner was looking so tormented
The wedding guest wanted to know whether some creatures were troubling the ancient mariner
The ancient mariner wanted to know whether something was troubling the wedding guest
Answer: (b) The wedding guest wanted to know why the mariner was looking so tormented

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Questions and Answer - part -II
Answer the following questions briefly

Question: 1 - How did the ancient mariner stop the wedding guest?

Answer: The ancient mariner used his gleaming eyes to stop the wedding guest.

Question: 2 - Was the wedding guest happy to be stopped? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer: The wedding guest does not seem to be happy at being stopped. He is a young person who
has come to attend the wedding ceremony and would be least interested in an old tale by an old man.

Question: 3 - Describe the ancient mariner.

Answer: The Ancient Mariner is an old man. He is quite thin and frail. He long grey beard and there is
a glitter in his eyes.

Question: 4 - How does the mariner describe the movement of the ship as it sails away from the land?

Answer: The mariner describes the movement of the ship as it sails away from the land; in following
words. This ship is going farther and farther on the horizon. First of all, the ship appears to be going
below the kirk, then below the hill. Finally the ship is so far that it appears to be even below the
lighthouse top.

Question: 5 - What kind of weather did the sailors enjoy at the beginning of their journey? How has it
been expressed in the poem?

Answer: The weather was pleasant and sunny. The sun came as if appearing from the innards of the
sea. The sun was bright day after day during the initial phase of the journey.

Question: 6 - How did the sailors reach the land of mist and snow?

Answer: The fierce storm forced the ship to reach the land of mist and snow.

Question: 7 - How does the mariner express the fact that the ship was completely surrounded by
icebergs?
Answer: The mariner says that the ice was here, the ice was there and it was all around.

Question: 8 - How do we know that the albatross was not afraid of the humans? Why did the sailors
hail it in God's name?

Answer: The way albatross came to eat from the sailor's hands shows that it was not afraid of humans.
After the albatross appeared, the weather became pleasant and hence the sailors hailed it in God's
name.

Question: 9 - What was the terrible deed done by the Mariner? Why do you think he did it?

Answer: It is not clear why the Mariner killed the albatross. It can be assumed that the Mariner was
fed up all the attention which the Albatross was getting.

Answer the following questions briefly:

Question: 1 - In which direction did the ship start moving? How can you say?

Answer: The ship began to move towards north because the sun is not setting to the left.

Question: 2 - Why does the mariner say that 'no sweet bird did follow'?

Answer: The mariner tries to express his sadness at having killed the albatross. Hence he is making
this statement.

Question: 3 - How did the other mariners behave towards the Ancient Mariner at first? How many times
did they change their mind about the Ancient Mariner? What does this tell us about their character?

Answer: The other mariners changed their opinions as per the changing weather. When the weather
was favourable, they hailed the Ancient Mariner for killing the albatross. But when the weather was not
favourable, they cursed the Ancient Mariner. This shows that human beings most often interpret
something as per their convenience. It does not say anything about their character.

Question: 4 - How did the sailing conditions change after the ship had moved out of the land of mist
and snow? What or who did the mariners blame for this change?

Answer: Once the ship came out of the land of mist and snow, it had to withstand a condition of
complete lull. The wind was still and the ship could not move an inch. The mariners blamed the killing
of the albatross for this change.

Question: 5 - What is indicated by the line 'The bloody sun, at noon, /Right up above the mast did
stand, /No bigger than the moon'?
Answer: The heat of the sun is being compared with the tortuous situation which the sailors were
suffering from.

Question: 6 - How does the mariner describe the fact that they were completely motionless in the
middle of the sea?

Answer: The ship was so still that it appeared as a painted ship on the painted ocean. This sentence
aptly describes the motionless ship in the middle of the sea.

Question: 7 - What is the irony in the ninth stanza? Explain it in your own words.

Answer: The biggest irony is that inspite of being in the midst of the ocean of water, the sailors don't
have a single drop to drink. We know that saline water is not fit for human consumption. Hence, if a
person is caught in the middle of the sea and he does not have drinking water; only God can save his
life.

Question: 8 - What is the narrator trying to convey through the description of the situation in the tenth
and eleventh stanza?

Answer:

Question: 9 - What or who did the mariners feel was responsible for their suffering?

Answer: The mariners felt that some evil spirits from the unfathomable depth of the ocean were
responsible for their suffering.

Question: 10 - Describe the condition of the mariners as expressed in the thirteenth stanza.

Answer: The mariners were barely able to speak because of their parched throat. They were unable to
speak as if their throats were parched with soot.

Question: 11 - Why did the mariners hand the albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner?

Answer: Albatross around the neck is used in the proverbial sense as if a heavy burden is thrust upon
you. The mariners probably tied the albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner to symbolize the
burden of guilt because of killing the albatross.
Chapter 11 - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Expression Explanation, English, Class 10,

Chapter 11 - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Expression Explanation, English, Class 10,
PART - I
1. It is an ancient mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. By they long grey beard and glittering eye,
How wherefore stoppst thou me? The Bridegrooms doors are opened wide And I am next of kin; The
guests are met, the feast is set: Mayst hear the merry din. (Lines 1-8)
Explanation ... An ancient mariner stopped one of the three guests, who were going for a wedding.
The guest was attracted by the long beard and glittering eyes of the mariner. However, he does not
like being stopped and asked the Mariner why he was holding on to him. The wedding guest was in a
hurry since the doors of the bridegrooms house were open and the sound of merrymaking and the
festivities could be heard.
2. He holds him with his skinny hand, There was a ship, quoth he. Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard
loon! Eftsoons his hand dropt he. He holds him with his glittering eye The Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years child The Mariner hath his will (lines 9-16)

The mariner held the wedding guest with his

skinny hand and started relating his story abruptly, There
was a ship. The wedding guest is reluctant to stay but he
is mesmerised by the gaze of the mariner and listens to his
story like a three-year-old child.
3. The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He cannot choose but hear: And thus spake on that ancient
man, The bright-eyed Mariner. The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below
the kirk, below the hill Below the lighthouse top. (Lines 17-24) Explanation ... The wedding guest sat
down on the stone. The bright-eyed mariner started telling his story. When the mariners ship had to
set sail, they were given a warm farewell and the ship started sailing, leaving behind the church, the
lighthouse etc. 4. The Sun came up upon the left, Out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and
on the right Wend down into the sea Higher and higher every day, Till over the mast at noon - The
Wedding-Guest here beat his breast, For he heard the loud bassoon (Lines 25-32) Explanation ... The
ship was sailing towards the south, so the sun appeared to be rising from the sea. It shone brightly
and sank the same way. Everyday the sun rose higher and higher, up to the height of the mast. At this
point the mariners story is interrupted, since the loud music from the bridegrooms house distracts the
wedding-guest and he starts getting restless to leave.

Red as a rose is she; Nodding their heads before her goes The merry minstrelsy. The Wedding-Guest
he beat his breast, Yet he cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man. The bright-
eyed Mariner. (Lines 33-40) Explanation ... The loud music is the indication of the arrival of the bride.
She enters looking beautiful like a rose, and is followed by a band of musicians. The wedding-guest
does not like missing all these festivities but the mariner succeeds in detaining him. 6. And now the
STORM-BLAST came, and he Was tyrannous and strong : He struck with his oertaking-wings, And
chased us south along. With sloping masts and dipping prow As who pursued with yell and blow Still
treads the shadow of his foe And forward bends his head. The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast,
And southward aye we fled (Lines 41-50) Explanation ... The mariner continues telling his story. A very
fierce storm lashes the ship with force and drove the ship towards the south. The masts of the ship
were bent and its prow dipped into the sea. The ship looked like a person with his head bent, escaping
from an enemy. 7. And it grew wondrous cold: And ice, mast-high, came floating by, As green as
emerald. And through the drifts the snowy clifts Did send a dismal sheen : Nor shapes of men nor
beasts we ken The ice was all between The ice was here, the ice was there, (Lines 51-58)
Now the ship reached the region of mists and ice. It was intensely cold and icebergs and snow-capped
cliffs could be seen. This place was totally deserted and only ice could be seen all around.

Study Material of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

(Summary and Word Meanings)
Summary of the Poem
Part I
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner begins with one of three
wedding guests being approached by the Ancient Mariner
and kept from attending the wedding first by the Mariners
grasp and then by his hypnotic gaze.
The old man starts with narrating how the ship was given a
cheerful send off and began sailing till it disappeared below
the kirk, below the hill and finally below the lighthouse top.
Since the wedding guest does not seem to be interested in
all those introductions about the voyage, he is beating his
breast because he can hear the sound of bassoon and also
comes to know that the bride had entered the hall.
The old man explains how the sun rose from the left
everyday; which means that the ship was going towards
south. After a journey of some days, a monstrous storm
comes and strikes the ship as if a giant bird had struck with
its huge wings.
The ship nevertheless continued to move ahead as if it was
trying to chase the shadow of its enemy. The front portion of
the ship was dripping with water and its mast was sloping.
Finally, the ship was able to escape the storm.
After the storm, the ship had to face mist and snow. It was
even more risky because huge icebergs floated from near
the ship. Visibility was very poor which made it very difficult
to navigate. Then an albatross came from somewhere as if it
was sent by the God. The albatross enjoyed the food given
by the sailors and whenever a sailor gave a call it came on
the ship. No matter how the season was, the albatross came
everyday at a fixed time; as if trying to enjoy the life on the
ship.But one day, the old sailor shot the albatross with his
crossbow.
Part II
After the albatross was killed, the sunshine returned. The
poet mentions that the sun was now setting on the left; which means that the ship was on its northward
journey. The south
wind was blowing and the voyage was more comfortable.

But no bird came to the ship to feed on the leftovers. The old sailor was feeling a sense of getting for
having killed the albatross. Many sailors abused him for killing the bird which was believed to have
made the winds blow. But some other sailors felt that it was the albatross which brought the mist and
snow and hence it was right to kill the wretched bird. After that, a lull came and they had to drop down
the sail. It was a deathly silence all around. Now the sun looked bloody red at the noon. The ship was
as still on the ocean water as a painted ship on a painted ocean. Water was everywhere around them
but they did not have a single drop of water to drink. The waves in the moonlight appeared as if the
witch's oils were burning to produce flames of various hues. Everyone began to curse the old sailor
because they believed that it was the killing of the albatross which brought all the misery to them. The
old man was feeling that instead of a cross, the albatross was hung around his neck. Terms and
Meanings from the Poem Mariner sailor Glittering - shining brightly, with flashing points of light.
Kin - members of your family. Quoth said Loon - a mad person Eftsoons - at once Kirk
church Bassoon - a musical instrument. Minstrelsy - singers and musicians Tyrannous cruel
Prow - the front part of a ship Pursued chased Foe enemy Emerald - a precious stone, which
is clear and bright green. Drifts - floating ice Clifts - steep sides of the ice-bergs Sheen - a smooth
and gentle brightness on the surface of something. Ken see Swound - a fainting fit Helmsman -
the person steering the ship. Hollo call Shroud sail Perched - sat on the edge of something
Vespers nine - a fixed time every day. Plague trouble Crossbow - a very powerful bow and arrow,
with a trigger. Em them Woe - great unhappiness and sorrow Averred said firmly Uprist
rose up Slay to kill Deep ocean Reel and rout - types of dance Fathom - a measurement of
depth.

Summary in Simple Language Part I

The poem starts with the appearance of an old grey-bearded elderly sailor. He
thinks himself to be guilty of killing a godly bird and wished that someone should
listen to his story of guilt. He was sitting outside a wedding hall and saw three
wedding guests arriving. He stopped one of the them compelled one of them to
listen to his story. The guest was a close relative of the bridegroom. First of all he
was unwilling to listen but soon he became helpless because he was hypnotized
by the old man and he had to listen. All the guests had arrived and the marriage
ceremony was about to start but the old man caught him with his wrinkled skinny
hand and glittering eyes. Now he started telling him the story of his guilt and the
guest kept on listening like a child of three year and got seated on a stone as he
had no choice. The mariner told him that there was a ship. The ship started sailing
in ne weather and passed through the church, below the hill and the lighthouse.
Means they started with a blessing of God
and all the members on the ship were very happy in the beginning. Their normal
routine started. The sun rose from the left and went down into the sea on the
right side. Days seemed to be passing normally. At noon, the sun shone brightly over the ship. In the
meantime, the wedding guest started feeling upset, when he heard the sound of loud music of the
bassoon, the sound of the musical instrument announced the arrival of the bride into the wedding hall.
She looked as beautiful as the rose, dressed in her bridal nery (dress). As the band of singers and
musicians passed by her, they nodded their heads happily, in approval and appreciation of her beauty.
Once again the guest was quite upset and impatient, but having no choice, continued to listen to the
story. The bright-eyed Mariner continued with his story. Now, when the ship was journeying, a erce
and very strong tidal storm came and over powering them with its force, drove them southwards. The
ship dipping and turning, followed by the loud and noisy storm, kept moving in the southward direction,
at a great speed. Now they were surrounded with mist and snow, it had become extremely cold. The
green coloured ice, as high as the mast, came oating down. The oating ice from the steep sides of
the icebergs created a gloomy atmosphere, all over the place. Nothing was visible, no living soul,
human, bird or beast could be seen. Everywhere there was ice, and the ship was trapped. Sounds of
the storm and cracking of the ice created a maddening atmosphere. And then appeared a bird,
albatross, like a god-sent angel came and everyone welcomed it. The bird ew over the ship in circles,
apping its wide wings that made the ice crack and the ship moved forward into the sea. A favourable
south wind directed the ship and the albatross followed. The friendly bird came every day, ate some
food it seemed it enjoyed the food and the play and responded to the call of the sailors. It would come
daily, irrespective of the weather and used to sit on the mast or the sail of the ship. It was so punctual
that exactly at nine oclock it would come and sit on the ship and remain there throughout the night.
Suddenly the Mariner stopped and there was a haunted look on his face. The wedding guest asked him
what was troubling him. The old man replied that he shot the albatross with his cross-bow, because of
a mean thinking that it would end up their food. This act brought a curse down upon them all. Here
Part 1 ends

PERSONIFICATION
Sun is personied as a Man
Storm is also personied as a Man
Blast also as a Bird (overtaking wing)
SIMILES
as green as emerald
Like a three year old child wedding guest
Red as a rose the Bride
As who pursued with yell and blow the ship
Like noises in a swound Thundering and growling sounds
Anaphora
Below the Kirk, below the Hill,
Below the Light-house top.
Note- Here, below is used as anaphora to create a litany and rhyme.
AssonanceThe
Ship was cheerd, the Harbour cleard
Merrily did we drop
Assonance appears in the long e sound in cheerd and cleard.
ConsonanceAnd
he shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the Sea.
The words bright and right have the same last consonants, creating the eect
of consonance.
Elision:-
It crackd and growld, and roard and howld
It ate the food it neer had eat,
And round and round it ew.
Imagery
The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound! (simile also )
Onomatopoeia:
It crackd and growld, and roard and howld
OxymoronAnd
now there came both mist and snow,
And it grew wondrous cold:
And through the drifts the snowy clifts
Did send a dismal sheen:
Go to the LITERARY DEVICES of Part II
Extract Based Questions and Answers
1. It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
By thy long grey beard and
grey glittering eye, How wherefore
stoppst thou me?
(a) Whom does the Ancient Mariner stop?
Ans. The Ancient Mariner stopped one of the three wedding guests.
(b) Why does he stop the wedding guest?
Ans. The mariner is compelled to narrate his story and to admit the wrong he has
done and he needs someone to listen to him.
(c) What are the chief features of the Mariners appearance? Why has the poet
described hi in this way?
Or
What was his appearance like? What eect did it cast on the beholder?
Ans. The chief features of the Mariners personality are his long grey beard
glittering eye that holds the wedding guest mesmerised. The poet has him in this
way to show his hypnotic power over the guest.
(d) What do you mean by glittering eyes?
Ans.- Shining eyes.
2. The Bridegrooms doors are
opened wide, and I am next of kin;
The guests are met, the feast is set:
Mayst hear the merry din.
(a) Why is the wedding guest restless?
or
What made the wedding guest restless?
Ans. The wedding guest is restless as he can hear th in the church and he is the
bridegrooms closes has him captive and is forcing him to listen to his story.
(b) Why was the wedding guest in a hurry to go?
Ans. The guests had gathered for the wedding He could hear the noise of the
festivities.
(c) Who was stopping him from going?
Ans. The Ancient Mariner was stopping him from going.
(d) What does the speaker mean by kin ?
Ans. (iii) He means the members of his family.
3, He holds him with his skinny hand,
There was a ship, quoth he.
Hold o! unhand me, grey-beard loon!
Eftsoons his hand dropt he.
(a) Who is he in the rst line? Whom does he hold?
Ans. The Ancient Mariner is being referred to, in the rst line. He is holding the
wedding guest.
(b) Why does the Ancient Mariner immediately start on the story?
Ans. The Ancient Mariner is guilty of having killed an innocent albatross. He
wants to assuage his guilt by confessing the crime to someone. It is also a part of
his penance.
(C)Explain: unhand me
Ans. Remove your hand; do not hold me. This is said by the Wedding Guest who
is stopped by the Ancient Mariner.
(d) Who is referred as grey-beard loon? What do you mean by grey beard loon?
Ans. Ancient Mariner is referred as grey-beard loon. It means grey-beard mad
man.
4. He holds him with his glittering eye
The Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years child:
The Mariner hath his will
(a) How does the Ancient Mariner stop the Wedding Guest?
OR
How did the mariner hold the guest now?
Ans. The compelling look in the eyes of the mariner held him.
(b) Why does the Wedding Guest not wish to listen to the Mariners story?
Ans. The Wedding Guest is going to a wedding and is getting late. He can hear the
sound of the merrymaking and wants to be a part of the wedding festivities.
Ans. The Wedding Guest listens spellbound to the Mariners story. He is
powerless to resist him.
(d) What eect did it have on the guest?
Ans.- He could not move as the look in the eyes of the mariner caused a hypnotic
eect.
(e) Who hath his will and what do you mean by `hath his will?
Ans. (iii) Ancient Mariner hath his will by forcing the wedding guest to hear his
story. It means he got what he wanted.
5. The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.
(a) Where did the wedding-guest sit?
Ans.- He sat on a stone.
(b) What does the expression bright-eyed signify?
Ans. The expression bright-eyed signies the glittering eye of the Mariner which
held the Wedding Guest mesmerised and he was forced to listen to the story of
the Mariner.
(c) What does the expression sat on a stone signify?
Ans. Sat on a stone shows that the Wedding Guest had no choice but to listen to
the Mariners story.
(d) The Wedding Guest is not left with any choice but to listen to the Mariner
because:
Ans. The look in the Mariners eye held him captive.
6. The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,
Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill,
Below the lighthouse top.
(a) What was the day like when they started their journey?
Ans. -The day was bright and cheerful, everything started smoothly.
(b) Explain: drop:
Ans. It means they set sail with the ebbing tide.
(c) What sights did the sailors see as they started on their journey?
OR
What were the things they passed by? How did they feel?
Ans. In a good mood, they started and passed by the church, the hill and the
lighthouse.
(d) In which direction did they set sail? Give a reason for your answer.
Ans. They set sail southwards. The sun rose from the left.
(e) What is the meaning of merrily?
Ans.- Merrily means happily.
7. The Sun came up upon the left,
Out of the sea came he!
And he shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the sea.
(a) Why is the narrator compelled to narrate the story?
Ans.The Ancient Mariner is compelled to confess his sin to assuage his guilt and
as a part of his penance.
(b) Who is listening to the story?
Ans. The Wedding Guest is listening to the story.
(c)Why was he prompted to beat his breast?
Ans. The wedding guest beat his breast because the wedding festivities had
started but he was compelled to listen to the story of the Ancient Mariner.
(d) When the sun comes up upon the left which direction are we heading for?
Ans. We are going in the southern direction.
(e) What was the weather like?
Ans. The weather was moderate and the days were passing in a normal manner.
(f) What do the lines in this stanza signify?
Ans. -The journey is going on smoothly without any untoward happening.
8. Higher and higher every day,
Till over the mast at noon
The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast,
For he heard the loud bassoon.
(a) What rose higher and higher every day? Where were they when it was over
the mast at noon?
OR
What do the rst two lines signify? What is meant by higher and higher?
Ans. With each passing day the sun was becoming hotter At noon, it was at its
peak. They were at the equator.
(b) What is the wedding-guest doing? And why?
Ans.- The wedding guest is beating his breast for he has heard the sound of the
bassoon, a musical instrument. He is feeling helpless because he is sitting and
listening to the story of the mariner
(c) Why did the Wedding Guest beat his breast?
Ans. The Wedding Guest could hear the sound of merrymaking and could imagine
the bride entering the hall signifying that the wedding was over.
(d) What is a bassoon?
Ans. A bassoon is a musical instrument that is played by blowing into a long
wooden tube while pressing metal keys.
9. The bride hath paced into the hall,
Red as a rose is she;
Nodding their heads before her goes
The merry minstrelsy
(a) What is happening at the wedding place?
Ans. The bride has come into the hall.
(b) Where is the Wedding Guest?
Ans. The Wedding Guest is sitting on a stone and listening to the Ancient
Mariners story.
(c) Who are the minstrelsy? What are they doing?
OR
What do you understand by merry minstrelsy? Why did they nod their head?
Ans. The happy band of musicians, playing their music are walking past the bride
and are nodding their head in approval and appreciation of the beautiful bride.
(d) What did the loud music convey?
Ans. The loud music was played to announce the arrival of the bride inside the
wedding-hall.
(e) How is the beauty of the bride described?
Ans. She was as lovely and beautiful as a rose
10. The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast,
Yet he cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.
(a) Why has the poet repeated the line: he cannot choose but hear?
Ans. The line is repeated to show the hypnotic power which the Mariner exerts
over the Wedding Guest and how he has been forced to hear the story.
(b) How does the Mariner hold the Wedding Guest?
The Mariner holds him with the hypnotic power of his glittering eye.
(c) What is the mariner telling the Wedding Guest?
Ans.- The Mariner is telling him the story of the fateful voyage when he killed the
albatross.
(d) What was the reaction of the wedding-guest?
Ans.- In utter helplessness, he started beating his breast.
(e) What do you mean by bright-eyed?
Ans. Bright-eyed means shining eyed.
(f) What did the mariner do? Was he happy?
Ans. The mariner narrated his story. The bright look signies he was happy
because he had found a listener to his story.
11. And now the storm-blast came, and he
Was tyrannous and strong:
He struck with his oertaking wings,
And chased us south along.
(a) What happened in the story of the mariner?
Ans. Suddenly there came a very strong and powerful storm.
(b) What is the meaning of tyrannous?
Ans. Severe and harsh.
(c) What did it do to the ship? Where was the ship taken?
Ans. It overpowered the ship completely and the helpless ship was chased
southward. Here, the storm is personied as a huge bird with large wings.
(d) Who is he in the above lines? How is he described?
Ans.- The storm is being referred to as he in the above lines. The storm is
described as being a large bird that is tyrannical and strong. The wind created by
its large wings pushed the ship southwards.
(e) Why has he been called tyrannous?
Ans.- The storm took control over the ship and pushed it in the southward
direction.
(f) Point out the gure of speech in oertaking wings:
Ans. Personication is being used here. The storm has been personied as a
powerful bird with large wings which takes total control of the ship.
(g) What kind of sea storm is it?
Ans. Powerful and pitiless
12. With sloping masts and dipping prow,
As who pursued with yell and blow
Still treads the shadow of his foe,
And forward bends his head,
The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast,
The southward aye we ed.
(a) How are the two, ship and the storm described here?
Ans. The poet has personied the ship as someone running away from the storm,
which has been personied as the powerful enemy who is chasing the ship.
(b) What is the meaning of tread?
Ans. It means to walk or to follow.
(c) What is the storm described as? What is the ship personied as?
Ans. The storm is described as an enemy who is very powerful. The ship is
personied as a man running away from his enemy who is pursuing him.
(d) Explain: Still treads the shadow of his foe.
Ans. This line means to walk in the shadow of your enemy and not getting away
from him. Here it refers to the ship being unable to get out of the storm.
(e) In which direction did the storm push them?
Ans. The storm pushed them towards the South Pole.
13. And now there came both mist and snow,
And it grew wondrous cold;
And ice, mast-high, came oating by,
As green as emerald.
(a) Describe the land of mist and snow.
OR
What was the place like?
Ans. The land was covered by mist and snow and was extremely cold. Large
oated past the ship. There were snowy clis all around. The sailors cot; sign of
men or beasts.
(b) How had the poet described the extent of cold in the place?
Ans. There was ice as high as the mast, it came oating by in the atmosphere.
The ice pieces shone and looked like green emeralds everywhere.
(c) What is the meaning of emerald?
Ans. Green colour precious stone.
(d) Where were the mariners at this point?
Ans. The mariners were at the South Pole.
14. And through the drifts the snowy clifts
Did send a dismal sheen:
Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken
The ice was all between
(a) Explain: the drifts:
Ans. The drifts refer to icebergs.
(b) Explain: dismal sheen:
Ans. The shine of the icebergs, though they were as bright as emeralds, the
spread sadness in the hearts of the beholders because they had blocked th of
escape.
(c) What did they see amidst all this? How did they welcome it?
Ans. They saw an albatross. They welcomed it in Gods name as if it were a
Christian soul. They played with it, oered it food and considered it a harbinger
of hope
15. The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound!
(a) Where was the Mariners ship stuck?
Ans. The mariners was stuck in the ice in the polar region.
(b) What gure of speech has been used in the rst two lines? What eect does it
create?
Ans. Repetition is being used in the rst two lines. It emphasises the fact that
huge icebergs surrounded the ship and kept it from moving.
(c) What sort of a noise did the ice make? What gure of speech is used here?
Ans. The ice made noises as if a person was having a fainting t. The gures of s
used here are onomatopoeia and personication.
(d) What do you mean by `swound?
Ans.- `Swound means fainting t.
16. At length did cross an Albatross,
Through the fog it came,
As if it had been a Christian soul,
We hailed it in Gods name.
(a) Why were the mariners relieved to see the albatross?
Ans. The mariners were relieved to see the albatross because they the ice for
many days and had not seen any living being. But at the albatross the ice split and
a good wind sprang up behind nally leave the polar region.
(b) Point out the gure of speech in the above lines.
Ans. Simile is being used in the lineAs if it had been a Christian s
17. It ate the food it neer had eat,
And round and round it ew.
The ice did split with a thunder-t;
The helmsman steered us through!
(a) Why had the albatross not eaten the food it was now given before?
Ans. -The albatross was used to eating sh from the sea. It had never eaten the
cooked food that the mariners gave it.
(b) How did the weather change with its arrival?
Ans. -The ice cracked and the navigator could steer the ship away from the land
of ice and snow.
(c) What did the albatross do with the sailors?
Ans. -The albatross came whenever the sailors called it and ew round the ship
playing with the mariners. It also accepted the food they oered it.
(d) What was oered to the bird?
Ans. The sailors oered the bird food that it had never eaten before.
(e) How did the bird reciprocate?
Ans. -It ew round and round the ship. Due to the birds wings, the ice cracked,
making way for the ship to move ahead.
(f) What do you mean by thunder-t?
Ans. Thunder-t means like a thundering sound.
18. And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariners hollo!
(a) In which direction did the south wind take the mariners?
OR
In which direction is the ship moving now?
Ans. -The wind took them towards the north.
(b) What was the attitude of the sailors towards the bird?
Ans. -The sailors were fond of the bird. They fed it and played with it. They
considered it a bird of good omen.
(c) Explain: HoIIo
Ans. Hollo implies a call out to someone.
(d) What did the Albatross do?
Ans. -It followed the ship.
19. In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.
(a) For how many days did the albatross accompany the sailors?
Ans. -The albatross accompanied them for nine days.
(b) Where did the albatross sit?
The albatross sat on the mast and on the sails of the ship.
(c) Explain: Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white, / Glimmered the white
Moon-shine.
Ans. At night the ship was surrounded by a thick fog and the moon shone
intermittently and faintly through the fog.
(d) What became a routine? Where did the bird sit?
Ans. Irrespective of the weather, the bird would come and sit either on the mast
or the sails.
(e) It perched for vespers nine Explain.
Ans. It became a regular visitor and would come exactly at nine oclock when
service in the church started.
(f) What did the bird do then?
Ans. It would remain there throughout the foggy night and outside, the moon
shone faintly.
20. God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the ends, that plague thee thus!
Why lookst thou so?With my cross-bow
I shot the Albartross
(a) Who speaks the rst three lines?
Ans. -The Wedding Guest speaks the rst three lines.
(b) Why does the Wedding Guest interrupt the Mariner?
Ans. -The Wedding Guest sees an expression of horror and anguish on the face of
the Mariner. He is frightened by the look and wants to know why the Mariner has
that look on his face.
(c) What has the Mariner done?
Ans. -The Mariner had shot the albatross with his crossbow.
(d) What do you mean by ends?
Ans. Fiends means devils or evil spirits.
Go to the Extract Based Questions and Answers of PART II
Short Answers Type Questions
1. How did the Ancient Mariner stop the Wedding Guest?
Ans. -The Ancient Mariner rst held him with his skinny hand but once the
Wedding Guest told him to unhand him, he held him mesmerised with his
glittering eye.
2. Was the Wedding Guest happy to be stopped? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. -The Wedding Guest was not happy to be stopped. He was next of kin of the
bridegroom and wanted to attend the wedding.
3. Describe the Ancient Mariner.
Ans. -The Ancient Mariner was old and thin. His beard was grey. His eyes were
shining and could mesmerise a person.
4. How does the Mariner describe the movement of the ship as it sails away from
the land?
Ans. The Mariner says that one clear and bright day, they set sail. The ship left
the harbour and sailed past the church, the hill and the lighthouse.
5. What kind of weather did the sailors enjoy at the beginning of their journey?
How has it been expressed in the poem?
Ans. The Mariner says that at rst, they sailed South out into a sunny and
cheerful sea which means that the weather was good. As they sailed South
towards the Equator, the sun was directly overhead.
6. How did the sailors reach the land of mist and snow?
Ans. When the mariners were several days out at sea, however, a terrible storm
arose and the vessel was driven by the wind in a constant southerly direction,
headed toward the South Pole.
7. How does the Mariner express the fact that the ship was completely
surrounded by icebergs?
Ans. The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and
growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound!
8. How do we know that the albatross was not afraid of the humans? Why did the
sailors hail it in Gods name?
Ans. It was with great relief that the crew eventually greeted the sight of an
albatross, a huge seabird, ying through the fog toward them. The bird soon
became a familiar sight and came to the sailors call. The sailors revered it as a
sign of good luck, as though it were a Christian soul sent by God to save them.
9. What was the terrible deed done by the Mariner? Why do you think he did it?
Ans. The Ancient Mariner shot the albatross with his crossbow. The Ancient
Mariner killed the albatross for no reason.
10. Why does the Ancient Mariner stop and tell his tale to the wedding guest?
Ans. He wants to relieve himself of his grief.
11. What kind of welcome did the albatross receive? Why?
Ans. -The ship had been stuck in the ice for days. There seemed to be no way out
of it. The appearance of the albatross through the fog cheered the men. They
gave it food to eat and regarded it was a good omen, as the ice split soon after its
arrival.
12. What was the terrible deed done by the old Mariner? Why was it terrible?
Ans. Killing of the albatross was the terrible deed; because it was an auspicious
and innocent bird, who had brought a favourable south wind for the mariners.
13. Why did the Ancient Mariner stop the particular wedding-guest to listen to his
tale?
Ans. This particular wedding-guest must have been looking at the Mariner and
the mariner who was looking for someone to listen to his story got the right
person. Others probably did not pay any attention to him.
14. Why did he have to tell his tale to someone?
Ans. He had been carrying the burden of his guilt for a very long time, or maybe
he was feeling he might leave this world and did not want to carry this burden
into the other world within his heart. So, there was this need to tell his story to
someone so that he could make his exit with a light heart.
Go to the Short Answers Type Questions of PART II
Long/ detailed answers type questions/ Value Based Question
1. Describe the Ancient Mariner.
OR
Give a character of the ancient mariner in the poem the Rime of the Ancient
Mariner.
Ans. The mariner is old, thin with skinny hands, grey beard and glittering eyes.
With the power of his eyes, he could hold the wedding guests mesmerised. The Wedding Guest could
hear the noise of the wedding festivities and is the
bridegrooms closest relative. The Ancient Mariner has him captivated and is
telling him the story.
2. What is the relationship between the guest and the Mariner in the beginning?
Ans. The Mariner stops one of the wedding guests and wants to tell him his
story. He confesses to the sin of killing the albatross. The guest is impatient and
can hear the noise of the wedding festivities and is the bridegrooms closest
relative. But Ancient Mariner has him captivated with the power of his glittering
eyes. The guest resents this and exults Hold o ! unhand me, grey-beard loon!
He is transxed by the Ancient Mariners glittering eye and can do nothing but
sit on a stone and listen to his strange tale.
3. How does the Mariner stop one of three?
Ans. The mariner sees three guests going to a wedding and stops one. He holds
one of them with his hand. The wedding guest resents this intrusion but he is
transxed by the Ancient Mariners glittering eye and powerless to resist, he sits
on a stone like a three year child, and listens to the story and gets involved with
story. He asks the mariner this questionGod save thee, ancient Mariner!
Why lookst thou so?
4. Why do the mariners hail the bird as a Christian soul?
Ans. The crew on the ship is alone at sea surrounded by a land of mist, by drifts
and snowy clis and can see neither beasts nor men. Ice is all around them.
Suddenly the albatross appears and they see the rst sign of life in a desolate
area. It is a friendly bird and comes to eat and play with them.
5. How does the bird relate to the mariners?
Ans. The friendly bird comes to eat and play with the crew on the ship and
responds to the mariners hollo. It ies around and travels with them for nine
days and sits on mast and sails of the ship.
6. Why does the Mariner shoot the albatross?
Ans. The friendly bird comes to eat and play with the crew but the takes a
crossbow and shoots it. The mariner was devoid of moral values and he thought
that if we keep oering food to this bird our own food will be ended. With these
feelings he shot the bird. Maybe he was weary of its hovering presence and had
nothing to do.
7. Why do the mariners change their minds about the value of the bird?
Ans. The albatross represents goodness and acts as a saviour to the ships crew
as it brings a south wind which guides the ship out of the Polar regions. The crew
are initially outraged at the death of the bird of good omen. But after its death
the fog and mist dissipate and the crew deem the act as the right thing to do
such birds to slay That bring the fog and mist. The shipmates are glad at the
disappearance of the fog and mist, thinking the bird brought the dense fog and
mist.
8. What does the Mariners not being able to speak signify?
Ans. The ancient mariner kills the bird for no reason and the crew on the ship
are initially outraged at the death of the bird of good omen. But once fog
dissipates, they say that it was the right thing to do such birds to slay that
bring the fog and mist. Instead of condemning the act, they praise it. The
mariner was unable to speak as he was full of despair.
9. What happens when the Albatross comes to the ship?
Ans. -The Storm-Blast follows the ship and takes it to the extreme south. The sea
gets mist and snow and is stuck. It is mast-high ice all around. It cracks, growls,
roars and howls. The dim brightness of the ice gives out a dismal brightness. Then
an Albatross comes to the ship. The bird comes daily to the mariners for food and play. Very soon, the
south wind blows. The weather changes and the ice splits
giving way to the ship to sail ahead.
Go to the Long/ detailed answers type questions/ Value Based Question of
PART II
EXPLANATION OF SOME IMPORTANT LINES
Line by line explanation for the Rime of the Ancient MarinerPART
I
1. It is an ancient mariner,
And he stopped. one of three.
By the long grey beard and glittering eye.
How wherefore stopost thou me?
The Bridegrooms doors are opened wide
And I am next of kin;
The guests are met, the feast is set:
Mays: hear the merry din. (Lines 1-8)
Explanation- An ancient mariner stopped one of the three guests, who were
going for a wedding. The guest was attracted by the long beard and glittering
eyes of the mariner. However, he does not like being stopped and asked the
Mariner why he was holding on to him. The wedding guest was in a hurry since
the doors of the bridegrooms house were open and the sound of merry-making
and the festivities could be heard.
2. He holds him with his skinny hand,
There was a ship, quash he. Hold
O! unhand me, grey-heard loon!
Eftsoons his hand drops he.
He holds him with his glittering eyeThe
Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years child
The Mariner hash his will (lines 9-16)
Explanation -The mariner held the wedding guest with his skinny hand and
started relating his story abruptly. There was a ship. The wedding guest is
reluctant to stay but he is mesmerised by the gaze of the mariner and listens to
his story like a three-year-old child.
3. The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear:
And thus spoke on that ancient man.
The bright-eyed Mariner.
The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,
Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill
Below the lighthouse top. (Lines 17-24)
Explanation- The wedding guest sat down on the stone. The bright-eyed mariner
started telling his story. When the mariners ship had to set sail, they were given
a warm farewell and the ship started sailing, leaving behind the church, the
lighthouse etc.
4. The Sun came up upon the left,
Out of the sea came he!
And he shone bright, and on the right
Wend down into the sea
Higher and higher every day,
Till over the mast at noon The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast
, For he heard the loud bassoon (Lines 25-32)
Explanation The ship was sailing towards the south, so the sun appeared to be
rising from the sea. It shone brightly and sank the same way. Everyday the sun
rose higher and higher, up to the height of the mast. At this point the mariners
story is interrupted, since the loud music from the bridegrooms house distracts
the wedding-guest and he starts getting restless to leave.
5. The bride hash paced into the hall.
Red as a rose is she;
Nodding their heads before her goes
The merry minstrelsy.
The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast.
Yet he cannot choose but hear;
And thus spoke on that ancient man.
The bright-eyed Mariner. (Lines 33-40)
Explanation The loud music is the indication of the arrival of the bride. She enters
looking beautiful like a rose, and is followed by a band of musicians. The
wedding-guest does not like missing all these festivities but the mariner
succeeds in detaining him.
6. And now the STORM-BLAST came and he
Was tyrannous and strong:
He struck with his ornertaking-wings.
And chased us south along.
With sloping masts and dipping prow
As who pursued with yell and blow
Still treads the shadow of his foe
And forward bends his head.
The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast.
And southward aye we ed (Lines 41-50)
Explanation The mariner continues telling his story. A very erce storm lashes the
ship with force and drove the ship towards the south. The masts of the ship were
bent and its prow dipped into the sea. The ship looked like a person with his head
bent, who is escaping the enemy.
7. And it grew wondrous cold:
And ice, mast-high, came oating by
As green as emerald.
And through the drifts the snowy clis
Did send a dismal sheen;
Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken
The ice was all between
The ice was here, the ice was there, (Lines 51.58)
Explanation Now the ship reached the region of mists and ice. It was intensely
cold and icebergs and snow-capped clis could be seen. This place was totally
deserted and only snow could be seen all around.
8. It cracked and growled, and roared and howled
Like noises in a swound!
At length did cross an Albatross.
Through the fog it came,
As if it had been a Christian soul
We hailed it in Gods name
It ate the food it neer had eat.
And round and round it ew (Lines 59-66)
Explanation The mariner and other shipmates were only surrounded by ice on
all sides, which made funny sounds like that of growling, cracking and howling. At
last an albatross appeared through the fog. The entire crew welcomes it, as if it
were a Christian soul.
9. The ice did split with a thunder-t;
The helmsman steered us though!
And a good south wind sprung up behind:
The Albatross did follow.
And every day, for food or play;
Came to the mariners hollo!
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud. (Lines 67-74)
Explanation The albatross ate the food the sailors gave and hovered around the
ship. They were lucky because south wind started blowing which was favourable
to them. The albatross followed the ship and would appear, when food was
oered to him.
10. It perched for Vespers Nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white.
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.
God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the ends, that plague thee thus!
Why lookst thou so? With my cross-bow
I shot the ALBATROSS.
Explanation The albatross would sit on the mast sails. The mariner and other
sailors continued sailing for nine more days. At this juncture. the mariner looked
fearful and guilty. The wedding-guest prayed that God have mercy on him but the
mariner unravelled the mystery, saying, I shot the albatross with my cross-bow.
Explanation of Some Important Expressions
1. Long grey heard and glittering eye (lines 3-4)
Explanation- These physical features of the ancient mariner are very striking and
charismatic and have a great eect on the wedding-guest. He is mesmerised by
the appearance and the manner of the mariner and becomes subdued. The long
beard of the mariner suggests subtly that he has become a spokesman for
nature.
2- grey-beard loon (line 11)
Explanation- Coleridges use of archaic words makes the poem look timeless.
These words are a part of old-fashioned vocabulary.
3 . For he heard the loud bassoon (line 32)
Explanation- The musical instruments suggest the festivities in the bridegrooms
house. but the wedding-guest is still under the spell of the mariner. There is a
deliberate contrast between the bright lights of the wedding ceremony and the
dark tale of the mariner.
4- And now the storm-blast came and he
Was tyrannous and strong (lines 41-42)
Explanation- The storm-blast is personied as a person, who is very cruel but
strong and the entire ship is tossed here and there because of the fury of the
storm-blast. The storm-Mast has great devastating power and it pushes the ship
to the south.
5. And ice, mast-high, came oating by
As green as emerald (lines 53-54)
Explanation- The ship has reached the region of snows and mist and icebergs as
high as masts can be seen. The green colour of the sea can be seen reected by
the icebergs. These kind of scenes add to the beauty and pictorial quality of the
poem.
6. It cracked and growled, and roared and howled (line 58)
Explanation- The above words all are associated with sounds and they add to the
musicality of the poem. These words indicate the breaking, sliding and falling of
huge chunks of ice.
7. As if it had been a Christian soul
We hailed it in Gods name (line 64)
Explanation- The albatross is seen as a symbol of Gods favour, a blessing in
disguise. The coming of the albatross lifts the spirits of the crew and his coming
out of fog signies hope from despair.
8. With my cross-bow I shot the albatross (line 80)
Explanation- The killing of the innocent creature of God is a sin and this act of the
mariner signies that he has lost connection with God and all good things.
Go to EXPLANATION OF SOME IMPORTANT LINES of PART II
Some Detailed Important Questions-
1. Discuss the signicance of the title of the poem `The Rime of the Ancient
Mariner.
Ans. Rime means Rhyme, a poem or a song. Ancient means old, strange
pertaining to some far-o times. The poem has some references to outdated
beliefs and practices. It is surely not only the mariner who is ancient, but even his
rhyme is. Reading the poem at a stretch, one cannot guess the time-frame it
belongs to. Coleridge has deliberately used some archaic words to make it appear
ancient. The poem contains the story of the mariners sin, punishment and its
redemption. The entire poem deals with the tale of the ancient mariner and all
the actions, description relate to the ancient mariners tale. So the title is very
suitable, direct and suggestive.
2. Under which circumstances is the wedding-guest detained and held by the
ancient mariner. What is the reaction of the wedding guest?
Ans. The ancient mariner is tortured and is emotionally wrecked. The burden of
the sin and the guilt of killing the albatross is too heavy for the ancient mariner
to carry. He has no rest or peace of mind. He is advised by a hermit to tell this
story to someone. so that the torment he is suering, the ache he is feeling, is
satised. The mariner goes from village to village but no one is ready to listen to
his story. Narrating the story soothes him, lifts the burden o his soul and
restores him to normalcy. The wedding guest is awed and mesmerised by the
mariner but he is angry at having missed the wedding festivities. However, he
learns a valuable lesson. He prayeth best, who loveth best.-
3. What kind of farewell was given to the ship of the ancient mariner? Give an
account of the ships journey before it reaches the land of snow.
Ans. The journey of the ancient mariner begins in favourable circumstances. The
ship was accorded a very cheerful send-o, it crossed the harbour very quickly
and entered the main seawaters. The ship sailed away from the coast, the church,
the hill and the lighthouse. The sun shone bright and the ship appeared to be
near the equator. But suddenly a violent seastorm engulfed the ship and the ship
tossed on the merciless sea waves. The ship was forcibly driven towards the
South Pole. The ship was bent with the force of the wind and it was unable to
escape the fury of the gale. The South Pole was full of mist, snow and icebergs as
high as the mast of the ship were oating here and there on the sea.
4. When the albatross arrived on the ship, the mariners experienced a sense of
joy and were infused with new hope. Comment.
Ans. Mariners had been trapped in the midst of iceberg and snow. They lost all
hope of escaping from the ocean. They felt relieved when the albatross arrived.
South wind started blowing, weather improved, felt comfortable and hopeful.
They were aware of the blessings the albatross had brought and compared the
bird to Jesus who had brought joy and infused the people with new hope. The
bird provided them company and they fed and played with it. The bird proved
very lucky, kind and gentle to them and they hailed it as a Christian Soul!