The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The first two parts describe how the old sailor (Ancient Mariner), defying laws of hospitality, cruelly kills a sea bird - an Albatross, and is then haunted and followed by the spirit of Albatross.

In the first part of the poem, the sailor appears suddenly as three guests are about to enter a wedding feast, and stops one of the guests who is a close relative of the bridegroom. The wedding feast, with its music is already in progress, but the Mariner holds the guest first by the hand and then with his glittering eye. There is a strange compulsion in the glittering eye and in the whole mannerism of the sailor that engulfs the wedding guest who cannot choose but listen to the story.

The ballad begins with a ship setting sail for the South. The ship soon reaches the equator as the sun stands 'above the mast at noon'. At this point, the poet tells the reader that the wedding guest was impatient and wished to leave as he could hear the wedding music (bassoon). But then, the Mariner's bright eyes compel him to stay and listen.

Then the ship gets caught in a storm and with 'sloping masts' and 'dipping prow', the ship flees towards the South and reaches the Antarctic regions - the land of mist, snow and icebergs as green as emeralds. They do not sight either birds or human beings during this time till they are icebound.

Then, at last they sight an Albatross. They receive it with joy and think it as a messenger of god. The bird also brings further fortune. The ice, which had kept them blocked, breaks up and they sail into the Pacific Ocean. The Albatross follows the ship like its guardian spirit, and comes to the ship when the sailors call it. Then one day, the sailor (the subject of the poem) shoots the Albatross with no reason. A thoughtless deed, which now haunts him with guilt and regret.

In the second part, the killing of the bird brings retribution. At first, the mariners only miss the friendly bird. But soon, they blame the killing for the condition in which they are. They however, change their opinion and their fickleness is shown when they enter the more temperate climate and the glorious sun rises brightly again. All the sailors now praise him for killing the bird that had brought the fog and mist.

Things go on well for some time till the ship reaches the equator in the Pacific, the area of the Doldrums, where there is no wind and the current seems to go around in a circle. The terrible situation is made clear through the use of imagery and repetition. (All in a hot ..... Day after day). Using a simile, the poet describes how the ship was.. as idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.. completely motionless. The situation becomes desperate as even the deep ocean seemed to be rotting and slimy things seemed to crawl on the water. This is due to large quantities of seaweed being washed into this part of the ocean, and the sea creatures feeding on it on the surface of the water.

The water, with its rotting creatures, is described as death fires fuelled by the witch's oils - An indication that death and destruction overtook the sailors in the ship. The sailors finally realise that their pathetic condition is because of the Mariner's crime. They decide to punish him and with parched throats and evil looks, the sailors remove the cross from the Mariner's neck and hang the dead Albatross around his neck. The bird is the symbol of his guilt and a constant reminder of his evil deed.