INSTEAD OF THE CROSS, THE ALBATROSS Flashcards
(14 cards)
Where does the action of the poem take place?
At sea, first in the Southern Ocean and then in the Pacific Ocean near the Equator.
Who are the main characters in this passage?
The Ancient Mariner, the ship’s crew, and a supernatural spirit.
What is the Mariner blamed for?
Killing the albatross, which was believed to bring good luck and wind.
What happens to the ship after the bird is killed?
The ship becomes becalmed, the sea rots, and the crew suffers from thirst and silence.
What symbolic object is hung around the Mariner’s neck?
The dead albatross, as a sign of guilt and punishment.
What supernatural elements appear in the poem?
A haunting spirit, dancing death-fires, and a rotting, enchanted sea.
What ballad features are present in the poem?
Repetition, short stanzas, supernatural content, and refrains.
What kind of atmosphere is created in the poem?
Mysterious, ghostly, and supernatural.
What images suggest a hellish setting?
“Hot and copper sky”, “bloody sun”, “painted ship”, “slimy things”, “death-fires”.
What literary concept did Coleridge aim for with this poem?
The “willing suspension of disbelief” to make supernatural events feel believable.
Which elements are real and which are supernatural?
Real: sun’s position, geography. Supernatural: spirit, slimy things, cursed calm.
How does Nature change after the albatross is killed?
It becomes hostile: no wind, unbearable heat, cursed sea.
What does this change in Nature represent?
Nature’s revenge and the Mariner’s emerging guilt.
How can the Mariner begin to redeem himself?
By showing love and respect toward Nature later in the poem.
