|
|
|
|
Exertion of strange influence - In the beginning of the poem three guests are in hurry to join a wedding-feast. One of them is stopped by The Ancient Mariner, who insists on telling his story. In spite of requests, The Ancient Mariner exerts a strange influence over the guest. The guest is forced by him to hear the old sailor's story.
Encounter with albatross - Samuel Taylor Coleridge begins the story in the words of The Ancient Mariner. He describes how The Ancient Mariner's ship gallantly left the harbour, and sailed southwards to the trophies. Misfortunately a tremendous storm drove it southwards to the region of snow, mist and ice. It was a lifeless and terrible region. Suddenly, there came a sea-bird called Albatross.
Auspicious visit - The Ancient Mariner continued his story and said that it was strange to say the fact, the ice quickly melted and the ship steered through the ice out again into the navigable sea. The Albatross accompanied the ship for some days and become friendly with sailors.
Killing crime and result - One day in a mood of wantonness, The Ancient Mariner cruelly shot the Albatross with his cross-bow. At first all his comrades blamed him for his cruel act of killing the auspicious bird, but when the mist cleared off, they remarked that it was right to kill the bird who had bought the fog and mist. In this way they too, made themselves accomplish in his crime.
Curse of albatross - The Ancient Mariner told the wedding guest that for a time all was going well. The ship sailed towards into the tropics again. But all at once the wind stopped, and the ship lay becalmed. The supply of drinking water ran out and there was not a drop to drink. The sea seemed to rot and ugly creatures moved on the waters.
Hatred At The Ancient Mariner - The Ancient Mariner and his comrades were very thirsty. A spirit was following them to torment for their cruelty to the sea-bird. Their mouths became utterly dry and they could not speak. All the comrades of The Ancient Mariner looked with hatred at him. So they hung the dead body of the Albatross round his neck. It was just as a mark of his sin and guilt.