Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Part I

Questions and answers of the poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’

Part I

a) How did the ancient mariner stop the wedding guests?

Answer-The ancient mariner held the wedding guest with his skinny hand, and forced him to listen to his story. He captured the attention of the wedding guest with his glittering eyes. His gaze was so strong and intense, that even though the wedding guest did not want to listen to the story, he was forced to, much against his will.

 b ) Was the wedding guest happy to be stopped? Give reason for your answer.

Answer-  The wedding guests was forcefully stopped by the mariner He was unhappy, impatient and frustrated  as he was a close relative of the groom and eager to attend the wedding, which was about to begin. All the guests had gathered and wedding festivities had begun

c) Describe the ancient mariner.

Answer- The ancient mariner was a mysterious character, who had a long grey beard and glittering eyes which were mesmerizing. He had skinny hands and looked like a lunatic. He was deeply troubled by his guilt.

d) 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 sailed away from the land in a very interesting way. The ship started on its voyage with best wishes and all the sailors in a cheerful mood. As the ship moved away from the harbor, the hills, the Kirk and the light house top dropped out of sight.

e) What kind of weather did the sailors enjoy at the beginning of their journey ? how has it been expressed in the poem?

Answer- Initially the weather was sunny and pleasant. The sun shone brightly. It rose from the left and set down on the right into the sea. As the ship travelled southwards the sun shone directly overhead.

f) How did the sailors reach the land of mist and snow?

Answer- After a very short spell of smooth journey a very turbulent and violent sea-storm rose. The storm was so powerful that it completely overtook the ship and the enormous waves drove the ship to the extreme South. In this way, the sailors reached the land of mist and snow.

g) How does the mariner express the fact that the ship was completely surrounded by ice bergs?

 Answer- The repetitions of the words “the ice was here, the ice was there, the ice was all around,” gives us the picture of the ship surrounded, or rather, caught completely by the icebergs.

h) 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 mariners came across the albatross inn the land of mist and snow. It was different from other birds as it did not fear the humans. It was at ease when it was playing with mariners and eating the food provided by the mariners.

 The sailors had not seen any living creature for a long period of time and so were happy to see it. They considered the albatross to a harbinger of good luck and hope. A pure soul sent by God, so they hailed ( welcomed ) it in the God’s name.

i) What was the terrible deed done by the mariner? Why do you think he did it?

Answer- The mariner killed the innocent bird with his cross bow. It was a thought less action, a whim.