In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", why does the Mariner kill the albatross ?

Correct answer: D. It is never directly stated why he does so.

A. For revenge
B. To change the weather
C. To bring forth life-in-death
D. It is never directly stated why he does so.

Explanation

Coleridge gives the act itself but never supplies a definite reason for it: the Mariner simply shoots the albatross. The unexplained violence intensifies the poem’s themes of guilt, punishment, and the mystery of human action.

Written and checked by Zahid Hussain, editorLast updated 16 September 2026

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In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", why does the Mariner kill the albatross ?

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