Explore topic-wise InterviewSolutions in Current Affairs.

Value Points : 

The Mariner had killed the harmless Albatross, sailors suffered, they hung the Albatross around the Mariners’ neck as a mark of punishment to remind him of his sin and to make him feel guilty for his sinful deed.

Detailed Answer : 

The Ancient Mariner had killed the harmless Albatross for no reason. The others blamed him for the sufferings which they were undergoing. They were of the opinion that it was all due to the killing of the bird. So they hung the Albatross around the Mariners’ neck as a mark of punishment and a constant reminder of the sinful deed which he had committed. They also wanted him to feel guilty for that deed.

A ballad is a poem that tells a story. Most of the ballads, including ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ have certain common characteristics. They have romance, mediaeval atmosphere and archaic language. The ancient Mariner, the albatross is presented as a bird of “good omen”. The death-fires and sea-water being referred to as witch’s oil all make ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ a ballad in the classical mode. The archaic language and words like ‘stoppeth’, ‘quoth’, ‘eftsoons’ add to that desired effect.

The poet develops the theme of sin, revenge and repentance on the basis of traditional Christian values. The killing of the innocent and auspicious albatross who brought a favourable wind for the sailors was no doubt a sin. And naturally, the consequences of the sin demand that the ancient Mariner and the sailors must suffer. And they did suffer. The ship was stuck in the middle of the ocean. Everything presented a picture of complete decay, degeneration and stagnation. The ship was followed by the spirit from “the land of mist and snow”. The ancient Mariner was guilt-ridden. The albatross and not the cross hang around the Ancient Mariner’s neck. It would not leave him but stay for ever to remind that he had committed a sin. He must suffer for killing an auspicious bird that had come here to seek their hospitality.

The ancient Mariner really looks ‘ancient’–a man of a different world. His overflowing grey beard, skinny hands and glittering eyes make him a highly imposing, abnormal and crazy character. His sense of guilt and its burden leads him to share his grief with someone. He detains one of the three Wedding-Guests and wants to tell him his tale. The dead albatross is hung around his neck instead of the holy cross. He wants to unburden his grief by telling his tale to the Wedding-Guest.

A ballad is a long narrative poem. It was generally sung with the help of musical instruments. Most of the ballads tell romantic tales of the old world. The theme is romantic. Coleridge’s ballad is based on the old Christian theme of sin, revenge and repentance. The killing of the albatross—a ‘Christian Soul’ brings sufferings and woes to the mariners. An atmosphere of mediaevalism runs through the poem. Archaic words like ‘kirk’ and ‘kin’ add to its old beauty. The rhyme scheme abcb in the four-line stanzas and aba bcb or aac bcb in six-line stanzas gives the desired musical effects.

The Ancient Mariner had shot the Albatross in a fit of instinct. After the death of the Albatross, the weather became unfavourable for them to continue their journey. The wind died, the sun intensified and there was no rain. The ocean became “revolting”, “rotting” and “thrashing” with “slimy” creatures. The condition of the Mariners turned out to be very pathetic. The Mariners felt that the absence of the Albatross was the reason for their suffering. They wanted to make him suffer for his crime as he had killed the bird that brought the wind and broke the ice. All eyes turned to him accusingly and the dead Albatross was hung round his neck in place of the holy cross round his neck as a cursed reminder, so that the thought could plague him for the rest of his life.

Value Points :

Fog lifted, icebergs split, favourable south wind blew.

Detailed Answer :

Albatross brought many blessings as the Mariners had been trapped in the midst of ice-bergs and snow. The icebergs split with a crackling and howling sound and a favourable south wind started blowing when the Albatross arrived on the ship. The fog was also lifted making the weather clear enough for the ship to move ahead.

The mariners hung the dead albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner to punish him. It will keep on reminding him all the time about the wrong he had done.

Value Points :

Shooting the innocent Albatross with his crossbow without any provocation or valid reason / for no reason.

Detailed Answer :

The Mariner had killed the innocent bird which had brought new hope and the blowing of the south wind. After the bird was killed the Mariner’s ship was stuck in the middle of the hot and sultry silent sea. With no water to drink and no ray of hope to brighten them up, they underwent a lot of physical and mental agony.

Value Points :

Ancient Mariner killed Albatross

stuck in the pacific Ocean / silent sea - motionless, no breeze

dying of heat and thirst

cursed by all sense of guilt

The dead Albatross was hung around his neck.

Detailed Answer :

Our world is full of strange kind of people who do strange things. Reward and punishment are two things which remind the people to follow the right path. The Ancient Mariner did a sinful action of killing the albatross illogically. He didn’t premeditate and killed the innocent bird impulsively which was wrong on his part. The same applies to the Ancient Mariner as well. After the killing of albatross, they were stuck in the silent sea where they faced so many difficulties. Other mariners held him responsible for their plight in the silent sea. They took out the holy cross from his neck and hung the dead albatross around it so as to remind him of the sin that he had committed. It was a heinous crime which led to physical and mental agony both on the part of the Ancient Mariner.

Value Points :

Shooting the innocent Albatross with his crossbow without any provocation or valid reason / for no reason.

Detailed Answer : 

The Mariner had killed the innocent bird which had brought new hope and the blowing of the south wind. After the bird was killed the Mariner’s ship was stuck in the middle of the hot and sultry silent sea. With no water to drink and no ray of hope to brighten them up, they underwent a lot of physical and mental agony.

The sailors play an important role in ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. They are fickle-minded. They change their views according to the situations they are in. They condemned the ancient Mariner for killing the albatross. The innocent and auspicious bird had brought a favourable south wind for them. His arrival proved lucky as the icebergs cracked and the ship was steered through. However, soon they started justifying the killing of the albatross. The bird had brought the mist and the snow. They are fickle-minded and hollow.

17^th August,

Wednesday,

11 p.m.

Dear Diary,

The ship was sailing in the sea. I don’t know what happened but I took my bow and arrow and shot the Albatross. The breeze that was once carrying the sails, halted. There was misery all around. Slimy creature emerged from the rotting sea. There was no water to drink. Everyone started cursing me for having shot the bird. They believed that the spirit of the bird was following and haunting them, causing the misfortunes. So they hung the Albatross round my neck as a sign of guilt for their plight and misery.

When the Albatross arrived on the ship the Mariners felt happy and thought they were blessed by a Christian soul because its arrival helped the sailors favourably when they were in trouble. Just because of the storm their ship had faced difficulties. It was caught in the ice everywhere. All the Mariners were scared of the bad weather for a long time. But Lord Christ had sent them help in the form of Albatross. The ice split with a crackling and howling sound and made the breeze blow. The ship sailed freely and the Albatross came to the ship for food and play everyday. It seemed to enjoy the company of the sailors and responded to their call.

12, College Street 

London

20 March, 20×× 

Dear John

You never know when and where life will throw new surprises for you. Three of us got ready for the wedding. But an ancient Mariner particularly stopped me to listen to his tale. I had no mood or time to listen to his tale. But the old Mariner with a long grey beard and glittering eyes wouldn’t listen to me. The bridegroom doors were ‘opened wide’. I was an important member of the bridegroom’s family. The guests had come and the feasts were set. Only I was not there. The Mariner was holding me with his skinny hand and I was completely under the spell of his glittering eyes. I could do nothing but only beat my breast in despair.

The old Mariner continued with his tale. He described at length how the ship was cheered when it left the harbour and how it was chased by a violent storm that dragged it southwards. The ship was surrounded by huge icebergs. Then came the auspicious bird, the albatross, with a favourable wind. The sailors hailed him in God’s name. One day, the ancient Mariner in a fit of mad anger killed the albatross with his cross-bow. The killing of the innocent bird brought untold miseries to the sailors. The curse of the bird never let them live in peace. Instead of the cross, the dead albatross was hung around the neck of the ancient Mariner. It was a reminder that sufferings and curses are the wages of sin. 

Yours sincerely

Harris Ford

The ballad ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ is a tale of sin and repentance. The killing of the innocent and auspicious albatross was really a terrible act. Such an act naturally brought deep despair and woe to the old Mariner. The curse tormented him constantly. Instead of the holy cross it was the albatross that was keeping hanging around his neck.

Value Points :

Guilt

• due to killing of Albatross 

 • harmless noble creature 

• came as God’s messenger 

• done a wicked deed Punishment 

 • stuck in silent sea - wind dropped 

• no water 

• sails dropped 

• Albatross hung around the neck 

• tells story to others 

• repents

Detailed Answer : 

The ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ is an exploration of evil, both that of men and of nature, and of salvation. The slaughtered Albatross, emerging spirits from beneath the murky water, slimy creatures of the sea, all are images of sin and evil, and its consequences. The Albatross can be seen as a symbol of God’s favour, bringing good results. When the mariner kills the innocent creature, thereby tainting himself with sin and losing connection with God and all things good. By destroying one of God’s creatures, the mariner is exposed to the darker aspects of the world as he has done a wicked deed.

The weather was still fine. The south wind was still favorable. But no bird followed the ship. The Mariner repented his misdeed of killing the bird. Then the breeze stopped blowing. This made them sad. It was intensely hot. The sun looked bloody. They were stuck and could not move. The ship was stranded. There was no water do drink, the sailors fell silent. They held the old Mariner responsible for their suffering. Their tongues were dry for want of water. They snatched the cross from the old Mariner’s neck and hung the dead albatross around his neck which was a constant reminder of his guilt. The Ancient mariner repented for killing the Albatross. 

 (i) he was a close relation of the bridegroom 

True.

Rubber is a good insulator of electricity and if we wear rubber gloves and shoes current is not able to pass through our body and we do not feel shock. It is a safety precaution against electricity.

The Wedding-Guest provides a sharp contrast to the ancient Mariner and the sailors. The old Mariner with a ‘long grey beard’, ‘glittering eyes’, and ‘skinny’ hands lives in a world which has no connection with the modern world or with the present times. He is tormented by a sense of guilt that is the result of his killing an innocent and auspicious bird, the albatross. The Wedding-Guest lives in the immediate present. He has to attend the wedding feast. He is a close relative of the bridegroom and has to be present at the wedding. He knows that all other guests have come and the ‘feast is set’. But he is helpless. The long bearded and glittering eyed ancient Mariner keeps him under his spell. He is forced to listen to the old Mariner’s tale like a ‘three years’ child’.

The guilt-ridden old Mariner has to tell his tale to someone. He is also helpless. He has committed a sin by killing the innocent and auspicious bird that brings a favourable wind for the ship and for them. He is under a curse.

The sailors or the other mariners are fickle-minded. They changed their moods, morals and stand quite often. First they curse the ancient Mariner for killing a bird that had brought a favourable wind for them. In the very next breath, they justify his killing of the albatross because it had brought mist and fog for them.

The Mariners had been trapped in the midst of icebergs and snow. They had lost all hope of escaping from the ocean and felt relieved when the Albatross arrived. The south wind started blowing, the weather improved, and the Mariners felt comfortable and hopeful. They were aware of the blessings the Albatross had brought and compared the bird to Jesus who had brought joy and infused the people with new hope. The bird provided them company and they fed and played with it the bird proved to be very lucky, kind, and gentle to them and hailed it as a ‘Christian Soul’ !

The curse of killing the innocent and auspicious bird, the albatross never left the ancient Mariner in peace. The albatross hung around his neck all the times reminding him of his sin. So the signs of distress were clearly visible on the old Mariner’s face. The Wedding-Guest felt as if some ‘fiends’ were plaguing him. Ultimately, the old Mariner revealed what was troubling him. The terrible act of killing the albatross lay heavy on his mind and heart.

(iii) he wanted him to listen to his story

(ii) the wedding guest was forced to hear the story of the Mariner

The Ancient Mariner saw the three guests going to attend a wedding. He stopped one of them by holding his hand. The guest protested that he wanted to attend the wedding but the Mariner held him captive with his glittering eyes. The guest was spell-bound. He was powerless. He could not resist so he sat on a stone to listen to the story of the Ancient Mariner. He finally got involved in the story and even asked the Mariner some questions also at a later stage.

This contention is true because if the wedding had been very dominating, maybe he would have forced his way to the wedding. But the real truth is that the mesmerizing persona of the Ancient Mariner and his crazy and loony ways arrested the attention of the wedding guest. His glittering eyes paralyse the wedding guest. He beats his breast but is not able to get away. Later on the power of the Mariner’s narrative spellbinds the guest. He is also influenced by the sheer strangeness of the story, it grips him somehow and he does not resist the Mariner’s force later. So, though the guest is weak, it is the Mariner’s ‘Charisma’ that holds him.

(iv) was moving towards the south

(ii) he was forced to listen to the Mariner’s tale when he wanted to attend the wedding 

Value Points :

Wanted to go for the wedding / frustrated / helpless / hypnotized / mesmerized / could see other guests there / bride had arrived feast ready.

Detailed Answer : 

The wedding guest beat his breast because he could hear the music and the merry sounds at the wedding announcing the arrival of the bride. He was getting delayed by the story of the Mariner. He was held to the spot by the Mariner’s glittering eyes.

(a) It was severe and strong. 

(b) The storm struck with o'ertaking wings. 

(c) The storm-blast chased the ship southwards.

Value Points :

Wanted to go for the wedding / frustrated / helpless / hypnotized / mesmerized / could see other guests there / bride had arrived feast ready.

Detailed Answer : 

The wedding guest beat his breast because he could hear the music and the merry sounds at the wedding announcing the arrival of the bride. He was getting delayed by the story of the Mariner. He was held to the spot by the Mariner’s glittering eyes.

(a) The poetic device used here is alliteration and repetition. 

(b) The ship passed through the church and below the hill and the lighthouse. 

(c) cheered

He worked tirelessly on the sculpture.

Correct answer is (a) figures

The old man carved the statue of Lord Krishna.

(a) The sun went hiegher and heigher every day. 

(b) The wedding guest beat his breast he could hear the music of celebration but was helpless not to be at the wedding. 

(c) The poetic device used here is repetition.

Masterjee, as he was known in his little village was a traditionalist. He was superstitious. He believed that Gods have entrusted the work of idol-making to his ancestors. So he, his sons and daughters should do the same work. For him, choosing another work – however profitable it as – was a sin. He was so much blind that he didn’t see the poverty that his family was suffering and had no commonsense to see that Gods would never want a group of people to starve and die.

He wanted to become a stone carver.

(a) The Allbatross ate whatever the sailors gave it. 

(b) Here it is repetition. 

(c) He was the person steering the ship.

1. were flung 

2. was leaving 

3. were spread 

4. was glanced 

5. were stained

“Masterjee, Masterjee” Salim, the servant boy entered the workshop. His voice was filled with concern. He held a cup of tea in his hand. The old man lifted his head. He had a pale face and looked old and tired. He said, “Salim, soon I’ll be the last stone mason here, as everyone has gone to Agra. Look, Gopal my son has gone too. Now I’ll have to finish this sculpture all by myself. I can’t work with the chisel the way I used to do. But I have to finish the work and I will”.

1. The book was taken by him.

2. The exam is being written by her.

3. A song was sung by the children.

4. Her work book has been submitted by her.

5. A table will be made by the Carpenter for me.

(a) The poetic device used here is ‘simile’. 

(b) He had killed the albatross that brought the fog and mist. 

(c) glorious

(a) It is ‘repetition’. 

(b) It is a metaphor. It shows immobility of the ship. 

(c) stuck

(a) The sails dropped down because the wind had dropped down. 

(b) It is ‘repetition’. 

(c) silence

The master mason loved his work and didn’t want to change it for any other work in the world. He told his son that it was the work he had learnt from his father and had kept up the traditions for hundreds of years.

(a) It is ‘repetition’. 

(b) The sea water was everywhere but they couldn’t drink even a drop of it. 

(c) shrink

(a) one of the wedding guests and a member of the bridegroom’s family is speaking here. 

(b) The celebrations of the marriage creates the merry din. 

(c) The poetic device used here is alliteration

Nicola and Jacopo seem to be jacks of all trades. In addition to selling strawberry, the boys sold newspaper, shined shoes, ran errands such as procuring American cigarettes and opera tickets for the foreigners and acted as their tourist guides in not only taking them around the beautiful place but also giving them useful information as to which restaurants served good pasta. It looks as if they were prepared to take up any and every avenue of making money. But, what is remarkable is that none of these tasks has even an element of dishonesty or underhand dealing and the boys are honourable in all that they do.

Nicola and Jacopo joined the resistance movement which had begun to form secretly, during the rule of the German Elite Guards in Verona.

“Why did you train, while others were playing.”