what is the significance of the mariner shooting the albatross
Albatross (metaphor)
It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge 's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ( 1798 ) . In the poem , an albatross starts to follow a ship -- being followed by an albatross was generally considered a sign of good luck . However , the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow , which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship ( which indeed suffers terrible mishaps ) . Even when they are too thirsty to speak , the ship 's crew let the mariner know through their glances that they blame his action for the curse . The albatross is then literally hung around the mariner 's neck by the crew to symbolize his guilt in killing the bird . Thus , the albatross can be both an omen of good or bad luck , as well as a metaphor for a burden to be carried as penance . 
It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge 's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ( 1798 ) . In the poem , an albatross starts to follow a ship -- being followed by an albatross was generally considered a sign of good luck . However , the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow , which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship ( which indeed suffers terrible mishaps ) . Even when they are too thirsty to speak , the ship 's crew let the mariner know through their glances that they blame his action for the curse . The albatross is then literally hung around the mariner 's neck by the crew to symbolize his guilt in killing the bird . Thus , the albatross can be both an omen of good or bad luck , as well as a metaphor for a burden to be carried as penance .
It is regarded as an act that will curse the ship.  The albatross is then literally hung around the mariner's neck by the crew to symbolize his guilt.
However , the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow , which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship ( which indeed suffers terrible mishaps ) . The albatross is then literally hung around the mariner 's neck by the crew to symbolize his guilt in killing the bird .
The titular mariner shoots the albatross is regarded as an act that will curse the ship, and the albatross is then literally hung around the mariner 's neck by the crew to symbolize his guilt in killing the bird.
However , the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow , which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship ( which indeed suffers terrible mishaps ) . The albatross is then literally hung around the mariner 's neck by the crew to symbolize his guilt in killing the bird .