The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

1. Which of the following best describes the Mariner’s appearance?

A) saintly

B) haggard

C) vibrant

D) diabolical

2. Why does the Mariner kill the albatross?

A) He kills it for food.

B) He kills it accidentally.

C) He kills it because he believes it’s bad luck.

D) He does not explain why he killed it.

3. The manner in which the Mariner wears the albatross links the bird to which of the following figures (Line 41)?

A) the ship’s captain

B) Socrates

C) Jesus

D) Coleridge himself

4. What finally allows the Mariner to pray?

A) He expresses gratitude for a moment of natural beauty.

B) He expresses gratitude for the rainfall that allows him to drink.

C) He returns the body of the albatross to the sea.

D) He returns the bodies of the other sailors to the sea.

5. The ending of the poem implies the Guest has come to view the wedding as which of the following?

A) unhappy

B) joyful

C) solemn

D) frivolous

For the following questions, write a one-sentence response based on details in the poem.

6. Where does the storm drive the Mariner’s ship?

7. Who is on the ship that the sailors finally spot?

8. What does the Mariner believe animates the bodies of the dead sailors, allowing them to sail the ship?

9. What does the Mariner hope the Hermit will be able to do for him?