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The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

 
Interpretive Questions for Discussion
  • Why does blessing the water snakes free the Mariner from the curse imposed on him for killing the Albatross?
  • Why is it part of the ancient mariner's penance that he must tell his story to strangers?
  • After hearing the Mariner's tale, why is the Wedding Guest both "a sadder and a wiser man"?
 
For Further Reflection
  • Do we need to do penance to free ourselves from guilt?
  • Why do people sometimes commit acts of violence for no reason? Is gratuitous crime worse than calculated crime?
  • Is the Mariner's punishment out of proportion to his crime?

More interpretive questions, questions for further reflection, and suggested passages for close textual analysis appear in The Evil and the Guilty.