Christian allegory

• 'Christian soul'


  • albatross is portrayed to be like christ
• What are the Christian images?

  • jesus on the cross (killed with a 'crossbow')
  • dove and the olive branch (both provide hope)
• 'Dear lord in heaven! it was a joy'


  • even the angels couldn't express the mariner's happiness
• 'Hermit'


  • person who lives in solitude under religious discipline
• 'Who loveth well both man and bird and beast'


  • hym like
  • all things bright and beautiful?
  • the best people love these creatures because god loves them and created them
• 'So lonely twas that god himself scarce seemed there to be'

  • even god wouldn't support the mariner
  • abandoned by god
  • victim of gods wrath?
• 'penance done and penance more will do'

  • everlasting penance challenges the Christian narrative of sin
• 'it rained my lips were wet my throat was cold'

  • rain may be symbolic of baptism
  • mariner becomes a righteous servant of christ who respects gods creations
• 'I bit my arm I sucked the blood'

  • christs blood has healing powers of salvation
  • allegory of eucharist?
• 'To Mary Queen the praise be given'

  • religious allusion to the virgin mary
  • conveys how the mariner has become more gracious
• 'The sun was flecked with bars'

  • sun can be seen to symbolise god as an extended metaphor
  • when sun is obscured god has abandoned the crew