'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', this was one of the poems in my English syllabus during High school and this is how my English teacher explained Coleridge's idea, that is, the shooting of Albatross by the Mariner.

'Rime' was published in Lyrical Ballads. Coleridge was attempting to create something totally new. It is a general perception that any person or thing that goes against the conventional way of thinking or acting is often interpreted, at least at first, as something radical. The Mariner’s shooting of the Albatross is radical and unconventional. In fact, the Mariner is nothing more than a mariner, similar to the other sailors on his boat, until he commits the unforgettable act. He shoots the Albatross. This act differentiates him from the rest of the crew, and establishes his individuality, something which we all crave for. It was very clear that the Mariner’s life changed after his act. And this act, is a metaphor for Coleridge’s goal to do something radical, to create something different.