Class 10 Literature Reader Chapter 11 Extra Question Answers - Chapter 11 - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What were the blessings the albatross brought with it ?
Ans: The albatross was considered as a bird of good omen and as a spirit of Christ which had come to help them. When the albatross appeared, the ship was surrounded by massive icebergs but soon the good South Wind blew, the ice cracked and they were able to move out.

Q2. How did the mariners enjoy the arrival of the albatross?
Ans: The mariners enjoyed the arrival of albatross because its arrival was marked by the beginning of good south wind which helped them by cracking of the icebergs and making a way out for them from the land of ice. It helped their ship move to the right path.

Q3. Give two examples of the use of the supernatural in ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’
Ans: (a) The arrival of Albatross as a bird of good omen or a Christian soul.
(b) The polar spirit had all along followed the ship.
(c) The different colours of light emitted by the sea.

Q4. Why were the mariners angry with the Ancient Mariner ?
Ans: The mariners were angry with the Ancient Mariner as he had killed the bird of good omen. He had killed the bird whom the mariner’s hailed in the name of Christ. The bird had helped them steer clear out of the land of ice and snow.

Q5. Why did the mariners hang the dead albatross around the Ancient Mariner’s neck ?
Ans: The mariners hanged the dead albatross around the Ancient Mariner’s neck as a symbol of his guilt. They wanted him to constantly remember the sin he had committed and repent for his evil deeds.

Q6. Why did the wedding guest beat his breast?
Ans: The wedding guest was a very close relative of the bridegroom. He had extreme desire to attend the wedding ceremony. Being a close relative he knew that his presence was indispensable. But the ancient mariner compelled him to listen to his story. The wedding guest was unable to free himself from the magical effect of the ancient mariner. So, his helplessness made him beat his breast.

Q7. How did the mariners reach the land of ice and snow?
Ans: The mariners were going towards the south. All of a sudden, there came a storm. It was very powerful and tyrannous. It took the ship for away in the sea. The mariners began to cry out of fear that their ship was about to sink in the sea. Then the temperature went down. It was a wonderous cold and sea water began to freeze. The ship was surrounded by icebergs from all sides and the mariners found themselves in the land of ice and snow.

Q8. How were the mariners saved from the land of ice and snow?
Ans: When the sea water froze and the ship was surrounded by icebergs from all sides, the mariners lost their hope of survival. They thought that they would die of starvation and thirst after consuming their limited food and water. All of a sudden, there came an albatross piercing the fog and the mist. Its arrival proved auspicious and ice began to melt. Their crewmen started steering the ship and the mariners were saved.

Q9. Why was the Albatross considered as a ‘Christian Soul’?
Ans: After the storm there was a drastic change in the condition of the weather and the sea water froze. The ship was surrounded by icebergs from all sides. The life of the mariners was at stake. They had no hope of survival. Piercing the fog and smoke, an albatross came there. They thought that it was a Christian soul that had come to save them. A true Christian soul is supposed to help the needy. The arrival of the albatross proved auspicious and ice began to melt.

Q10. What was the crime committed by the mariner?
Ans: When the ship was unable to move owing to icebergs, the mariners were afraid of death. All of a sudden an albatross appeared there. Its arrival proved to be auspicious and ice began to melt. The ship began to move. The albatross was following the ship. Unprecedentedly, evil sense prevailed on the Ancient Mariner and he killed the albatross using his crossbow without and provocation. It was indeed a very sinful act.

Q11. Why did the mariners blame the Ancient Mariner for their plight?
Ans: The arrival of the albatross proved so auspiciops for the mariners. They saw a ray of hope. They were hopeful that they would return home safely. But the Ancient Mariner killed the albatross. After that the wind came to a stop. The ship appeared to be a painted ship in the painted ocean. Death fire began to dance at night. The mariners dreamt that the spirit of the albatross was taking revenge and they blamed the Ancient Mariner for their plight.

Q12. Why does the Ancient Mariner compel the wedding guest to listen to his story?
Ans: The Ancient Mariner had committed a sinful act by killing an innocent bird without any provocation. He was atoning and lamenting for his crime. He was of the view that if he confessed his guilt God would reduce his sin. Nobody was interested in listening to him. So he compels the wedding guest to listen to his confession.

Q13. Why did the Ancient Mariner stop the wedding guest?
Ans: The Ancient Mariner had committed a sinful act by killing an innocent bird without any provocation. He was atoning and lamenting for his crime. He was of the view that if he confessed his guilt God would reduce his sin. Nobody was interested in listening to him. So he compels the wedding guest to listen to his confession.

Q14. How did the mariners reach the land of ice and snow?
Ans: The mariners commenced their voyage in a very fine weather. When their ship was in the middle of the sea, there came a storm. It was very powerful and tyrannous. It took the ship in its grip and took it to the south. Then there was a sudden change in weather. The sea water turned into ice and the ship was surrounded from all sides by iceberg.

Q15. How was the ancient mariner punished for his crime?
Ans: The Ancient Mariner had committed a sinful act by killing an innocent bird without any provocation. After that the other Mariners began to suffer. They came across a lot of problems. They felt that their end was coming nearer and nearer. So they hung the dead body of the albatross around the neck of the Ancient Mariner as a mark of punishment. He was humiliated publicly.

Q16. How did the albatross prove to be a good omen for the mariners?
Ans: After the storm, the temperature came down suddenly and the sea wdter began to freeze. The ship was unable to move and the mariners were scared that they would die of thirst and starvation. All of a sudden there appeared an albatross piercing the fog. Then the temperature went up and ice began to melt. The crew members began to steer the ship. The voyage was resumed and the albatross began to follow the ship.

Q17. How did the mariners escape from the South Pole?
Ans: When the ship of the mariners was unable to move owing to the ice, there came an albatross piercing the fog and the mist. The arrival of the albatross proved so auspicious that ice began to melt. The mariners began to steer their ship and escape from the polar region.

Q18. Why couldn’t the wedding guest attend the wedding?
Ans: The wedding guest was captured by the Ancient Mariner all of a sudden. First the mariner held the wedding guest using his hands. Later on he controlled the wedding guest by using his magic. The wedding guest was under the complete control of the mariner and was unable to attend the wedding.

Q19. Describe the circumstances under which the mariner reached the South Pole?
Ans: The mariner had commenced his voyage in a very favourable weather condition. The fellow mariners were also very excited and happy. All of a sudden there came a storm and it was very powerful and tyrannous. It struck the ship as if it had wings and had overtaken it with its immense power. It chased the ship towards the south and the mariner reached the south pole.

Q20. How did the mariners react after the death of the albatross?
Ans: After the death of the albatross the mariners reacted strongly against the Ancient Mariner. They were highly obliged to the albatross whose arrival had proved to be so auspicious for them. They had regarded it a Christian soul. The killing of such a lucky creature by the Ancient Mariner infuriated all the fellow mariners. They became vindictive.

Q21. What are the miseries the mariners had to face after the death of the albatross?
Ans: After the death of the albatross, the wind came to a stop. The sail of the ship of the mariners dropped and the ship was unable to move. The real ship appeared to be just like a painted ship in the painted ocean. They were about to meet with their death owing to thirst and starvation. The sea water began to change its colour. Death fire began to dance at night. Their tongues became dry. There was no end to their sad plights and predicament.

Q22. How did the mariners escape from the land of mist and snow?
Ans: When the sea water froze and the ship was surrounded by icebergs from all sides, the mariners lost their hope of survival. They thought that they would die of starvation and thirst after consuming their limited food and water. All of a sudden, there came an albatross piercing the fog and the mist. Its arrival proved auspicious and ice began to melt. Their crewmen started steering the ship and the mariners were saved.

Q23. Why is the albatross called a ‘Christian soul’?

Ans: After the storm there was a drastic change in the condition of the weather and the sea water froze. The ship was surrounded by icebergs from all sides. The life of the mariners was at stake. They had no hope of survival. Piercing the fog and smoke, an albatross came there. They thought that it was a Christian soul that had come to save them. A true Christian soul is supposed to help the needy. The arrival of the albatross proved auspicious and ice began to melt.

Q24. Why did the sailors give the ancient mariner evil looks?
Ans: The sailors were of the view that the arrival of the albatross had proved so beneficial for them. It had come to them as a Christian soul to save their life when they were in problem. So they thought that the Ancient Mariner had committed a heinous crime by killing this innocent creature without any provocation. To show their disgust for the Ancient Mariner they gave him evil looks.

Q25. How does the Mariner express the fact that the ship was completely surrounded by the icebergs?
Ans: The Mariner says that after the storm the temperature came so down. Water began to freeze. There came both mist and snow. It grew intensely cold. Iceberg began to form and it was as high as mast. The entire sea water turned into ice. The mariners were unable to see any men or beasts. The ice was everywhere and all around.

Q26. How did the Albatross save the mariners from the land of ice and snow?
Ans: When the sea water froze and the ship was surrounded by icebergs from all sides, the mariners lost their hope of survival. They thought that they would die of starvation and thirst after consuming their limited food and water. All of a sudden, there came an albatross piercing the fog and the mist. Its arrival proved auspicious and ice began to melt. Their crewmen started steering the ship and the mariners were saved.

Q27. Why did the mariners believe that the ancient mariner was responsible for their misfortunes?
Ans: First time when the mariners were in problems after the storm, the arrival of the albatross proved auspicious for them and they escaped from the land of ice. After a few days, the Ancient Mariner killed the albatross without any provocation. After that, the mariners faced a series of problems and they felt that their end was quite near. Under the situation, it was quite natural for the mariners to believe that the Ancient Mariner solely was responsible for their agony and affliction.

Q28. How were the mariners trapped in the South Pole?
Ans: The mariner had commenced his voyage in a very favourable weather condition. The fellow mariners were also very excited and happy. All of a sudden there came a storm and it was very powerful and tyrannous. It struck the ship as if it had wings and had overtaken it with its immense power. It chased the ship towards the south and the mariner reached the south pole.

Q29. In ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ who is called ‘a Christian Soul’? Why?
Ans: After the storm there was a drastic change in the condition of the weather and the sea water froze. The ship was surrounded by icebergs from all sides. The life of the mariners was at stake. They had no hope of survival. Piercing the fog and smoke, an albatross came there. They thought that it was a Christian soul that had come to save them. A true Christian soul is supposed to help the needy. The arrival of the albatross proved auspicious and ice began to melt.

Q30. What is the “hellish thing” done by the ancient mariner? Why?
Ans: The albatross had brought good luck for all the mariners of the ship. The voyage was resumed and everyone on the ship was in a elated mood. The presence of the albatross was enhancing the beauty of the ship. But the Ancient Mariner caused a turmoil in their placid life by killing the albatross without any provocation. They faced a series of problems. The killing was indeed a hellish thing done by the Ancient Mariner.

Q31. Why was the wedding guest desperate?
Ans: The wedding guest was a very close relative of the bridegroom. He had extreme desire to attend the wedding ceremony. Being a close relative he knew that his presence was indispensable. But the ancient mariner compelled him to listen to his story. The wedding guest was unable to free himself from the magical effect of the ancient mariner. So, his helplessness made him beat his breast.

Q32. What traits of the ancient mariner’s character are revealed in the poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’?
Ans: The protagonist of the poem is feeble, frail and skinny owing to his old age. He is neither considerate nor positive in his attitude. Being cruel and short tempered he kills an innocent bird without any provocation. Being Selfish, he compels others to listen to his story so that he can get his sin reduced by making confession. He has learnt magic for getting his work done according to his own wish and desire.