In the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the albatross was hung around the mariner's neck as a punishment for killing the bird, which was seen as a symbol of good luck. The albatross served as a burden and a reminder of the mariner's guilt and the consequences of his actions.
A dead albatross
The Albatross flew over the village and landed on the mizzen mast. Because of the scarcity of the item, I felt as though I had an albatross around my neck.
An albatross.
It is a burden that some unfortunate person has to carry
In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798) the titular mariner shoots the albatross, which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship, so sailor's companions induce him to wear the dead albatross around his neck. Since then saying "An albatross around one's neck" means a burden which some unfortunate person has to carry.Meaning: a very difficult burden that you can't get rid of or a reminder of something you did that was wrongSee link.Something that is with you all the time as a reminder that you have done something wrong.An albatross around the neck means a burden that is particularly difficult to get rid of.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albatross_(metaphor) The symbolism used in the Coleridge poem is its highlight. For example: Ah ! well a-day ! what evil looks Had I from old and young ! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.
The title character in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner hangs an albatross around his neck as a punishment for shooting the bird, which was considered a harbinger of good luck. The dead albatross becomes a symbol of his guilt and serves as a heavy burden he must carry throughout the poem.
the ancient mariner was an impulsive man. It was an arbitrary act. May be due to boredom or the thought driven action resulted in the shooting of the albatross.
I think it comes from the following: Albatross:MeaningA burden which some unfortunate person has to carry.OriginA reference to the poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in which the character who shot an albtross is obliged to carry the bird hung around his neck.`God save thee, ancient Mariner !From the fiends, that plague thee thus !--Why look'st thou so ?'--With my cross-bowI shot the ALBATROSS....Ah ! well a-day ! what evil looksHad I from old and young !Instead of the cross, the AlbatrossAbout my neck was hung.
Very painful!
In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," the crew hangs the albatross around the mariner's neck as a symbol of their blame and punishment for killing the bird, which was seen as bringing good luck. It becomes a physical burden and a constant reminder of his crime, causing him to suffer and struggle until he finds redemption.
There were rings around his neck, which proves he was hung.