Question

• Explain the metaphor of the albatross. How does Walton try to comfort his sister by alluding to "The Rime of the

Answer 1

Answer: Walton assures his sister that he will not experience the same fate as the Ancient Mariner.

Explanation:

Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, begins with a series of letters sent by Robert Walton to his sister, Margaret. In these letters, he writes about his travels as a captain of a ship that heads towards the North Pole. By mentioning the albatross in his letter, Walton alludes to "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

The mariner sees an albatross while at sea. Albatross is viewed as a sign of good luck, but the mariner kills the bird by shooting it. The members of the crew are convinced that their voyage is now cursed, so the mariner is forced to wear the dead bird around his neck. The metaphor of an albatross present in Walton's letters is clear - albatross is presented as a burden. Walton assures his sister that he will not kill an albatross - he will not experience the same fate as the Ancient Mariner. In this way, he soothes her and eases her worries.