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Albatross

            
             The albatross is one of the most amazing creatures nature has brought into this world. There are about twenty different types of species and they have been rated to be one of the largest seabirds ever. Albatross's are known for their immense wingspans that range from five to twelve feet and it is unbelievable how petite their body structure is. Unfortunately where there is ignorance their is superstition. Sadly this large seabird with its incredible endurance of long flights had at some era symbolized a bad omen amongst sailors. Back in the early 1950's the albatross had an infamous reputation and despite superstition the killing of an albatross would bring permanent doom to the ship and its crew. Literature was filled with albatross superstitions and folklore. One fine example is the Rime of the Ancient Mariner written by Samuel Coleridge. Throughout this poem it emphasized that the death of the albatross was a terrible sin. The shooting of the albatross showed the Christian process of morality, divine judgment, redemption and divine forgiveness with nature for such atrocity. Like legends and myths such superstitions began out of ignorance and fairy tales. Nowadays these gorgeous birds have been studied closely by prestigious ornithologist that have updated us on the birds true aptitudes, qualities and wonders as there only a few left that wander our skies. .
             The taxonomy of albatross is very complex. Its common name is Albatross and its category is Birds. Its phylum and subphylum is Chordata and its class and subclass is Aves. Its order and suborder is Procellariiformes its family and subfamily is Diomediidae. Its genus and subgenus is Diomede its species is chlororhynchus and its scientific name is Diomedea Chlororhynchus.
             It is impossible for an albatross to survive in a place where there is little or no wind. Their habitats are located in the wind belt between the southern end of the austral continents and the Antarctic where high wind speeds are constant.


Essays Related to Albatross

1. Rime of the Ancient Mariner

When all looked grim for the crew, the Albatross appears and calms the storm and ice. The Albatross clearly symbolizes a Christ figure, more specifically , Jesus, who provided for his people when he was on Earth. But, this symbolism wouldn't be complete without the Albatross' death, which the mariner provided via his crossbow. At first thought, the crew was very unpleasant to the mariner because they assumed the Albatross is what kept the storms away; but after a few days they realized they were fine without the bird and apologized to the mariner.Therefore, the reader can infer that...

  • Word Count: 545
  • Approx Pages: 2

2. Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Until a seabird, also know as the albatross comes to their rescue. The albatross stays with the ship following them northward through fog and floating ice. ... The shooting of the albatross brings a horrible curse upon the men. ... This is when the albatross starts to get revenge. ... The ancient Mariner prayed and the albatross fell from his neck. ...

  • Word Count: 526
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Symbolism in The Rime of Ancient Mariner

The use of symbolism of the albatross and the act of killing it, displays man's harmful and clever actions. ... "With my cross-bow I shot the ALBATROSS. (lines 63-82) Significance of the Bird Albatross in "The Rime of Ancient Mariner," the most important symbol in the poem is The Albatross. ... The Albatross at first brings a new life, hope and the fair breezes that calm the seamen. ... While at sea, the Mariner makes the eternal choice to kill the Albatross with his crossbow. ...

  • Word Count: 1815
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Rime of the ancient Mariner

On the voyage home, the ship is encased in a cold fog, and an albatross happens by the ship (not necessarily in that order), and in the fog the ship sails with the albatross, a bird of good fortune. ... Without reason that we know about, the Mariner who narrates the tail shoots the albatross with his crossbow, killing the bird of good fortune, and coincidentally, the fog disperses. The crew of the ship is happy than, thinking that the albatross had brought the fog with it, but after a time, the wind left the ship as well. Without wind for the sails, the boat was dead in the water, and for brin...

  • Word Count: 597
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Moby Dick

Three ships that the Pequod encounters and receives warnings from are the Albatross, the Jeroboam, and the Delight. ... First, the Albatross gave its warning to the Pequod in a silent manner. The Albatross was far away from home and looked as if it was in great need of repair. ... Have ye seen the White Whale"(202), the captain of the Albatross drops his reply horn in shock into the ocean. ... The Albatross gave its silent warning and more of a foreshadowing result upon the Pequod if it continues its voyage. ...

  • Word Count: 754
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge

After the mariner shoots the albatross, nature isn't only characterized by unknown terror, but a mood of decay. ... This awry turn in mood after the albatross is killed exemplifies the fact that the mariner had done something wrong. It's especially apparent that he'd done wrong by God when the albatross is used as a metaphor for the crucifixion of Jesus: "Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung" (II-34). ... " Why the bird-personified storm chases them isn't really understood unless analyzed in retrospect from the albatross. ... One may wo...

  • Word Count: 1986
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Man and Nature in The Rime of The Ancient Mariner

He drops even below the first state by killing the Albatross and actually acting in a hostile manner towards nature. ... Right after the Albatross is killed the fair breeze changes into an unfriendly wind. ... During the journey they lose drinkable water when "the Albatross begins to be avenged. " They need water badly and it is all around them but it is entirely undrinkable. ... Finally, surely the shooting of an Albatross cannot be claimed to be a lesser crime than the eating of an apple, both result in a separation from God and from nature. ... Both are alluded to in the lines: Instead o...

  • Word Count: 1703
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

8. The Mariner and Responsibility

The mariner intellectualizes and represses the reality that he was wrong in killing the Albatross. ... He notices that the Albatross has been following the ship ever since the storm began and blames the bad weather on the bird. ... / Instead of the cross, the Albatross / About my neck was hung" (Coleridge, 37). ... In rationalizing, and then repressing the idea that he was wrong in killing the Albatross, the mariner correlates intellectualization. He believes his actions were justified and okay because the weather is back to normal now that the Albatross is dead. ...

  • Word Count: 1639
  • Approx Pages: 7

9. A Misled Paradise

Barbara and Irving claim to be worried about the albatross, it is clear that the only worry on their minds is the recognition that the mission's show, "The Sanctuary Island Project", will receive. ... Boyd is most definitely funding the project for the money and fame he will receive in return rather than the threat upon the albatross. ... They claim that the only reason they are doing the show is to help the albatross; but the underlying reasons for the show are that Dr. ... Barbara claims she is willing to be injured or killed by the French Soldiers in order to increase the awareness ...

  • Word Count: 608
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

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