The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Quizzes

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Quiz 1

By Tania Asnes · Edited by Jordan Berkow · Last reviewed June 24, 2006

1 According to Burnet's epigraph, what does man strive but fail to classify?

Animals and plants.

Works of literature.

Spiritual beings.

Woman's beauty.
2 According to Burnet's epigraph, why must man attempt to understand the infinite?

To prove to himself that he exists.

To earn a place in heaven.

To maintain a sense of balance between the ordinary and sublime.

To end his curse of compulsive storytelling.
3 Where does the poem's initial encounter occur?

At a wedding reception.

In the open air.

At sea.

Inside a chapel.
4 Which of the following does NOT describe the Ancient Mariner?

Skinny.

Unnaturally old.

Sprightly.

With a crazed look in his eye.
5 The Wedding Guest is on his way to (do) what?

A wedding ceremony.

A wedding reception.

Propose to his beloved.

Divorce proceedings.
6 Why does the Ancient Mariner stop the Wedding Guest and not one of his companions?

He chooses his audience at random.

The Wedding Guest is the most distracted and therefore the easiest to reel in.

The Wedding Guest asks the Ancient Mariner for directions.

His instinct tells him whom to stop.
7 Why does the Wedding Guest eventually sit down to hear the Ancient Mariner's tale?

He is not expected at the wedding anyway.

He pities the Ancient Mariner.

He is tickled by the Ancient Mariner's antics.

He feels compelled to do so.
8 The ship sailed calmly and contently until:

A ghost ship appeared on the horizon.

The sun began to set.

It crossed the equator.

An albatross suddenly landed on the prow.
9 Other than "rhyme," what is the meaning of the word "rime?"

An ice formation.

Limbo.

An original model of a printing press.

The peel of a fruit or vegetable.
10 Which of the following adjectives does NOT describe the strange world into which the sailors are blown?

Impenetrable.

Desolate.

Silent.

Icy.
11 What is an albatross?

A pagan spirit.

A variety of water-snake.

A Christian spirit.

A variety of bird.
12 How did the sailors react when they first spotted the Albatross?

They hailed it in God's name.

They mistook it for an angel.

They were sure it was a bad omen.

They dropped dead suddenly.
13 What happened shortly after the Albatross appeared?

The Ancient Mariner fell into the sea like lead.

The ice caved in from above, killing the ship's captain.

Slimy creatures appeared in the water surrounding the boat.

The ice cracked and the ship was able to steer through.
14 What accompanied the ship along with the Albatross?

Mermaids.

Evil spirits.

Wind and mist.

Fog and snow.
15 How did the sailors treat the Albatross?

Cruelly: they chained it to the mast.

Kindly: they worshipped it as though it was Christ himself.

Cautiously: they made sure to stay well away from it.

Kindly: they fed it and played with it.
16 Why did the Ancient Mariner shoot the Albatross?

He was starving and killed it for food.

We are never told.

He thought it was an evil spirit.

He was mentally unsound.
17 What happened shortly after the Ancient Mariner shot the Albatross?

The sun set and the stars rushed out.

A ghost ship appeared on the horizon.

The wind died and the mist disappeared.

The Ancient Mariner's eye began to "glitter."
18 Why couldn't the ship sail any further?

There was no more wind.

It was anchored to the bottom by ice.

It sprang a leak and began to sink.

The sails became inexplicably tattered.
19 What was the sailors' initial reaction after the Ancient Mariner killed the Albatross?

They praised him for making the mist disappear.

They blamed him for making the wind die.

They plucked and cooked it immediately.

They gave it a proper burial at sea.
20 What was the sailors' second reaction after the Ancient Mariner killed the Albatross?

They blamed him for making the wind die.

They praised him for making the mist disappear.

They mutinied against the ship's captain.

They ignored the entire incident.
21 Why were the sailors so thirsty?

They fell prey to a curse that prevented them from keeping down liquids.

They fell prey to a curse that made them remain thirsty, no matter how much they drank.

The sun became unbearably hot and there was no drinkable water.

The Albatross's blood had contaminated their drinking water.
22 What sort of creatures appeared in the water after the Albatross's death?

Slimy and revolting.

Beautiful yet frightening.

Gorgeous and magical.

Albatross-like.
23 What did the sailors dream was causing their plight?

A spirit from the icy world.

A spirit from their native land.

An angel of God sent to punish them for their sins.

A cruel member of their crew.
24 What did the sailors do with the Albatross's corpse?

They hung it around the Ancient Mariner's neck.

They hung it from the main mast for good luck.

They ate it.

They dropped it into the sea, where it sank like lead.
25 What is a liminal space?

An image seen in front of one's eyes after staring at the sun.

In Christianity, the realm to which the unbaptized or righteous are sent after death.

A place or state between two opposing places or states.

An ice formation.

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