<P> It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge 's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ( 1798 ) . In the poem , an albatross starts to follow a ship -- being followed by an albatross was generally considered a sign of good luck . However , the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow , which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship ( which indeed suffers terrible mishaps ) . Even when they are too thirsty to speak , the ship 's crew let the mariner know through their glances that they blame his action for the curse . The albatross is then literally hung around the mariner 's neck by the crew to symbolize his guilt in killing the bird . Thus , the albatross can be both an omen of good or bad luck , as well as a metaphor for a burden to be carried as penance . </P>
the rime of the ancient mariner albatross symbolism
a burden to be carried as penance