# Strange Life Preserver explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A sailor is swept overboard and, after being attacked by a great albatross, manages to kill the bird and use it as a floatation device, ultimately being rescued by his crewmates.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Loss

The sailor's near-death experience and the killing of the albatross highlight the fragility of life and the cost of survival.

## Character check-ins

### Jack Smith

The sailor who is swept overboard and saved by killing the albatross.

### Edgar Allan Poe

Referenced indirectly through the albatross, which is called 'the Albatross' and linked to Poe's poem 'The Raven' or 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' via the albatross motif.

## Key lines

> But while he on the waves did toss, He was seized by great Albatross, Who had been looking round in quest Of something whereon it could rest.

While the sailor was being tossed by the waves, a large albatross grabbed him, having been searching for something to land on.

_Describes the initial encounter with the albatross._

> But sailor seized it by the throat, And found with ease he then could float, So sailor’s life was saved by loss Of the life of the Albatross.

The sailor grabbed the bird by the throat and discovered he could float more easily, thus saving his own life by killing the albatross.

_Explains how the sailor used the albatross as a life preserver._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/strange-life-preserver
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters