Final answer:
The line provided is from the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, where the albatross symbolizes a burden akin to sin and guilt.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Symbolism in Poetry
The line "Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung" is from the poem titled "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. This poem uses the albatross as a symbol of a burden or curse, reflecting the consequences of the Mariner's actions when he killed an albatross, which is considered a good omen by sailors. The act leads to dire circumstances for him and his crew. Symbolically, the albatross represents guilt and a heavy burden of sin comparable to the crucifixion symbolized by the cross.
The image of the bird, in general, can connote freedom or grace, but its significance in this particular poem is quite the opposite; it becomes an emblem of suffering and a weighty penance for the Mariner. The albatross hung about the Mariner's neck is reminiscent of Christian iconography, where the cross represents sacrifice and atonement.