1. Who is the speaker in the poem?
The speaker is likely a sailor or someone who deeply yearns for the sea and its adventures.
2. What desire does the speaker express?
The speaker expresses a deep desire to return to the sea and experience the excitement of life at sea once again.
3. Mention the things the speaker needs to fulfil his desire.
The speaker needs a tall ship, a star to navigate by, the wind, the waves, and the companionship of fellow sailors.
4. Pick out the words/expressions that convey sensory experiences in the first stanza.
"The wheel’s kick," "the wind’s song," "the white sail’s shaking," "a grey mist," and "a grey dawn breaking" all evoke sensory experiences.
5. Why does the speaker want to go back to the seas?
The speaker is drawn by the irresistible and wild call of the sea, which he feels cannot be denied.
6. What climate does the sailor prefer for the voyage?
The sailor prefers a windy day with flying white clouds, suggesting an adventurous, active climate at sea.
7. Why does the poet compare the wind to a whetted knife?
The wind is compared to a whetted knife because it is sharp, biting, and intense, symbolizing both the thrill and danger of the sea.
8. How does the speaker wish his journey to end?
The speaker wishes his journey to end with quiet sleep and sweet dreams after the long, hard task (the "long trick") is over.
9. How does the poem explore the idea of the ‘clear call’ mentioned in the second stanza?
The "clear call" represents the undeniable, irresistible pull of the sea, a force that the speaker cannot ignore, despite the hardships of the journey.
10. What does the speaker like about the 'vagrant gypsy life'?
The speaker enjoys the freedom, unpredictability, and adventure that come with the wandering, nomadic life of a sailor, akin to that of a vagrant or gypsy.
Textual Activities:
Activity 1: How does the poem highlight the theme of friendship and shared experiences?
The poem touches on the camaraderie shared by sailors through phrases like "a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover." It hints at the bond formed through shared adventures, stories, and experiences at sea, portraying friendship as a key element of the sailor’s life.
Activity 2: Pick out words and expressions from the poem that portray the poet’s longing for the liberating life at sea and his sense of adventure.
- "The call of the running tide"
- "A wild call and a clear call"
- "The vagrant gypsy life"
- "The gull’s way and the whale’s way"
These expressions illustrate the speaker's deep longing for the freedom, excitement, and unpredictability of life at sea.
Activity 3: Imagine you are in a hot air balloon carrying images from the poem ‘Sea-Fever’. Fly up and adorn the clouds with appropriate imagery from the poem.
Visual Images:
- "A tall ship and a star to steer her by" – Creates a mental picture of a ship sailing under the stars.
- "The white sail’s shaking" – We can see the sails fluttering in the wind.
- "A grey mist on the sea’s face" – Evokes the image of mist covering the sea.
- "A grey dawn breaking" – Conjures the image of the early morning light emerging from the misty horizon.
Auditory Images:
- "The wind’s song" – Personifies the wind, making us hear its soft, melodic sound.
- "The sea-gulls crying" – We can imagine the sound of seagulls calling over the sea.
- "A merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover" – Suggests the lively sound of sailors' laughter and storytelling.
Tactile Images:
- "The wheel’s kick" – Gives the sensation of physically feeling the ship's wheel as it jerks in the sailor's hands.
- "The flung spray and the blown spume" – Suggests the sensation of cold sea spray hitting the skin as it’s tossed by the wind.
- "The wind’s like a whetted knife" – Conveys the sharp, cutting feel of the cold wind against the skin.
Activity 4: In the poem ‘Sea-Fever,’ poetic devices contribute greatly to the effectiveness of the poem. They reflect the speaker’s deep desire for adventure on the sea.
Poetic Devices
- Repetition: The phrase "I must go down to the seas again" is repeated at the beginning of each stanza, reinforcing the speaker's urgent need to return to the sea. The repetition mimics the rhythmic ebb and flow of waves.
- Alliteration: Masefield uses alliteration to create musicality in his lines, e.g., "whetted knife," "wind’s song," "white sail's shaking." These repetitions of sounds emphasize the natural beauty of the sea and enhance the lyrical quality of the poem.
- Imagery: The poem is rich in sensory imagery, painting vivid pictures of the sea’s elements. Masefield describes the “grey mist on the sea’s face” and “the flung spray and the blown spume,” which evoke a strong visual and tactile sense of the sea. The reader can almost hear the “wind’s song” and feel the “whetted knife” of the cold air.
- Personification: The sea, the wind, and the sky are personified, giving them life and agency. For instance, “the wind’s like a whetted knife” portrays the wind as a sharp, cutting force, adding intensity to the experience.
- Metaphor and Simile: The wind is compared to a "whetted knife," suggesting its sharpness and strength, while the "call of the running tide" is a metaphor for the irresistible pull that nature has on the speaker.
-
Rhyme Scheme and Rhythm: The poem follows an ABAB rhyme
scheme, giving it a melodious and steady pace, much like the rolling waves.
The meter mimics the rhythm of a sailor’s chant or the rise and fall of
waves, contributing to the feeling of being on a journey.
|
Poetic Device |
Definition |
Example from the Poem |
|
Visual Image |
Appeals to the reader’s sense of sight by describing something that can be seen. |
grey dawn breaking |
|
Auditory Image |
Appeals to the reader’s sense of hearing or sound. |
merry yarn |
|
Tactile Image |
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch by describing something the speaker of the poem feels. |
flung spray |
|
Metaphor |
A figure of speech in which two unrelated objects are described as being the same. |
when the long trick’s over |
|
Simile |
A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. |
the wind’s like a whetted knife |
|
Alliteration |
Repetition of an initial consonant sound in adjacent words. |
whale’s way |
|
Assonance |
Repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds within words, phrases, or sentences. |
And all I ask is a tall ship |
|
Refrain |
Repetition of words, phrases, or lines in a poem. |
I must go down to the seas again |
|
Rhyme Scheme |
A pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem or song. |
aabb |
|
Personification |
Gives human characteristics to non-human things or inanimate objects. |
the wheel’s kick |
The central theme of the poem ‘Sea-Fever’ is the speaker's irresistible longing for the sea and a life of adventure. Analyse and appreciate the poem, focusing on its theme, imagery and other poetic devices
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