This summary provides an overview of the poem "Sea Fever" by John Masefield: 1) The poem expresses the speaker's strong longing to go to the sea again and captures his wanderlust spirit. He yearns for a ship, star to steer by, wind, and sights and sounds of the sea. 2) The call of the sea is described as a wild yet clear call that cannot be denied. The speaker wants to experience the wind, clouds, spray, and cries of sea gulls. 3) The last stanza depicts the vagrant gypsy life at sea, facing the challenges of wind and waves but finding rest and dreams at the end of a long watch.

1. John Masefield
Sea Fever
Class-X
By Masud Alam

2. John Masefield
Poet Laureate
(1930-1967)
John Edward Masefield was an English poet a
nd writer, and the Poet Laureate of the United K
ingdom from 1930 until 1967. Among his best k
nown works are the children's novels The Midni
ght Folk and The Box of Delights, and the poem
s "The Everlasting Mercy" and "Sea-Fever".
Born: 1 June 1878, Ledbury, United Kingdom
Died: 12 May 1967, Abingdon, United Kingdom
Parents: George E. Masefield, Caroline Masefield
Awards: Shakespeare Prize

3. Popularity of the Poem, “Sea Fever”: This poem was
written by John Masefield, a great poet and English
writer. ‘Sea Fever’ is one of the famous poems known
for wanderlust and love for nature. It was first publish
ed in 1902 in Salt-Water Ballads. The poem speaks ab
out a person who talks about his never-ending love f
or the sea. It also illustrates how he thinks of the sea
as a female and urges to spend quality time with her.
Its popularity, however, lies in that it deals with the p
henomenon of man versus nature.

4. “Sea Fever” as a Representative of Natural World: Thi
s poem is about the poet’s affection about the beautiful
sea and its creature. He desperately wants to go to the l
onely sea. Therefore, he urges to have a well-built ship t
o sail through the melancholic sea. He asks the star to g
uide him throughout his journey. On his adventure, he i
ntends to enjoy the early mist that rises from the sea al
ong with grey dawn breaking. He wishes to capture the
sight when strong winds carrying the clouds and listen t
o the cries of sea creatures. He wants to be carefree as
a gypsy to adore the adventurous life of the sea.

5. Major Themes in “Sea Fever”: Wanderlust, adventure, an
d memories are the major themes of this poem. The speak
er hears the calls of nature, an irresistible invitation to expl
oration, adventure, and jubilant life. He desires to break o
ut of his present situation and return to the adventurous li
fe of the sea. He simply wants a rest from the intense curr
ent environment to lead a simple life with beauties of nat
ure. On a deeper level, the voyage can also be compared
with life that is full of challenges and tribulations. Despite
all the odds it brings, everyone desires to live it at its maxi

6. Analysis of Poetic Devices “Sea Fever”
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used on
ly in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices
used in this poem.
End Rhyme: End rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious.
For example, “sky/by” and “shaking/breaking.”
Quatrain: A quatrain is a four-lined stanza borrowed from Persi
an poetry. Here, each stanza is a quatrain. Each quatrain consis
ts of two Couplets i.e. consecutive two rhyming sentences.
Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows the ABAB rhyme scheme, w
hich continues until the end.
Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are three
stanzas in this poem, with each having four verses.

7. I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the s
ky,

8. And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by
;

9. And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s sha
king,

10. And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaki
ng.

11. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running ti
de

12. Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denie
d;

13. And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds fly
ing,

14. And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls cryin
g.

15. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy
life,

16. To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted
knife;

17. And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-ro
ver,

18. And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s
over.

19. "Sea-fever" is the famous poem by the poet John Masefield and it reflects
on expresses the longing of a poet to go to the sea and it projects to the
reader the wanderlust spirit of the reader where the readers can associate
with him while reading the poem. The first paragraph like every other para
graph of the poem starts with the same line where the poet yearns to go
back to the sea.
It also signifies the human’s desire to connect and link himself with one of
the most powerful force and form of nature i.e. The sea. Poet personifies s
ea into a human face and human expression and reflects on to its inner b
eauty, wildness and the vast space it engulfs within itself. Poet describes th
e sea as a space full of mystery and surprises but dull and lonely but its b
eauty is enchanting for everyone and wraps everyone in its beauty.
Summery of the Poem

20. The second stanza of the poem calls for all the five senses of a human bein
g to react and feel the beauty of the sea and the atmosphere around. Poet
seeks to imagine-standing on the seashore and taking within the view the v
ast beauty, wandering clouds, free sea-gulls, and the cold wind and how sta
nding there one can feel the salty flavours of the see within oneself. It talks
of the silence and the calm form of the sea which in turn provides a sense
of calm.
The stanza to follow gives the primary space to the very theme of wanderl
ust that was being framed all over the poem and reflects on the gypsy life.
It portrays the wild picture of the sea. It also talks of the life at sea on a shi
p as a sailor where one is always attentive and quick and sleeps less thoug
h on a larger view to the symbolism it draws a parallel to the general life a
nd the peaceful death.
Summery of the Poem

21. Word Trove
 lonely sea and the sky : Here 'sea' and 'sky' have been personified. Poet
wants all independence from monotonous routine bound works on land.
 a star : Pole star. Here the implied meaning of star is GOD who guides u
s in our life.
 steer : navigate
 her : here 'her' refers to the Sea
 wheel's kick : sudden jerk of the steering wheel
 wind's song : example of a Metaphor. Wind's sound is compared to the s
ong.
 sail : white canvas
 shaking : trembling
 mist : fog
 sea's face : 'Sea' has been personified

22. Word Trove
 dawn : daybreak
 denied : refused
 flung : threw
 flung spray : salty sea water spread in droplets
 blown : flattened
 spume : foam of the waves
 sea-gull : a sea bird
 vagrant gypsy life : again the poet talks about total independence from the haz
ards of day to day life. He wants the life of the vagabond gypsy's
 To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife : Alli
teration of the /w/ sound has been used here.
 whetted : sharp
 merry yarn : joyous tale
 rover : wanderer
 trick : four hours watch of the sea and eight hours rest. Here 'life' has been impl
ied.

23. Masud Alam
WBES
Head Master
Nawab Bahadur's Institution
Murshidabad