The poem uses an extended metaphor to compare the sea to a dog. In the first stanza, the choppy grey sea is depicted as a hungry dog with shaggy jaws, gnawing and churning on the stones like a restless animal. The second stanza describes the sea howling at the moon at night, beating its spray against the cliffs. The final stanza depicts a calm scene, where the once restless sea is now asleep like a sleeping dog on a warm quiet day. The poem shows the unpredictable and unrestrainable power of nature.

1. The Sea

3. Vocabulary
1) Shaggy –
untidy/messy
2) Gnaws – Chews
3) Dune – sandy hill,
soft/hollow
4) Hollos – a shout or
call
5) Reedy – a sound or
voice high in tone

4. Structure and Theme
• Structure has 3 stanzas which
consists of 20 lines
• An extended metaphor runs
throughout the poem.
• Theme: Shows the power of
nature. Nature cannot be
changed regardless if we
constantly interfere with it or
not.
• Nature is unpredictable and
does not listen to anybody.

5. Analysis
Stanza 1
• The poet compares the sea to a
dog through an extended
metaphor.
• In the first stanza, the choppy
grey sea is characterized as a
hungry dog with "clashing teeth
and shaggy jaws." The poet
emphasizes the rough and
restless sea.
• The waves roll like a dog on
the stones and churn around.
• The poet is describing the sea
on a rough, grey day.
• Line 7- uses repetition. The
sound of a dog constantly
chewing at a bone makes
reference to the sea constantly

6. Stanza 2
• The sea makes a
different sound,
howling, as dogs do, at
the moon and beating
its spray against the
cliffs, like a wet dog
shaking itself.
• Imagery helps the
reader imagine the
sound and sight of the
sea at night.

7. Stanza 3
• In the final stanza, however, the dog is asleep. It is a warm,
quiet day in May or June.
• This stanza’s mood is: tranquil, peaceful and calm.
• The sea is being compared to a sleeping dog. Further highlights
the unpredictability of nature.