Sea Fever Questions & Answers

                                              Sea Fever

1. Name the poet and the poem from which this line has been taken.

 Ans.  The poem is Sea Fever and it is written by John Masefield.

 

2. What do you think the title of this poem means? What is the fever?

Ans. ‘Sea Fever’ expresses the deep desire of the poet to be at sea. He uses the word ‘fever’ to express the urgency of this desire, which cannot be satisfied unless he experiences it.

 

 3. What all does the poet ask for when he is at sea?

Ans.  The poet asks for a tall ship, a star to steer her by.

 

4. What according to the poet are the pleasures of sailing?

 Ans. The poet enjoys the wheel’s kick, the wind’s song and the white sails shaking, a grey mist on the sea’s face and a grey dawn breaking, white clouds flying, flung spray, blown spume and the sea-gulls crying.

 

 5. Quote the line that has been repeated in the poem.

 Ans. “I must go down to the sea again”, is the often repeated line.

 

6. Why has this line been repeated?

 Ans. This line has been repeated because it expresses his deepest desire and urgency to return to sea as a sailor. He feels the sea is calling, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that cannot be denied. He wishes to be one with the sea. Everything about the sea is a source of delight and excitement.

 

7. What sort of a life does the poet desire to lead at sea?

 Ans. The poet visualizes a vagrant gypsy life where he can feel a sense of freedom like the gulls and whales, in the sea.

 

 8. What kind of a life does the poet lead at sea?

 Ans. The poet leads a wandering life that of a vagrant gypsy. His only companions are the sea gulls and the whales.

 

9. A sailor is in the company of nature most of the time but, being a human being, he might also wish to have human company at times. What kind of human company does this sailor want?

Ans. The poet longs for the company of a laughing fellow rover with whom he can share his stories and experiences.

 

10. Quote the lines from the poem which tell us what the poet wants to do after his voyage is over.

 Ans. The lines are: “And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.”

 

 11. Explain the line-“Where the wind’s like a whetted knife.”

 Ans. Out in the open seas the winds are icy cold and blow very strongly. The poet feels very cold and feels that the icy winds cut him like a sharp knife.

 

12. What does wheel’s kick refer to ?

Ans. It refers to the force of the wheel against the helmsman’s hand.

 

13. What is the sea-wind compared to?

Ans. The sea-wind is compared to a whetted knife.

 

14. What kind of life does the poet aspire to?

Ans. The poet aspires to a vagrant gypsy life in his poem, ‘Sea Fever’.

 

15. What does the wind’s song refer to?

Ans. It refers to the rhythm of the sea wind whistling by.

 

16. How is the call of the running tide?

Ans. The call of the running tide is loud, clear and irresistible in the poem, ‘Sea Fever’.

 

17. What happens to sea-bed as the ship moves?

Ans. There are flung spray and blown spume on the seabed as the ship moves.

 

18. What does the poet ask for to steer his ship?

Ans. The poet asks for a star to steer his ship.

 

19. When does the poet want to enjoy quiet sleep?

Ans. The wants to enjoy quiet sleep after the journey is over.

 

20. Where does the poet wishes to go and why?

Ans. The poet wishes to go on a sea voyage to the lonely sea and the sky above to enjoy the excitement of sea voyage.

 

21. What does the poet need in the voyage?

Ans. For the voyage, the poet needs to take a tall ship and a star for guidance at night.