Question

Assignment in progress for 1070 9813 Language Arts 8 B
Due March 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Sea Fever
John Masefield
1916
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John Edward Masefield (1878-1967) was an English poet and writer. He was appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in 1930. Much of Masefield's writing is inspired by his early experiences as a merchant seaman. In this poem, the speaker describes his life at sea.
As you read, take note of how Masefield uses imagery to develop the meaning of the poem.

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

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

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

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

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

"Sea Fever" by John Masefield (1916) is in the public domain.


Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under theCC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Notes
AllDefinitionsFootnotes
a sudden and forceful jolt

the foam or froth of waves

Vagrant (adjective) : relating to the life of a person who wanders around without a settled home
free-spirited

sharpened

a long or rambling story, especially one that is hard to believe

A “rover” is someone who spends their time roaming around.

a sailor’s turn at the helm

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How does the speaker describe the call of the sea?

It is manipulative.

It is a gentle suggestion.

It is weak and easy to ignore.

It is too strong to resist.

Answer 1

It is too strong to resist.

The speaker calls it "a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied," showing the sea’s pull is irresistible.