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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PART A: Which of the following identifies the theme of the poem?

A. The speaker desires to return to the sea and the lifestyle that it offers him.
B. The speaker enjoys the beauty of the sea, but dislikes the isolation.
C. The speaker's life at sea is dangerous and he enjoys the thrill it gives him.
D. The speaker's time at sea is difficult, but it makes him feel more in touch with nature.

Answer 1

A. The speaker desires to return to the sea and the lifestyle that it offers him.

Explanation: The repeated line "I must go down to the seas again" and the list of things he longs for (a tall ship, a star to steer by, the windy day, the vagrant gypsy life, etc.) show longing and a deep desire to return to the sea and its way of life. Options B–D focus on dislike, danger, or hardship, which the poem does not emphasize as the central theme.