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The freedom of the open sea and a life of travel and adventure call to him, and he wants nothing more than to live out his days on a ship, roaming the ocean. This poem first appeared in Masefield's 1902 collection Salt-Water Ballads. Read the full text of “Sea Fever”
- Summary
- Detailed Analysis
- About John Masefield
‘Sea Fever’ is brief and simple, yet its lyrical composition, repeatedrefrain, and poetic devices render it a perfect poem to be both read aloud or reflected upon in solitude.
Stanza one
The first stanza begins with the refrain “I must down to the seas again”, which is repeated at the beginning of each stanza and gives immediate sense to the title. Although we may identify the poem’s themeas the desire to go to sea, it also deals with the very human yearning to connect with one of the most powerful natural forces on earth. A hugely common theme in poetry, the sea has always been a fascinating source of inspiration for many. Masefield demonstrates an obvious adoration for this...
Stanza Two
The second stanza appeals to all five senses. Masefield’s descriptions allow the reader to feel like we are standing on the shore, listening to the “sea-gulls crying,” watching the “white clouds flying,” feeling the coldness of the “windy day,” and the saltiness of the “flung spray and the blown spume” on our tongue and nose. Again, the poet emphasizes the irresistible pull of the sea as he repeats the word “call.” With the second repeated refrain, “And all I ask,” he seems to be underlining...
Stanza Three
The third stanza of ‘Sea Fever’brings the theme of wanderlust to the forefront. Masefield speaks of the “vagrant gypsy life” and expresses a desire for a “laughing fellow-rover”. This final quatrain is full of positive imagery like “merry yarn” and “sweet dream”. However, the poet refrains from painting an idyllic picture of life at sea with the use of the expression “the wind’s like a whetted knife”: a powerful image thatstands out by way of its alliteration and the sudden introduction of th...
John Masefield was a British novelist, playwright, and poet born on the 1st of June 1878 in Herefordshire, England. Both his parents died before he turned six, and he grew up under the care of his aunt, a woman who did not approve of his addiction to reading, which he developed at a young age. In 1891, he began a life at sea and spent several years...
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Masefield’s “Sea Fever” explores the themes of wanderlust, the beauty of the sea, longing, and nature. The main theme of this poem concerns a speaker’s longing for the sea. He describes his attachment with it to “Sea Fever”, an ailment that only the sea can cure.
1 viewer. 5 Contributors. Sea Fever Lyrics. 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...
Major Themes in “Sea Fever”: Wanderlust, adventure, and memories are the major themes of this poem. The speaker hears the calls of nature, an irresistible invitation to exploration, adventure, and jubilant life. He desires to break out of his present situation and return to the adventurous life of the sea.
Engage students in Sea Fever by John Masefield at StoryboardThat with free lesson plans & interactive activities. Explore personification & alliteration.
John Masefield’s poem “Sea Fever” is a work of art that brings beauty to the English language through its use of rhythm, imagery, and many complex figures of speech. The meter in “Sea Fever” follows the movement of the tall ship in rough water through its use of iambs and hard-hitting spondees.
