Sea Fever Summary

 

 West Bengal Board Class 10 English Sea Fever Summary, Lesson Explanation with difficult word meanings from Bliss Book

 

Sea Fever – Are you looking for Summary and Lesson Explanation for West Bengal  Board Class 10 English Lesson 6 Sea Fever from Bliss Book. Get notes, summary of the Lesson followed by line by line explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words.

 

Sea Fever West Bengal Board Board Class 10 English 

John Masefield 
 

 

 
 

Sea Fever Introduction

The poem “Sea Fever” by John Masefield tells us about the deep longing and attraction the speaker feels toward the sea. The poem begins with the speaker declaring his irresistible urge to return to the sea, describing it as a place where he feels truly alive. He vividly paints images of sailing on a tall ship under a starlit sky, feeling the thrill of the wind and the motion of the ship’s wheel. Throughout the poem, the sea is portrayed as both a wild and peaceful environment, offering freedom and adventure. Masefield’s use of imagery and rhythmic language captures the essence of the sea’s allure and the speaker’s deep connection to it.
 

 
 

Theme of the Lesson Sea Fever

The theme of “Sea Fever” by John Masefield revolves around the deep connection the speaker feels towards the sea. The poem expresses a longing for adventure and freedom, depicting the sea as a powerful and irresistible force of nature. Through the imagery of sailing on a tall ship guided by a star, feeling the wind’s song, and witnessing the shaking of sails, Masefield captures the sea’s allure as a place of escape from routine and a source of spiritual renewal. 
 

 
 

Sea Fever Summary

The poem “Sea Fever” by John Masefield talks about the speaker’s deep longing for the sea. He yearns to return to the ocean, sailing a tall ship guided by the stars. The poem describes the sensory experiences of sailing: the movement of the ship, the sound of the wind, and the sight of the sails. The speaker is drawn to the sea’s wild and free nature, with misty mornings, crashing waves, and seagulls crying. The final stanza talks about the adventurous and nomadic life at sea, seeking joyful companionship and peaceful rest.
 

 
 

Sea Fever Summary in Hindi

जॉन मेसफील्ड की कविता “सी फीवर” वक्ता की समुद्र के प्रति गहरी लालसा के बारे में बात करती है। वह सितारों द्वारा निर्देशित एक ऊंचे जहाज पर नौकायन करते हुए, समुद्र में लौटने के लिए उत्सुक है। कविता नौकायन के संवेदी अनुभवों का वर्णन करती है: जहाज की गति, हवा की आवाज़ और पाल का दृश्य। वक्ता समुद्र की जंगली और मुक्त प्रकृति की ओर आकर्षित होता है, जिसमें धुंध भरी सुबहें, टकराती लहरें और सीगल रोते हैं। अंतिम छंद समुद्र में साहसिक और खानाबदोश जीवन, आनंदमय साहचर्य और शांतिपूर्ण आराम की तलाश के बारे में बात करता है।
 

 
 

Sea Fever Lesson Explanation

 

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

Word Meanings:

steer (v): to control the direction of movement

sail (n): a sheet of material attached to a pole on a boat to catch the wind and make the boat move

mist (n): thin fog produced by very small drops of water collecting in the air just above an area of ground or water

dawn (n): the period in the day when light from the sun begins to appear in the sky

 

Explanation: The speaker begins the poem by expressing a deep yearning to return to the sea. He describes the sea as “lonely” yet connected to the vast sky above. The speaker desires nothing more than a tall ship and a guiding star to navigate by. This stanza emphasizes the sensory experiences of sailing—the sudden movement of the ship’s wheel (“wheel’s kick”), the melodious sound of the wind (“wind’s song”), and the dynamic movement of the sails (“white sail’s shaking”). The imagery of “gray mist” and “gray dawn breaking” creates a visual idea of calmness and anticipation, setting the scene for an adventurous journey.

 

Poem: 

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. 

 

Word Meanings:

tide (n): the rise and fall of the sea that happens twice every day

flung (v): move or do something quickly and energetically

spume (n): foam

 

Explanation: The speaker continues to express his irresistible pull towards the sea. He describes the call of the running tide as wild and clear, something that cannot be ignored or denied. The speaker longs for a windy day filled with white clouds flying across the sky. He depicts the sea’s energetic and lively environment—the splashing spray of sea (“flung spray”), foamy sea waves (“blown spume”), and the calls of sea-gulls echoing in the air. The speaker’s deep emotional connection to the sea’s dynamic and unpredictable nature is shown here.

 

Poem

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.

 

Word Meanings:

whetted (v): sharpened

yarn (n): tale

fellow-rover (n): accompanying sailor

trick (n): journey

vagrant (n): a person who is poor, does not have a home or job, and moves from place to place

gypsy (n): a member of a group of people who travel from place to place, or anyone who travels often and does not live in one place for long

gull (n): a bird that lives near the coast with black and white or gray and white feathers 

 

Explanation: The speaker’s desire for the sea’s adventurous and nomadic lifestyle is talked about in this stanza. He refers to it as a “vagrant gypsy life,” meaning a life of freedom and unpredictability. The speaker mentions the paths of seagulls and whales, referring to the vastness and diversity of the creatures living in the sea and its routes. He longs for companionship and fellow people on his journey, wishing for a joyful story (“merry yarn”) from a fellow adventurer. The speaker longs for peaceful rest (“quiet sleep”) and pleasant dreams after his sea voyage (“when the long trick’s over”). 

 

 
 

WBBSE Class 10 English Lesson 6 Sea Fever Figures of Speech

 

  1. Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects that are different in nature.
  • “And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;”- The star is compared to a guiding force or direction in the speaker’s life.
  1. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. 
  • “And a gray mist on the sea’s face, and a gray dawn breaking.”- The imagery of “gray mist” and “gray dawn” creates a visual representation of the sea environment, evoking a sense of atmosphere and setting.

 

  1. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick successions, such as the sound of /s/ in “years slide soft away.”
  • “And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,”- The repetition of the /w/ sound in “wheel’s,” “wind’s,” and “white” creates a rhythmic effect and emphasizes the action described.

 

  1. Personification: Personification is the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc., as in art and literature.
  • “And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,”- The wheel, wind, and sail are personified by attributing human actions (kick, song, shaking) to them, giving them human-like qualities.

 

  1. Simile: It is a literary device that compares two unlike or different things.
  • “where the wind’s like a whetted knife;”- The sharpness and cutting quality of the wind is compared to a whetted (sharpened) knife, emphasizing how keen and biting the wind feels.

 

 

Also See : 

 

WBBSE Class 10 English Summary, Explanation, Difficult Words

 

 

WBBSE Class 10 English Question Answers