Lesson 6 📖

Sea Fever 🌊

By John Masefield

The Author and the Text: 🧑‍🏫

John Edward Masefield (1878-1967) was an English poet, writer, and Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1930 till his death. He is also remembered as the author of the children's novels The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delights.

The poem speaks of the excitement the poet feels at the anticipation of a sea-voyage. The passionate description of the seascape reveals the eternal desire of man to seek the splendour of nature. 💡

Read the following: 📜

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.

Word Nest 📚

• steer: to control the direction of movement
• spume: foam
• whetted: sharpened
• yarn: tale
• fellow-rover: accompanying sailor
• trick: journey

Comprehension Exercises 🤔

1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

   • (a) The poet asks for a sail the colour of which would be
     • (i) blue
     • (ii) grey
     • (iii) black
     • (iv) white
   • (b) While going down to the sea, the poet wants to hear the crying of
     • (i) seagulls
     • (ii) cuckoos
     • (iii) eagles
     • (iv) swallows
   • (c) The wind on the sea is like a whetted
     • (i) sword
     • (ii) axe
     • (iii) knife
     • (iv) spear

2. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer:

   • (a) To steer the ship the poet needs the moon.
     • Supporting statement:
   • (b) The call of the running tide is wild and clear.
     • Supporting statement:
   • (c) The poet is going out to the sea for the first time.
     • Supporting statement:

3. Answer the following questions:

   • (a) During what time of the day does the poet wish to go down to the seas?
   • (b) What kind of day does the poet prefer for sailing?
   • (c) What does the poet prefer to hear from a fellow rover?

Grammar in Use 📝

4. Do as directed:
   • (a) What a shocking sight! (change into an assertive sentence)
   • (b) I am sure of his success. (change into a complex sentence)
   • (c) Snigdha is not only wise but also brave. (change into a simple sentence)

Writing Activities ✍️

5. Write a summary of the following passage (within 100 words): Egyptian kings are called Pharaohs. Tutankhamun was an Egyptian king who ruled between 1332-1323 BC. Tutankhamun was very young when he became the king. He was only ten years old when he ascended the throne. He was the son of Akhenaten who was also a Pharaoh. As the king, Tutankhamun undertook many building projects. These building projects were centered around Thebes and Karnak. Tutankhamun built many temples and monuments. At that time many temples were in ruins. Tutankhamun ordered them to be rebuilt. Tutankhamun had various physical disabilities. He suffered from ill health for a long period in his life. Tutankhamun required the support of a cane to walk because of his physical disabilities. In ancient Egypt, the body of a Pharaoh was preserved after his death. This preserved body was known as the mummy. The preserved body of Tutankhamun was discovered by Howard Carter, an Englishman. He discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. The tomb was nearly intact when it was discovered. The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb attracted wide interest all over the world. The discovery sparked an interest in ancient Egypt.

6. Write a newspaper report (within 100 words) on the incident of burglary in a flat in Kolkata using the following points:

   • date and place
   • time
   • occupants of the house
   • number of robbers
   • list of articles stolen
   • police investigation