Sea Fever Solutions – AAtoons Study

Ch 6 – Sea Fever Solutions

Content Structure

1. About the author – (John Masefield)
2. Summary
3. Word meanings
4. Comprehension exercises
5. Grammar in Use
6. Writing activities

1. About the author – (John Masefield)

John Edward Masefield was an English poet, writer, and Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1930. He was born on 1st June 1878. As a young man, he worked aboard a ship, where he developed a deep love for the sea this experience strongly inspired his poetry. Masefield is also remembered for writing the children’s novels The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delights. He died on 12th May 1967.

2. Summary

In this poem, the poet expresses his deep desire to return to the sea as a sailor. He feels the sea calling to him like a friend that he cannot ignore so he decides to go back to the ocean. When he steers the ship, the wind responds by creating a beautiful song and the flapping sails in the breeze reflect his deep love for the sea. He does not want any luxurious things on this journey; he only wishes for a strong ship and a star to guide him. He dreams of the sea’s peaceful morning beauty where grey mist and the soft light of dawn cover the water. He also misses the loud cries of the seagulls. So, he wants to begin this magical, peaceful, and memorable journey again that brings freedom and unforgettable moments. He wants to travel from place to place like a gypsy and follow the path of the seagull or the whale as they move across the ocean in the sharp, cold wind, like a knife. The poet does not want to sleep through this beautiful journey because he feels that if he does, he will miss the wild ocean’s beauty and the spray of its waves, moments that bring him the greatest joy. In the end, the poet wishes for a peaceful rest after his long journey as a sailor, filled with sweet dreams and a sense of enjoyment as if giving a part of his life to the sea.

3. Word meanings

1. Steer – To control the direction of the movement
2. Kick – A strong feeling or thrill
3. Mist – Fog
4. Spume – Seafoam
5. Vagrant – Someone who moved around with no fixed home
6. Whetted – Sharpened
7. A wanderer – Traveler
8. Yarn – Tale
9. Trick – Journey
10. Fellow-rover – A traveling companion

4. 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

Ans: (d) white

(b) While going down to the sea, the poet wants to hear the crying of
(i) Seagulls
(ii) Cuckoo
(iii) Eagles
(iv) swallows

Ans: (i) Seagulls

Ans: (iii) knife

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. (False)
S/S: The poet needs a star, not the moon, to help him steer the ship.

(b) The call of the running tide is wild and clear. (True)
S/S: The poet says the call of the tide is strong and clear and he can not ignore it.

(c) The poet is going out to the sea for the first time. (False)
S/S: No, the poet says he must go down to the sea again which shows he has already been to the sea before.

3. Answer the following questions:

(a) During what time of the day does the poet wish to go down to the seas?
Ans: The poet wants to go to the sea at night when everything is calm and quiet. He wishes for a bright star in the sky to help guide his ship through the darkness.

(b) What kind of day does the poet prefer for sailing?
Ans: The poet loves a windy day when white clouds are flying across the sky. He enjoys the fresh sea breeze and the sight of foamy waves splashing around the ship as it moves.

(c) What does the poet prefer to hear from a fellow rover?
Ans: The poet wishes to hear a cheerful and fun story from a fellow sailor. He enjoys listening to happy tales about sea adventures and the joy of traveling over the ocean.

5. Grammar in Use

4. Do as directed:

(a) What a shocking sight! (change into an assertive sentence)
Ans: It was a very shocking sight.

(b) I am sure of his success. (change into a complex sentence)
Ans: I am sure that he will succeed.

(c) Snigdha is not only wise but also brave. (change into a simple sentence)
Ans: Snigdha is both wise and brave.

6. 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 has 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 the Tutankhamun tomb attracted wide interest all over the world. The discovery sparked an interest in ancient Egypt.

Ans:
Tutankhamun was the son of Akhenaten, a pharaoh of ancient Egypt. He ruled from 1332 to 1323 BC and became king at the age of ten. During his reign, he undertook several building projects in Thebes and Karnak, including the restoration of ruined temples. Tutankhamun had physical disabilities, was often unwell, and needed a cane to walk. In ancient Egypt, the bodies of pharaohs were preserved after death as mummies, and Tutankhamun’s body was also preserved in this way. In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s nearly intact tomb. The discovery attracted global attention and sparked widespread interest in ancient Egyptian history and culture.

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

Ans:

Burglary in Salt Lake Flat at Midnight

By Rajiv Sen, Salt Lake, 20th March, 2021

A burglary happened in a Salt Lake flat around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The victims, Mr. and Mrs. Roy, were asleep when three robbers entered through the balcony using a rope or pipe. No one was injured but gold jewelry, two laptops, three mobile phones, and 400,000 in cash were stolen. Neighbors informed the police but the robbers escaped before they arrived. Soon, police had begun an investigation and were reviewing CCTV footage from nearby buildings. However, no one had been arrested and nothing stolen was found.