WBBSE CLASS 10th Sea Fever Question Answers || Comprehension Exercises || SEA FEVER by JOHN MASEFIELD || Bliss || Short Questions and Answers || Broad Notes || CLASS X Sea Fever Comprehension Exercises or Question Answers || West Bengal Board

Lesson-6

Sea Fever by John Masefield

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. sea-gulls ✔

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. [False]

Supporting statement : “And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.”

b. The call of the running tide is wild and clear. [True]

Supporting statement : “...for the call of the running tide / Is a wild call and a clear call.”

c. The poet is going out to the sea for the first time. [False]

Supporting statement : I must go down to the seas again.

3. Answer the following questions :

a. During what time of the day does the poet wish to go down to the seas ?

The poet wishes to go down to the seas before dawn.

b. What kind of day does the poet prefer for sailing ?

The poet prefers a windy day when white clouds would be flying in the sky.

The poet prefers a windy day with white kites flying in the sky.

c. What does the poet prefer to hear from a fellow rover?

The poet prefers to hear a joyful story from a fellow rover.

Grammar in use :

4. Do as directed :

a. What a shocking sight ! (change into an assertive sentence )

It is a very shocking sight.

b. I am sure of his success. (change into a complex sentence )

I am sure that he will succeed.

I am sure that he will be successful.

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

Snigdha is wise and brave.

Besides being wise, Snigdha is brave.

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.

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Ans: Tutankhamun, the son of Pharaoh Akhenaten, was an Egyptian king who began to rule at the age of ten. He undertook many building projects, centered around Thebes and Karnak, including rebuilding temples. He suffered from physical disabilities and required the use of a cane to walk. His preserved body, known as a mummy, was discovered nearly intact in 1922 by Howard Carter, sparking worldwide 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

A Daring Burglary

By a staff Reporter

Kolkata, 6th August : What a daring deed it was in broad daylight. The entire neighbourhood of park street witnessed this desperate bravado. Yesterday at around 2 pm. When Mrs. Das and her mother-in-law had just finished their lunch, there was a knock at the main-door. When Mrs. Das opened the door, a gang of four-robbers burst into the room. They frightened Mrs. Das and her mother-in-law with loaded pistols and knives and wanted the keys of lockers and almirahs. They ransacked all the valuable things ( golds, antiques) worth Rs. 9 lakhs and forcefully pocketed the cash of one and half lakhs. Succeeding their ventures they fled away in no time by blasting bombs. A minute investigation was going on.

Extra Questions -

Answer the following questions :

1. Who wrote the poem ‘Sea Fever’?

John Masefield wrote the poem ‘Sea Fever’.

2. What is the meaning of ‘sea fever’?

‘Sea fever’ means a feeling of strong desire or passion to be at sea.

3. Why is the poem titled ‘Sea Fever’?

‘Fever’ is a state of excitement or desire and in this poem the poet is also feeling the same desire to go to the sea. Hence the title of the poem is appropriate.

4. Where does the poet want to go ?

The poet wants to go to the seas.

5. Where does the poet wish to go ?

The poet wishes to set sail for the infinite sea to quench his irresistible wander-thirst and fulfil his love of Nature.

6. What does the word ‘again’ suggest in the poem ?

The word ‘again’ suggests that the poet has already experienced a voyage in his early life.

7. During what time of the day does the poet wish to go down to the sea ?

The poet wishes to go down to the sea before dawn as he wanted to see a grey dawn breaking.

8. What does the poet need for the voyage ?

The poet needs a tall ship and a star to navigate it for his voyage.

9. What does the poet mean by tall ship ?

The phrase ‘tall ship’ suggests a sturdy ship that would be strong enough to withstand the inclemencies. (ঝড়ঝঞ্জা)

10. Why does the poet want a star ?

The poet wants a star to guide his ship in the sea.

11. Which kind of weather does the poet desire ?

The poet desires a windy day with grey mist on the surface of the sea, a grey dawn and white clouds in the sky.

12. Why does the poet want to go back to the sea again and again ?

The poet wants to go back to the sea again and again because he is lured (allured) by the call of the running tide. According to the poet it is a wild and clear call that cannot be denied.

13. What does the word ‘lonely’ suggest ?

The word ‘lonely’ suggests a sense of freedom which the poet wants to enjoy in his sea journey.

14. “To steer her by”-Who is ‘her’ referred to here ?

‘Her’ refers to the ship.

15. What does the wheel’s kick suggest ?

The wheel’s kick suggests the motion of the ship across the sea.

16. What does the wind’s song suggest ?

Here the wind’s song refers to the roaring sound of the wind. This strong wind will help the poet to sail his ship.

17. What is the colour of the sail ?

The colour of the sail is white.

18. What covers the sea’s face ?

Grey mists cover the sea’s face.

19. Why is dawn grey ?

The poet describes the dawn as grey because of the presence of light and shade in the surroundings at the daybreak.

20. What do you mean by sea’s face ? What is the figure of speech used here ?

Here the sea’s face means the surface of the sea. The sea is personified here.

21. What does the phrase ‘the wheel’s kick’ refer to ?

The phrase ‘the wheel’s kick’ probably refers to the steering wheel. The ‘kick’ refers to the sudden jerk caused by the steering wheel when the ship starts moving.

22. What does ‘star’ symbolically suggest here ?

‘Star’ here symbolically suggests the Pole Star that helps a mariner to determine the direction in the boundless sea.

23. How, according to the poet, is the call of the running tide ?

According to the poet the call of the running tide is a wild and clear call that cannot be denied.

24. What is meant by ‘blown spume’ ?

‘Blown spume’ refers to the foams which are scattered by the surging waves of the sea.

25. What kind of day did the poet ask for his voyage ?

The poet asked for a windy day with white and floating clouds for his voyage.

26. What is the wind compared to and why ?

The wind is compared here to a sharpened knife. It suggests that the bite of the chilly wind would be as piercing and painful as the strike of a knife.

27. What does the poet want from a fellow traveller ? What does he expect after the journey ?

The poet wants to listen to a joyful story from a fellow traveller. After the journey he expects a quiet sleep and sweet dream.

28. Why does the poet choose the life of the gypsies ?

The poet chooses the life of the gypsies because he prefers the free and aimless life of the gypsies who are vagabonds.

29. What kind of life does the poet desire for ?

The poet desires for the free and aimless life of the vagabond gypsies.

30. What is meant by ‘where the wind’s like a whetted knife’ ?

The poet while speaking of his upcoming journey says that the wind near the sea is as cold as a sharp knife. It denotes the foul weather that sailors face.

31. How can we compare life at the sea to a vagrant gypsy life ?

Vagrant means vagabond. As an explorer the poet wishes to live a carefree life, without any bondages. Life at the sea does not follow any rules and hence is compared to a vagrant gypsy.

31. Find out an expression to show that the poet is very eager to go to the sea.

The expression “I must go down to the seas again” shows the poet is eager to go to the sea.

32. What does the poet mean by the ‘long trick’ ? Does it symbolise anything ?

The phrase ‘long trick’ refers to the long journey here. It symbolises a long journey called life.

33. Whose call cannot be denied ?

The call of the running tide cannot be denied.

34. What is common in the sea and the sky ?

According to the poet both the sea and the sky are lonely and this is their common feature.

35. What can’t be denied ?

Wild and clear call of the running tide can’t be denied by the poet.

36. What type of the day is sought by the poet ?

The poet seeks a windy day.

37. What does the poet like in a windy day ?

The poet likes white clouds flying in the sky in a windy day.

38. What are the elements that have made the sea so beautiful ?

The sound of strong wind, mist on the sea’s face, running tide, white clouds, spray and spume, cry of seagulls have made the sea beautiful.

39. How does the poet compare the wind in the sea ?

The poet compares the sea-wind to a sharpened knife.

40. What tale does the poet like in a voyage ?

The poet wants a merry tale in a voyage.

41. What does the poet want when the journey is over ?

When the journey is over, the poet wants a quiet sleep and a sweet dream.

42. How is the trick or journey ?

The trick or journey is long.

43. What does the word ‘sleep’ suggest ?

The word ‘sleep’ suggests a long-time rest. Allegorically it suggests death.

44. What type of a poem is a ‘Sea Fever’ ?

‘Sea Fever’ is a lyric poem.

Lesson 6 Sea Fever Question Answers - John Masefield - West Bengal Board

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