analyzation of the poem

In the poem “Sea Fever”,(comma?) John Masefield writes(WC) about his obsession with the waters and illustrates his deep desire to sail the seas. The title, “Sea Fever” emphasizes his strong passion for the seas and introduces Masefield’s deepest aspiration. (Necessary or nah??) Masefield conveys his obsessive/nostalgic (right word choice for tone or should I do obsession?) yearnings through his eagerness to take his final journey on the ocean (subject clear?). Through multiple literary elements such as, figures of speech, sensory detail, (OR just say imagery?), and rhythm (or just say parallelism or repetition??), he uncovers a tone of nostalgia and intense desire.

Painting a vivid imagination of Masefield’s infatuation with the sea, John uses figures of speech such as personification and simile to emphasize his longing passion. Using personification, he creates a living existence for the ocean and compares it to life form. He writes, “And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by” (2). By comparing the sea to something in female form, he creates an illusion of love for something that, in his eyes, is human. By comparing the ocean to a human, Masefield further emphasizes his burning passion and urgency to reconnect with the sea. In addition, Masefield uses simile to describe vivid details of his fond memories. He compares the “ocean’s wind to a whetted knife” (10), comparing the ocean’s harsh winds to a sharpened knife. Through his use of similes, Masefield emphasizes his vivacious recollections of memories in the waters. Though he compares the wind to a sharp knife, this expresses his dedication to the ocean no matter what the conditions may be. Therefore by using simile, he shows how his memories tempt his desire...

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...way, and whale all mimic the wispy sounds of the wind. The fact that the poem contains similar visual and auditory sense to the ocean shows Masefield’s passion and obsession with the ocean.

Through the multiple literary elements that John Masefield uses, saying that he loves the ocean would be an understatement. More likely, the ocean has become a living existence to Masefield and has turned into his whole world. Throughout the poem, he proves that he has an obsession with the sea and yearns to be back out on the waves of the ocean. The comparison between human and ocean can be related to an idea of everlasting love. Love between human to human can evolve into an indispensable complex necessity for another human’s companionship. Just as humans require the love and attention of another being, Masefield demands the ocean, as it is his other companion.