Question

read this excerpt from \sea fever\ by john masefield. and the wheels kick and the winds song and the white sails shaking, and a grey mist on the seas face, and a grey dawn breaking. which statement best describes how masefield creates a hopeful mood in the excerpt? the free form flows cheerfully and unpredictably. the free form creates a sentimental conversation between man and sea. the fixed meter and predictable rhyme scheme create an upbeat rhythm. the fixed meter imitates the rhythm of a military march or parade.

Explanation:

To determine how Masefield creates a hopeful mood, analyze the options:

• Option 1: Free form (no fixed structure) doesn't match the excerpt's rhythm (e.g., "kick", "song", "shaking" have a pattern). Eliminate.
• Option 2: "Sentimental conversation" is not conveyed; the excerpt focuses on the sea's energy, not emotion between man and sea. Eliminate.
• Option 3: The excerpt has a fixed meter (regular beat) and rhyme scheme (e.g., "song"/"shaking", "face"/"breaking" – approximate rhymes). This regular rhythm, like a steady, uplifting pulse, creates an upbeat mood, fitting "hopeful".
• Option 4: A military march rhythm is rigid, but the excerpt's rhythm is more fluid (sea - related, not martial). Eliminate.

Answer:

C. The fixed meter and predictable rhyme scheme create an upbeat rhythm.