The Sea and Long Trip Poems

In lines 1-4 of "The Sea," what is the poet describing with the image of the hungry dog rolling on the beach all day?

• A. waves carrying large stones

• B. waves coming in to the shore

• C. a boat floating in the ocean

• D. an animal running by the water

What do lines 10-14 of "The Sea" mostly describe?

• A. a wild and fierce sea at night

• B. a boat in danger on the ocean

• C. a person trying to climb a hill

• D. a lost and wet dog running home

Read the following lines from the poem: "But on quiet days in May or June, When even the grasses on the dune play no more their reedy tune, ..."

What does the description suggest?

• A. The day is calm.

• B. The grass is dying.

• C. The dune is hidden.

• D. The summer is over.

How are the first two lines of "The Sea" like the first two lines of "Long Trip"?

• A. The lines create a sense of peace.

• B. The lines rhyme with one another.

• C. The lines compare the sea to something else.

• D. The lines present an image of the sea's beauty.

Draw an illustration to show the overall message of "Long Trip".

Answer explanation

The sea is much like a desert. It is endless or very large. We can float or swim in it, dunk under the water, and ride the waves day and night. You might think that it's wide open for any experience. You could relate it to life experience if you're thinking really deeply!

Explain what the reader learns after reading "The sea".

Answer explanation

The most important theme in this text is that of the sea as a dangerous or powerful force. It can cause terrible destruction one minute and be calm and peaceful the next. He shows the power when he says, "...he bounds to his feet and snuffs and sniffs, shaking his wet sides over cliffs, and howls and hollos long and loud." This shows the rough waves splashing about wildly. He then shows how tranquil the sea can be by saying, "But on quiet days...he lies on the sandy shores, so quiet, so quiet, he scarcely snores. This gives the image of a very flat surface of the sea which is barely moving.