I Am A Rock By: Simon and Garfunkel Released: 1965 Success: Reached #3

Simon and Garfunkel  Formed the group “Tom and Perry” in 1957  Changed name to “Simon and Garfunkel” and rose to fame in 1964  Some of there most famous songs are; “The Sound of Silence”, “Homeward Bound”, “Mrs. Robinson”, and “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

Lyrics A winter's day In a deep and dark December; I am alone, Gazing from my window to the streets below On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow. I am a rock, I am an island.

I've built walls, A fortress deep and mighty, That none may penetrate. I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. It's laughter and it's loving I disdain. I am a rock, I am an island.

Don't talk of love, But I've heard the words before; It's sleeping in my memory. I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died. If I never loved I never would have cried. I am a rock, I am an island.

I have my books And my poetry to protect me; I am shielded in my armor, Hiding in my room, safe within my womb. I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock, I am an island. And a rock feels no pain; And an island never cries.

Who is Speaking?  There is no gender given for the speaker and there are nor hints to the gender of the speaker  It is obviously a person who has had some troubles in their life and they are internalizing the pain from the trouble

Literary Device: Metaphor  Compares two objects or things without using the words "like" or "as”  “…I am a rock, I am an island”  Speaker compares his or herself to a rock or an island

Literary Device: Imagery  An author's use of vivid and descriptive language to add depth to their work  “…deep and dark December…”  “…on a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow…”

Literary Device: Personification  A figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstractions are endowed with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form  “It's sleeping in my memory”

Interpretation

A winter's day In a deep and dark December; I am alone, Gazing from my window to the streets below On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow. I am a rock, I am an island.

I've built walls, A fortress deep and mighty, That none may penetrate. I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. It's laughter and it's loving I disdain. I am a rock, I am an island.

Don't talk of love, But I've heard the words before; It's sleeping in my memory. I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died. If I never loved I never would have cried. I am a rock, I am an island.

I have my books And my poetry to protect me; I am shielded in my armor, Hiding in my room, safe within my womb. I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock, I am an island. And a rock feels no pain; And an island never cries.

Theme When something does not go how you expected it to, suck it up and move on

Vs.

Let It Be When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom Let it be

Compare and Contrast Let It Be I Am A Rock

Theme When something does not go how you want it to, you accept it and move on.

Comparing the Themes I Am A Rock: When something does not go how you expected it to, suck it up and move on Let It Be: When something does not go how you want it to, you accept it and move on.

Thank You for Your Attention

Work Cited Simon and Garfunkel cover art Simon and Garfunkel Info I Am A RockLyrics rock island fresh snow tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.comtmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com heart island totalupdate.blogspot.comtotalupdate.blogspot.com person crying armor pile of books Metaphor definition Imagery definition castle personification definition the Beatles Keep Calm… Let It BE Lyrics

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