1 Relationships F F P M R Religion Environmen t / Nature E / N Marriage S Family Pets Friendship School

2 What do you think of when you see a rock?

3 What do you think of when you see an island?

4 What can the lady see out of the window?

5 The song you are going to listen to is… I am a rock

6 The song was written by Paul Simon in 1964 and sung by a duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. ‘That’s a very young song. I wrote that in England. Unquestionably my most neurotic song. When I finished it, I thought ‘ Oh man, I can’t be this sick!’

7 I am a rock Sung by Simon and Garfunkel 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.

8 Don’t talk of love But I’ve heard the word before. It’s sleeping in my memory. I won’t disturb the slumber of feelings that have died. If I had 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 armour 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.

9 And a rock feels no pain And an island never cries.

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11 In groups of four, discuss the following questions: 1.What are the messages that the song writer wants to convey? Why do you think the writer had these ideas? 2. Do you notice anything special in the lyrics? Hint: Do the words convey the same kind of feeling (positive or negative)? 3. What do you think the words ‘rock’, ‘island’ and ‘window’ are describing? Read the lyrics again

12 For question 1: Protected Loving Enjoyable Sharing Lonely Insecure / unsafe Painful Hurting

13 The writer thinks if one does not want to get hurt, one needs to build up walls around him, act like a rock, or remain an island. Rock = hard, unfeeling, unsympathetic Island = isolated, unapproachable, uncommunicative

14 For question 2: deep dark silent mighty protect died hiding pain cries shielded disdaindied 2. The song writer has used Conditional Sentence Type _____to show this is a ________________. 3 past situation 1. The following words are used to give a negative meaning.

15 The song writer has used ‘metaphor’ in the song. ‘Metaphor’ - is an imaginative way of describing some- thing by referring to something else which has the qualities that you want to express.’ ( Collins Cobuild English Dictionary p.1044) For question 3: ‘Rock’ and ‘island’ refer to a broken friendship which cannot mend. The ‘window’ is the wall isolating the self from the outside world. To protect oneself from getting hurt, one has to close himself by hiding behind books and poetry.

16 1.Visit the following website about ‘friendship’ which offers friendship philosophy, quotes, poetry and an online forum devoted to celebrating friendship. Read whatever interests you. 2.In about 150 words, express your opinion and experience of ‘friendship’ in your learner diary. Follow-up assignments: