Poetry Selection “I Am A Rock” by Paul Simon p. 3-4 Sightlines

Pre-Reading:  Preview the title.  How can someone be like a rock?  What qualities does a rock have?  What metaphorical possibilities do these qualities suggest?  What do you know about Paul Simon’s work? Share.

Paul Simon is an American singer-songwriter known for his success during the 1960’s as part of the duo Simon and Garfunkel. He wrote most of their songs, including hits like “Mrs. Robinson”, and “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. He and Garfunkel split, but he continued to make music, winning 13 Grammys and being placed on Time Magazine’s list of “100 People Who Shaped the World”.

During Reading:  As you read, jot down sections you find particularly moving, or that you can connect to on an emotional level. Explain why you find these sections effective/how you can connect to them.  Read the lyrics a second (or third) time while listening to the song. I Am A Rock -- Simon and Garfunkel

Post Reading Response: 1. Write a journal entry about a time when you felt alone or cut off from others, and perhaps built walls to keep others out. What kind of walls did you build? How well does the song capture feelings you had at this time?

2. Explain the line, “I am shielded in my armour.”

3. What is a “shroud”?

4. What causes the speaker to cry?

5. What is the “womb” that the speaker is safe “within”?

6. Find words in the piece that suggest strength. How do these words relate to the speaker’s emotions? What effect does the contrast have? How might this be ironic?

7. Identify instances of metaphor, personification, imagery and alliteration found in the piece. Explain the possible meaning of each. Set up your response in a table like the one below.

Example Type of device Meaning She was as cool as a cucumber. Simile She was very calm and relaxed.

8. What would happen if you changed some of the key words in the piece? Would it change the overall tone/meaning in the poem? Try a few sections.

Read “Meditation” by John Donne, p. 2 of Sightlines

9. What does the word “meditation” mean? Where and how have you heard this word being used?

10. “For whom the bell tolls” – where have you heard this before?

11. As the section is being read aloud, sketch a picture of the mental images you see.

12. Write a personal response to this piece – What lesson did you learn from it?

13. To what does John Donne compare humanity?

14. What is a promontory?

15. Why does the bell toll for thee?

16. What does the phrase “dimishes me” mean?

17. What metaphors do you notice within the piece?

18. Which words in the meditation show it was written in a different era? Which words show this is a more formal piece of writing? Who might be the intended audience of this selection?

19. “Mediation XVII” and “I Am A Rock” both deal with similar topics, but in very different ways. Which view do you agree with the most? Write a paragraph, using the PPE method (Point/Proof/Explanation), to explain your point of view. Make sure to use proof from the selection to support your ideas. This entry will be handed in.