Read the lyrics carefully, and write a short paragraph in in which you choose a line or two from the song and connect it to The Cather in the Rye. Post your response below, and respond to at least one of your classmate's posts.
I Am a Rock
Task: Simon and Garfunkel's song, "I Am a Rock" makes me think of The Catcher in the Rye. Can you guess why? What connections can you make between this song and the themes and characters in the novel?
Read the lyrics carefully, and write a short paragraph in in which you choose a line or two from the song and connect it to The Cather in the Rye. Post your response below, and respond to at least one of your classmate's posts.
Read the lyrics carefully, and write a short paragraph in in which you choose a line or two from the song and connect it to The Cather in the Rye. Post your response below, and respond to at least one of your classmate's posts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
the title and lines saying i am a rock is a symbol that can be compared to the book catcher in the rye. a rock means nothing to anyone, it has no meaning on our earth. a rock is stepped on and looked past as holden was his whole life. a rock is a no body as holden is a nobody
ReplyDeleteJoe I agree with what you are saying. I also, disagree with what you said. When you say “looked past as Holden was his whole life” I think that Holden chose to isolate himself from most of the world and that Holden could be somebody, but he has chosen not to be.
DeleteJoe, I agree with you that Holden feels as though he has been "stepped on his whole life." Maybe, as Katherine says, Holden has turned himself into a rock in order to protect himelf from getting hurt any further.
DeleteI think that this song has to do with the fact that the narrator is isolated and is alone. It is similar to the poem that we looked at, I am nobody, because both peices describe that feeling of lonliness and isolation. I also think that while Holden wants friendship and someone to love, while the narrators of both items want none to do with that.
ReplyDeleteJake I like how you brought up the poem "I am nobody" and I agree they all relate to eachother, and also how Holden secretly wants someone to love and the writings do not include that.
DeleteJake, it does seem that the speaker in the song, just like Holden, has been hurt several times, and wants to protect himself from future pain.
DeleteThe last four lines of "I am a Rock" say, "I am a rock
ReplyDeleteI am an island
And the rock feels no pain
And an island never cries" can relate to Catcher in the Rye in a few ways. Those four lines make me think of Holden, his characteristics and his personality. The song can relate to how Holden feels about everyone and how he looks at life. When you read Catcher in the Rye you get the feeling that Holden doesn’t have any emotion unless it comes to Allie, Phoebe or Jane. I think Holden has a hard time putting his emotions out in the open so, he just pretends that he doesn’t have any emotions. He keeps them to himself. When Holden cries those few times in the book he acts very embarrassed.
I agree Katherine, Holden pretends that he doesn't have feelings because he wants to be a rock. He doesn't want to be noticed, like Joe and Daniela said. But Holden has emotions when he is talking to Jane or Pheobe because he feels that he won't be rejected by them.
DeleteGreat connection. Holden discovers that he cannot be "a rock" or "an island." He cries several times throughout the novel; and although he tries to stay disconnected from his feelings, he seems to feel intense inner pain throughout the book. At the carrousel, when he watches Phoebe in the rain, he realizes that life can be filled with extreme joy as well as pain, but you must open yourself up to both.
DeleteCatcher in the Rye and I am a Rock by Simon and Garfunkel are both similar because both are stories of isolation of the character, in the song it's Simon and Garfunkel, and in the book it's Holden Caulfield. In the song, it says he has built walls, and how he touches no one and no one touches him. Holden Caulfield is much like that because he has closed off himself from the rest of the world and he stays within himself, he doesn't socialize or anything. A part in the song that catches my attention is where it says "If I'd never loved, I never would have cried" and this relates to Holden and feelings about Allie and also about everyone in his life he has loved. He doesn't like the emotion of missing anyone or regret. One more focal point of the song is the chorus, "I am a rock, I am an island". This is important because both of those objects are lonely things that never change. A rock just stays where it is and doesn't go anywhere and Holden feels like his life isn't going anywhere. An island is a small piece of land in a huge ocean, and nobody goes on it. Holden feels lonely like both a rock and an island. This song would be a great intro if Catcher in the Rye ever became a movie!
ReplyDeleteThe song I am a Rock has many lyrics that reflect ideas from Catcher In the Rye. For example, the line " It's laughter and it's loving I disdain." This line relates to Holden's opinion on how laughter and loving are phony.
ReplyDelete“I have no need for friendship,
ReplyDeleteFriendship causes pain,
It’s laughter and it’s loving I distain.”
Those lines connect to Catcher in the Rye because they are similar to the way Holden behaves. It is hard for him to make friends or to have a relationship because of Allie’s death and all of the rejections that Holden got when he has tried to ask out girls. So he prefers to keep to himself and to have no friends because that way he won’t feel as much pain. He is afraid of failing, so he tries to block himself from finding happiness but I ends up hurting him in the end.
In the song, “I am a Rock” by Simon and Garfunkel, many of the lyrics seem to relate to Holden in one way or another. For example, the lines “I’ve built walls/A fortress deep and mighty/That none may penetrate” remind me of how Holden is not a very emotional person in the first place and actually works hard to keep certain people from getting close to him. His rationale behind why he does this may be that most people are “phonies” and really aren’t worth his time but I think the real reason he does this is because he’s afraid of being hurt and allowing people to come into his world and possibly leave like Allie. Although Allie didn’t intentionally leave Holden and he knows this, maybe he’s “built walls” to prevent feeling the same trauma he felt when Allie passed away and left him hurt and alone.
ReplyDeleteI think you're spot on, Gabby! He has built walls to protect himself, but Holden is miserable because he feels isolated.
DeleteI think this song incorporates some aspect of Cather in the Rye because one of the verses it says "I am a rock, I am an island, and the rock feels no pain, and an island never cries". This relates to Holden because Holden kind of thinks he won’t feel any pain and that he's really strong. Also as Joe said, rocks don’t mean much to anyone so being compared to a rock isn’t that important. Nobody pays attention to rocks just as they don’t pay attention to Holden. It also talks about friendship and how he doesn’t want to open up to anyone or really interact with someone and that also relates to Holden because he only likes talking to Phoebe and when he’s not with her everyone else is a phony to him. Throughout the book Holden doesn’t really make friends with anyone. He talks to them but it’s never to the point where he likes them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Daniela on how she said, that nobody pays attention to rocks just as they dont pay attention to Holden. Compareing how we look at rocks and holden the same way should tell us that we are judging other people, like Holden.
DeleteThe song, "I am a Rock", by Simon and Garfunkel relates to Catcher in the Rye, because in the book, Holden is lonely, thinking about the negative side of people, and also socializing with other people. The lyric, "I am alone", helps me connect this song to The Catcher in the Rye, because this song is talking about someone who is lonely, and who always wants to socialize with other people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you ted when you say that the song is about someone who is lonely and that's how it relates to holden.
DeleteNice paragraph.
Daniela has a good point..well said
ReplyDeleteThe line “I have no need for friendship, friendship only causes pain, it’s laughter it’s loving I disdain” reminds me a lot of Holden. Holden doesn’t really know how to be a friend or relate to people. Maybe he does have a need for friendship but he tends to push people away because he’s always really negative. So for him it’s not laughter or loving, but sometimes he tries to make it that way but it never really works. I feel like he would say something like that line that's how it reminds me of him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with katherine when saying that holden has trouble with showing his emotions and never really does unless he is talking about jane allie or pheobe
ReplyDeletei think this song has to do with people lives.I also think that while Holden wants friendship and someone to love him.
ReplyDeleteThe song relates to Holden because Holden hasn’t drawn himself to people he has made himself anti-social.
ReplyDeletethe title and lines form the song i am a rock are symbols. they relate to the Cather in the rye and holding in man ways for one is i am on a island. it means that Holden is trying to stay on a island, the island means it Holden own mental wall. the mental wall is Holden mantel capacity one the real world.
ReplyDelete“I’ve built walls. A fortress deep and mighty. That none may penetrate.”
ReplyDeleteThese are lines from a song named “I Am A Rock” by Simon and Garfunkel. Although they are from a separate song you can easily relate this to the book Catcher in The Rye by J.D Salinger. The main character in the book is a teenage boy named Holden. Holden seems to be emotionally confused and he never lets people get close to him. He always pushes people away and shuts himself out from the world. Therefore, you can say that Holden has setup “a fortress” around him that lets no one get through to who he really is.
yea i agree D we have the same ideas
Deletei think that the song I am a rock relates to holden becuase in the lyrics it says ( ive built walls, A fortress deep and mighty, that none may penetrate wich shows that holden doesnt like the world and it depressess him so he tends to block himself from the outside world
ReplyDeleteI think this song reminds people of Holden and the Catcher In The Rye because holden has no friends. He really has like no one to talk to, or tell anything to. Holden is like his own rock. He stands alone.
ReplyDeleteThe lyrics of this song relate to the book the Catcher in the Rye because it talks about love, a subject that Holden does not want to talk about much because he has not had much success with it. He has tried with many different girls like Sally and Jane, but with no legit outcome. The song also sings about friendship and how it “causes pain” the same way Holden thinks of it. It was difficult from him to form a friendship with Stradlater and Ackley because of the many differences they had.
ReplyDeleteThe lyrics to the song "I Am A Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel relates to the book Catcher in the Rye in many ways. The Lyrics "I am alone" relates to how Holden is when in New York City. In the book, Holden is alone most of the time and is looking for a friend to be with. Also, someother lyrics in the song relate to this topic such as "I am an Island", "I am a rock". Holden has no one to care for him exept Pheobe but she is in just elementry school, and this is why Holden is alone, and i picked this lyric.
ReplyDeleteThe song relates to the book because it shows what happens when you are not soical. You need to overcome these problems and you will find that freindship is a good thing. For example Holden sees everyone has phoney but really everyone just has differences. When he overcomes this he won't be a rock anyomore.
ReplyDeletea rock is nothing no one sees that he is there as well as holden.Holden lives in the shadows of others. A rock is a nobody holden is a nobody.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Oskar, when he says "Building walls". This relates to Holden when he tries to avoide people and their conversations.
ReplyDeleteLucas, I like how you related the song to New York City. Nice comparison
ReplyDelete@dylan how many B's do you need in your name..lol there is like 10
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Maddie. It seems like Holden tries to keep lots of things that might hurt him out of his life.
ReplyDeleteThe Sound of Silence can relate to how Holden has no real friends, how ‘darkness’ is his only real true friend. He feels that having phony friends will eventually make him a phony as well, and he doesn’t like that. In a way Holden can be described as an antisocial person.
ReplyDeleteI believe the line "I've built walls" relates to Holden's personalitly. Holden distances himself from society by building walls, not allowing people to get to know him.
ReplyDeleteThe line, "I am a rock", goes back to the book catcher in the rye. In the song i compare the rock to Holden. Holden is compared to a rock because a rock isnt alive and holden constantly brings up in the book that he could kill himself and die. A rock has such a little meaning in the big world and is worthless, that is how Holden feels.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brittany when she connects a rock not being alive to Holdens feelings about suicide, the connection of a rocks meaning and purpose is a great representation of how Holden feels. Well done(:
DeleteIn the song I am a Rock by Simon and Garfunkel, there are many lyrics that connect to Catcher in the Rye. For example: "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." This is very similar to the part of the story where Holden is alone in the hotel. He longs for someone to talk to as he looks out of his window at the "perverts". Also, the title of the song itself relates to Holden. Holden doesn't like to share his feelings and keeps them bottled up.
ReplyDeleteI think that this song relates to Holden in many ways. For example the line "I've built walls, a fortress deep and mighty.." reminds me of Holden because he is very gaurded, while he tells the reader what was on his mind, he never vents to the characters in Catcher in the Rye. Also the line "If I'd never loved, I never would have cried." This line reminds me of Holden's relationship with Jane, he clearly has feelings for her and actually got into a fist fight with Stradlater about how he treated her. The song says "I have my books and my poetry." This relates to Holden because he does like to read, he infact stated this in the beginning of the book. English was also the only class at Pency that he didn't fail. Lasty, the song talks about being a rock and an island. This somewhat symbolizes Holden because Holden is a loner, he doesn't really have many friends and he doesnt really relate to people so making friends and being a good friend is hard for him.
ReplyDeleteClaire that is a really well thought out connection that I personally really agree with. Holden is alone like a rock.GOOD JOB!
Deleteone stanza says,
ReplyDelete"Don't talk of love
Well, I've heard the word before
It's sleeping in my memory
I won't disturb the slumber
Of feelings that have died"
This reminds me of when Holden is talking to Pheobe and Pheobe asks Holden what he does like. Holden can't think of anything he likes and finally comes up with Allie. It is hard for Holden to think of his feelings for Allie because when he died his love died too. This stanza almost directly relates to that point in the story for me.
Very good, Luke. Holden might feel like a part of him died when Allie died.
DeleteBrittany, I think that the rock kinda also resembles how he closes himself up when around people. He also is somewhat of a loner, which makes him even more of a rock. I agree with you that a rock has little to no purpose in life, and that shows half the time how Holden feels, which could lead him to wanting to kill himself.
ReplyDeleteThe song I am a rock reminds me Holden from Catcher in the Rye. Holden is the kind of character that comes off as trying to be strong and keepig hhim self together even though it didn't quite work for him. I feel as though if Holden were to have some sort of a song to go with his life, and keeps him going ever day, it would be this song. Its saying that you are strong and nothing can hurt or harm you. Even though this isn't true for Holden's life or personality, its more of a modivational song.
ReplyDeleteThe line " I have no need for friendship, friendship causes pain..." relates to catcher and the rye in a way thta is saying holden doesn't have many friends more like acqiuiantences because everyone he is friends with does something to him or he does something to them to get them upset and they end up with problems ( friendship causes pain... )
ReplyDeleteThe lines "I am a rock" can be related back to Holden from Catcher in the Rye. Like a rock, Holden puts on an act in which he doesn't feel too deeply about things such as love. Although Holden doesn't act like he has too many emotions under the surface there is much more to him than he lets out. The song also says “a rock feels no pain” which can relate back to the same aspect of Holden. Also, Holden seems to feel that like a rock he is not really cared for and that if something happened to him, for example if he committed suicide, that no one would really care.
ReplyDeleteI am a Rock can be related to J.D Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye' in multiple ways. Two lines that stood out to me were "I have no need for friendship, friendship causes pain." These lines reminded me of Holden and how he refers to everyone as phony, and is quick to find the bad in everyone he meets. Holden doesn't have any friends, which is an important aspect in the book to me. Maybe if he had someone to talk to he wouldn't of done all the things leading to his expulsion, and wouldn't of left for the city in the first place.
ReplyDeletei think "I am a Rock" is about someone who is trying to block out his problems from his head, i think this because of the part that says "I've built walls. A fortress deep and mighty. that none may penatrate." and holden tries to block all his problems out of his mind so i do think this song relates to Catcher in the Rye
ReplyDeleteI am rock can relate to Catcher in the Rye in many ways. The lines " I am a rock, I am an Island" make me think of Holden the way he acts and his personality. Rocks have no feelings or life. In a way his is similar to Holden because Holden has no goal in life and she feels the same about everybody. He thinks they’re all phony. An Island on the other hand is isolated and alone which is sort of how Holden is. He has no one considering that he was kicked out school and his parents don’t even know that he has gotten kicked out. Holden doesn’t depend on anyone either which can be related to the characteristics of an island.
ReplyDeleteOne way that CITR realates to the Simon and Garfunkle song, is the line, "In a deep and dark December I am alone gazing from my window to the streets below in the fallen silent shroud of snow." This is almost exactly realated to the beggining of the eighth chapter where Holden has just gotten on the train after walking to the station from Pency in the night and freshly fallen snow. To himself Holden thinks "Usually I like riding on trains, especially at night, with the lights on and the windows so black." This is very realted because they both are talking about the isolation and loneliness, but also the peaceful silence and being by themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJulia, I agree with what you said about Holden being "a rock." He shows no emotion and goes around with an attitude showing that he just doesn't care. Under the surface, like you said, there is more to him than he shows.
ReplyDelete"If I'd never loved, I never would've cried" -I am a Rock
ReplyDeleteThis line relates to chapter twenty five when Holden says "I was damn near bawling, I felt so damn happy...I don't know why. It was just that she looked so damn nice" I chose these two quotes because Holden has a special or unique relationship with his sister Phoebe. He let her into his life. She's the only one who he feels a real, strong connection with. At the end of chapter twenty five Holden starts to cry with tears of joy. As Phoebe rides on the carousel he has a realization, and acknowledges that Phoebe is a child, but will grow up no matter what and things will go wrong, but that's life. He cries because he loves Phoebe with all his heart, like the quote "If I'd never loved, I never would've cried" explains.
The song I Am a Rock relates to the book Catcher in the Rye because in the song, one of the lines says “In a deep and dark December; I am alone.” This line is a description of Holden while he is in Manhattan, he’s all alone. Also another line from the song is “And a rock feels no pain; and an island never cries.” This also relates to Holden because Holden rarely shows emotion throughout the book, except when he was with Phoebe at the end of the book. Also, people rarely pay attention to rocks which relates to Holden because people rarely pay attention to him too.
ReplyDelete“I am alone, gazing from my window to the streets below” I immediately thought of Holden in the hotel room sitting in his room by the window talking to Allie and thinking about suicide. The comparison of Holden to a rock is clever because a rock is not alive, it doesn’t have “friends” it doesn’t do anything, it could almost be dead and nobody takes notice. Holden tries to go unnoticed, and he doesn’t want friends or love or joy, because in the end they will just cause you pain. “I touch no-one and no-one touches me,” Holden does not associate himself with anyone, and he expects nobody to speak to him either, he has no connection to people because he is so cold, “rock.” He “built walls” to protect himself from the world around him, and he hides from it in his room, shielded in his armor.
ReplyDeleteThe song “I am a Rock” by Simon and Garfunkel, relates to the main character Holden in the book Catcher in the Rye. Holden is a rock he is alone, looked past, beaten up, and isolated from the rest of the world. A rock basically has all the same traits. Holden never is really appreciated much like a rock. Rocks are needed, but looked past. When is the last time someone has talked about a rock or even cared about one being around? You could say the same about Holden through most of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe overall mood of isolation is tied strongly to Holden's character in Catcher in the Rye. Also, lyrics of the song relate directly to events in J.D. Salinger's novel. The first verse displays the image of Holden in his room alone, lonely and remorseful. The line "I am alone, Gazing from my window, To the streets below" could be an implication of considering suicide.” The recurring phrase “I am a rock, I am an island” describes a person in an isolated state who doesn’t allow themselves to feel. This is a mirror image of Holden, who has a disconnect with his own emotion. The second verse has the idea that if you’re alone, and let no one in, you won’t get hurt (“I’ve built walls….. Friendship causes pain” )This is what Holden has done throughout the book, running away or shutting down when things with a person got too real or he was forced into a position he wasn’t ready for. Lastly, the line “Don’t talk of love; Well, I’ve heard that word before; It’s sleeping in my memory; I won’t disturb the slumber; of feelings that have died” could relate to Holden’s loss of Allie, and inability to cope with losing his brother- one of the few people he has ever loved and adored.
ReplyDeleteThe song “I am a rock” by Simon and Garfunkel relates to Catcher in the Rye in many ways. In particular, the lyrics in this song refer to Holden’s life in some ways. For example, Holden chooses to isolate himself from other people during his life, and a rock I isolated. Holden barely ever talks to his parents and never visits. In the 3rd and 4th lines in the first stanza, it says : “I am alone, Gazing from my window.” This relates to Holden because he is always on the outside looking in and is very alone. The lyrics relate to the book also because it is winter in New York and the poem talks about a winter’s day in a deep and dark December. Holden does not really have many friends and has not built a strong friendship with anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe song, “I am a Rock”, by Simon and Garfunkel relates to Catcher in the Rye in multiple ways. It portrays Holden’s feelings of alienation and solitude. One line that greatly relates the song to the book is, “I have no need for friendship/ Friendship causes pain”. This shows how Holden does not want to get close to people because he is afraid of getting hurt. A specific quote from the book that connects to that part of the song is “I’m sorry I told so many people about it. About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about…Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” Holden, whether he likes it or not, has formed connections with people he has interacted with. At the end of the book he realizes that there is good in people and that he misses them, even though he tried to avoid making relationships and feeling sadness.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point...great example from the book. As much as Holden tries, he cannot help but be impacted by people in his life. He has also learned to forgive others, and to deal with pain in a more healthy way.
DeleteI am a Rock by Simon and Garfunkel is similar in its lyrics to Holden's personality and philosophy. The second stanza in particular may as well be called ‘Holden: The Song’. The lines in that stanza are as follows: I’ve built walls/ A fortress deep and mighty/ That none may penetrate/ I have no need for friendship/ Friendship causes pain/ It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain. The fortress and wall are, in this situation, Holden’s defenses against other people. He doesn’t let anyone close to him. This is reinforced by the third line, “That none may penetrate”. He has these barriers as a defense against being hurt, betrayed, left, or anything else that friendship sometimes results in, as in lines four and five; “I have no need for friendship.
ReplyDelete