I Am A Rock Conceit

A conceit is a persuasive technique that provides a metaphor over a long passage. Using these components, the author or lyricist is able to convey their expressions and feelings to their audiences more clearly. Both in “Meditation XVII” by John Donne and “I am a Rock” by Simon and Garfunkel, the idea of conceits is used in order to prove their points. The concept of a man being an island is very prominent in the poem and the song, but with different intents. Throughout both the song and the poem, conceits are used to provide John Donne’s and Simon and Garfunkel’s audiences with a strong argument of why they should listen to them. Throughout John Donne’s sermon “Meditation XVII,” he emphasizes the importance of how no one is alone in this world. During his sermon, John Donne uses the conceit of “no man is an island” (Donne 443) to provide his audience with a concept that they can envision. The sermon uses this idea to show the parishioners that no matter what happens, people will always have each other to count on. He also uses the idea of a continent to compare with humanity as a whole. The sermon paints a picture of the argument in order to maintain clarity and precision. In John Donne’s “Meditation 17,” he uses the conceits of an island and a

One of the conceits that the narrators use is the idea of a rock. Simon and Garfunkel claim that, by being a rock, no one can hurt them or leave them with “loneliness” (Simon) and “despair” (Simon). By being a rock, the lyrists believe they will be better off, because they would have never known love. Love has caused both of them pain and they are trying to convince their audiences that it is a waste of time and love only ends in heartache. Using the conceit of a rock, Simon and Garfunkel are attempting to persuade their audience that it is better to be alone than being in