Exercise 1
Bob Dylan
1- Select 7 important events in his life and explain why you chose them?
2- Does he deserve the Nobel Prize for being a poet? What’s your opinion about it?
Exercise 2
Listen to the poem.
Blowin’ In The Wind Lyrics by Bob Dylan
Before you call him a man ?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand ?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned ?
The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea ?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free ?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn’t see ?
The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky ?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry ?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died ?
The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
Blowing in the wind (Translation)
Cuántos caminos debe recorrer un hombre,
antes de que le llames “hombre”
Cuántos mares debe surcar una blanca paloma,
antes de dormir en la arena.
Cuántas veces deben volar las balas de cañón,
antes de ser prohibidas para siempre.
La respuesta, amigo mío, está flotando (silbando) en el viento,
la respuesta está flotando en el viento.
Cuántos años puede existir una montaña,
antes de que sea lavada (arrasada) por el mar.
Cuántos años pueden vivir algunos,
antes de que se les permita ser libres.
Cuántas veces puede un hombre girar la cabeza,
y fingir que simplemente no lo ha visto.
La respuesta, amigo mío, está flotando en el viento.
La respuesta está flotando en el viento.
Cuántas veces debe un hombre levantar la vista,
antes de poder ver el cielo.
Cuántas orejas debe tener un hombre,
antes de poder oír a la gente llorar.
Cuántas muertes serán necesarias,
antes de que él se de cuenta,
de que ha muerto demasiada gente.
La respuesta, amigo mío, está flotando en el viento.
La respuesta está flotando en el viento.
Exercise 3
This song suggests that by observing and taking note of the real world, we can understand the world. We don’t need political vision, leaders, theories or anything else.
- This poem was written in the 60s. What important political events happened in the nineteen sixties around the world? In your opinion, which of these events influenced Bob Dylan way of thinking?
- What other questions would you ask yourselves to try to understand the world?
- Do you think we can understand the world just by observing it? Why?
- What song you know reflects better our moment in history?
- Why could we say that this is is a poem? What elements of poetry can you see? (See Elements of Poetry) Give examples.