““The New ColossusThe New Colossus””

Emma Lazarus Emma Lazarus

BiographiesBiographies

Emma LazarusEmma Lazarus

Connect to the PoemConnect to the Poem

Think about a place that evokes vivid Think about a place that evokes vivid memories or creates strong emotions in you. It memories or creates strong emotions in you. It could be your old neighborhood, a relativecould be your old neighborhood, a relative ’’s s house, or a special place you have visited.house, or a special place you have visited.

Freewrite for a few minutes about the place Freewrite for a few minutes about the place you selected. Briefly describe it and tell why it you selected. Briefly describe it and tell why it makes you feel the way it does.makes you feel the way it does.

Building BackgroundBuilding BackgroundIn the late nineteenth and early twentieth In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, people from around the world centuries, people from around the world immigrated to the United States. Many came immigrated to the United States. Many came with nothing but the clothes on their backs and with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the dream of a better life. Life during this time the dream of a better life. Life during this time was often difficult. Many people had to work long was often difficult. Many people had to work long hours in sickening conditions, and equal rights hours in sickening conditions, and equal rights for all people had not yet been established.for all people had not yet been established.

““The New ColossusThe New Colossus”” by Emma Lazarus is the by Emma Lazarus is the poem engraved on the pedestal on which the poem engraved on the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands. The Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty stands. The Statue of Liberty was a gift given to the United States by France in was a gift given to the United States by France in 1885. It stands in New York Harbor and has 1885. It stands in New York Harbor and has become one of the most well-known and beloved become one of the most well-known and beloved symbols of freedom in the United States.symbols of freedom in the United States.

Literary Element: Literary Element: SonnetSonnet

A A sonnetsonnet is a poem of fourteen lines. Sonnets is a poem of fourteen lines. Sonnets usually have strict rhyme patterns and deal with a usually have strict rhyme patterns and deal with a single theme, idea, or emotion. For example, many single theme, idea, or emotion. For example, many of William Shakespeareof William Shakespeare’’s sonnets address the topic s sonnets address the topic of love.of love.

Sonnets are an important and challenging form of Sonnets are an important and challenging form of poetry. To identify a sonnet, determine the rhyme poetry. To identify a sonnet, determine the rhyme pattern at the ends of lines. Also look for pattern at the ends of lines. Also look for iambic iambic pentameterpentameter. An . An iambiamb is a pair of syllables whose is a pair of syllables whose first syllable is unstressed and whose second syllable first syllable is unstressed and whose second syllable is stressed (like the word is stressed (like the word todaytoday). ). PentameterPentameter means the line has five such pairs of syllables.means the line has five such pairs of syllables.

As you read the poems, identify the traits that make As you read the poems, identify the traits that make them sonnets: Softly tap the rhythm, listen for the them sonnets: Softly tap the rhythm, listen for the end rhymes, and identify the theme.end rhymes, and identify the theme.

““The New ColossusThe New Colossus””Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset fates shall standHere at our sea-washed, sunset fates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flameA mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her nameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-handMother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Reading Check & Reading Check & InterpretationsInterpretations

In In ““The New Colossus,The New Colossus,”” how does Emma Lazarus how does Emma Lazarus describe the Statue of Liberty?describe the Statue of Liberty?

In In ““The New Colossus,The New Colossus,”” to what does to what does ““the golden the golden doordoor”” refer? refer?

Imagine you are a newly arrived immigrant to the Imagine you are a newly arrived immigrant to the United States. How would you feel if you saw the United States. How would you feel if you saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time? Explain why Statue of Liberty for the first time? Explain why you think you would feel that way.you think you would feel that way.

Which would be more memorable to you: a visit to Which would be more memorable to you: a visit to a historic national monument, such as the Statue a historic national monument, such as the Statue of Liberty, or to a famous personof Liberty, or to a famous person’’s childhood s childhood home? Why?home? Why?