What is the purpose of The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus?

What is the main idea of Emma Lazarus’s poem on the Statue of Liberty?

In the poem, Lazarus depicts the Statue of Liberty as a woman who is welcoming all of those who need a home, and she names her the Mother of Exiles. She holds her torch in order to light the way of all of those who are seeking shelter in a new land.

What is the tone of The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus?

The tone of Lazarus’ “The New Colossus” is inspirational, as it assures its readers that America is a refuge for all.

What is the significance of the title The New Colossus?

Called “The New Colossus,” the poem’s title refers to the Colossus of Rhodes, a giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios that stood near the harbor of the Greek island of Rhodes. The words inscribed on a plaque affixed to the Statue of Liberty were written by Emma Lazarus.

What did Emma Lazarus say about the New Colossus?

She says that unlike the giant statute the Greeks made, America’s statue will be of “A mighty woman with a torch,/ whose flame is the imprisoned lightning…” Also in these lines, she stresses that the Statue of Liberty will be welcoming, whereas the Colossus was meant to intimidate those who reached Greece’s shores.

What is the meaning of the poem The New Colossus?

Lady Liberty will not turn anyone away: she will accept the tired and poor and anyone else who needs to be free. One cannot analyze this poem without first looking at its title, which refers to the statue of the Greek god Helios that once stood at the harbor in Rhodes, Greece, over two thousand years ago.

What does Emma Lazarus say about the Statue of Liberty?

In the poem, Lazarus depicts the Statue of Liberty as a woman who is welcoming all of those who need a home, and she names her the Mother of Exiles. She holds her torch in order to light the way of all of those who are seeking shelter in a new land.

What’s the difference between the old and New Colossus?

But perhaps, in the last analysis, the most important contrast in Lazarus’ poem is between old and new, specifically the old colossus and the new one, and, by extension, the Old World with the New World of America. ‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ cries the new colossus.