The New Colossus,” a Poem by Emma Lazarus

GRAMMAR POETRY MONTH READING GALLERY

Dear Educator,

We are pleased to present you with our special April reading, “The New Colossus,” a poem by Emma Lazarus. We’re highlighting this historic poem about the Statue of Liberty in honor of National Poetry Month celebrated every April.

This reading and all the readings in Grammar Gallery’s new Reading Gallery reinforce the grammatical forms students are learning, teach them how to access academic content, and expose them to a wide variety of reading genres.

In addition to teaching students about the history of this famous poem, the attached reading also reinforces indefinite pronouns. This reading and the comprehension questions that follow are especially appropriate for English learners at Levels 4-5.

You and your students also can submit readings for publication in our 2012 special reading series. Click here for the submission guidelines.

Sincerely, The Grammar Gallery Team

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, …”

Copyright ©2012 The Teacher Writing Center, a division of SG Consulting, Inc. Permission granted to use for educational purposes only. www.grammargallery.org Emma Lazarus and the Statue of Liberty “Give me your tired, your poor,

Has somebody or something ever inspired you? The Statue of Your huddled masses yearning to Liberty inspired a poet named Emma Lazarus. Almost everyone has breathe free, …” heard of the Statue of Liberty. It is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, and has served as a symbol of freedom since it was dedicated in 1886. The statue was a gift from France to the United States. It represents the Roman goddess of freedom. She is holding a torch in one hand and a tablet in the other. The date of the Declaration of Independence—July 4, 1776—is inscribed on the tablet. Anyone who has visited New York City has probably seen the Statue of Liberty. Lazarus wrote a poem, “The New Colossus,” about the statue and its significance to American immigrants. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, immigrants flocked to the United States like nowhere else in the world. As millions of immigrants approached the United States by boat, they could see the statue standing tall and proud, welcoming them to the land of freedom and opportunity. Only some know that the title and first two lines of Lazarus’ poem refer to the Colossus of Rhodes, a Greek statue and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In her poem, Lazarus depicts the statue as welcoming to everybody, telling countries of Europe that the United States will embrace all of their people—those who are tired, poor, and “yearning to breathe free.” In 1903, Lazarus’ poem was placed on a bronze tablet inside the statue. Today, it is displayed in the Copyright ©2012 The Teacher Writing Center, a division of SG Consulting, Inc. Permission granted to use for educational purposes only. www.grammargallery.org Statue of Liberty Museum. You can read the full poem on the next page. The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame, "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

by Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) was an American poet from New York City. Her ancestors immigrated from Portugal to the United States. Lazarus studied American and British literature as well as several languages. “The New Colossus” is Lazarus’ most famous poem. She also wrote a novel and two plays.

1. What is another word for “represents” in the following sentence? It represents the Roman goddess of freedom.

 replaces  demonstrates  symbolizes

2. Who is Lazarus writing about in “The New Colossus”?

 people who built the Seven Wonders of the World  people who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1800s and 1900s  people who signed the Declaration of Independence

3. Which part of the statue does the last line of “The New Colossus” refer to?

 the torch  the tablet  the crown

4. Which word do you think Lazarus would use to describe the Statue of Liberty?

 imprisoned  welcoming  poor

5. Choose the best word to complete this sentence: Lazarus believed that the United States welcomed _ _ _.

 nobody  everyone  anywhere

6. Write a short essay in response to the question or prompt below. Think about what you will write. Make sure your short essay has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Include details and examples. Write complete sentences. Check that you are using correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Make your writing clear. Use two or more indefinite pronouns (e.g., anybody) in your essay.

What does the Statue of Liberty mean to you? Do you view the statue in the same way that Emma Lazarus viewed it? Why or why not?

______