Question

2.2.5 discuss: the content of poetry

1. identify one example of an allusion in emma lazaruss poem \the new colossus.\ what effect does the allusion have on the poem?

Explanation:

The poem opens with an allusion to the Colossus of Rhodes, a giant ancient Greek statue of the sun god Helios, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. By contrasting the "brazen giant of Greek fame" (the Colossus of Rhodes, built to celebrate military victory and imperial power) with the Statue of Liberty (framed as a welcoming, motherly figure for immigrants), the allusion immediately establishes a thematic contrast between imperial dominance and America's stated identity as a refuge for the displaced. It elevates the Statue of Liberty by linking it to a legendary, iconic monument while redefining its purpose as one of compassion rather than conquest.

Answer:

1. Allusion example: The opening reference to the "brazen giant of Greek fame," which is an allusion to the Colossus of Rhodes, an ancient Greek monument.
2. Effect: The allusion creates a sharp contrast between the Colossus of Rhodes (a symbol of imperial power and military triumph) and the Statue of Liberty (a symbol of welcome, refuge, and hope for immigrants). It frames the Statue of Liberty as a reimagined, morally superior "new colossus" that rejects imperial dominance in favor of compassion, emphasizing the poem's core theme of America as a haven for the marginalized.