“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses ...

Copyright ©2012 The Teacher Writing Center, a division of SG Consulting, Inc. Permission granted to use for educational purposes only. www.grammargallery.org

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

POETRY MONTH READING GRAMMAR

GALLERY

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to

breathe free, …”

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Emma Lazarus and the Statue of Liberty

Has somebody or something ever inspired you? The Statue of

Liberty inspired a poet named Emma Lazarus. Almost everyone has

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

Statue of Liberty Museum. You can read the full poem on the next page.

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to

breathe free, …”



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.


Your Knowledge Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________________


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


Your Knowledge Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________________


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?

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“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses ...

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