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Difficulty: MediumAllusions in Poetry

Read the following excerpt from Emma Lazarus's sonnet "The New Colossus" (1883) carefully:

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.

In the excerpt, which of the following best describes the primary function of the speaker’s allusion to "the brazen giant of Greek fame" (line 1)?

  1. A
    to suggest that the new monument is designed to equal the physical scale and architectural dominance of ancient wonders
  2. B
    to praise the structural craftsmanship of classical Greek artisans as the ideal standard for modern American monuments
  3. to establish a contrast between an ancient monument celebrating military conquest and a modern figure representing welcoming refugeAnswer
  4. D
    to warn that the United States is destined to replicate the imperial hubris and eventual collapse of ancient empires
  5. E
    to express the speaker’s personal nostalgia for the artistic achievements of classical European civilizations

Answer

to establish a contrast between an ancient monument celebrating military conquest and a modern figure representing welcoming refuge
The allusion to the Colossus of Rhodes ('the brazen giant of Greek fame') establishes a contrast between the ancient world's celebration of military power and the modern figure's role as a symbol of welcoming refuge. By starting the poem with 'Not like,' the speaker rejects the values of imperial domination and highlights the Statue of Liberty's role as a maternal protector of exiles.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical and mythological context of the allusion in line 1.
The 'brazen giant of Greek fame' refers to the Colossus of Rhodes, an ancient Greek statue of the sun god Helios celebrated for its massive scale and military significance.
Recognizing the source of the allusion is essential to understanding the values it represents in the poem.
2
Analyze the syntax and tone of the opening lines.
The poem opens with 'Not like,' establishing an immediate negative comparison and indicating a rejection of the characteristics associated with the Colossus.
The negation signals that the speaker is setting up a juxtaposition rather than drawing an equivalent comparison.
3
Evaluate the contrast between the two figures described.
The 'brazen giant' is characterized by 'conquering limbs astride from land to land' (military conquest), while the new figure is a 'mighty woman' called the 'Mother of Exiles' who offers 'world-wide welcome' (refuge and maternal care).
Comparing these descriptions reveals that the allusion functions to highlight a shift from ancient values of empire to modern values of humanitarian hospitality.

Key Concept

Analyzing how allusions are used in poetry to create contrast, establish thematic tone, and highlight shifts in cultural or philosophical values.
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Topics

Allusions in Poetry

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