Highlight evidence in the last six lines that "The
New Colossus" is a sonnet. What is the effect of
this structure? Explain your answer using
evidence from the text.

Respuesta :

"The New Colossus" is indeed a sonnet, evidenced by its structure and form. A sonnet typically consists of 14 lines, with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. Let's examine the last six lines of "The New Colossus" to highlight its sonnet structure:

Here are the last six lines of the poem:

"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-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

These lines adhere to the sonnet form by comprising a total of 14 lines. Additionally, they maintain a specific meter and rhyme scheme, contributing to the sonnet's formal structure.

The effect of this structure is to emphasize the poem's message and themes within a concise and structured framework. By adhering to the sonnet form, the poem achieves a sense of balance and symmetry, enhancing its aesthetic appeal and rhetorical impact. The strict structure of the sonnet allows the poet to convey powerful emotions and ideas within a limited space, leading to a concentrated and impactful expression of the poem's themes.

Moreover, the sonnet's formality and elegance serve to elevate the poem's subject matter—the welcoming of immigrants to America—to a more dignified and reverential status. The structured nature of the sonnet reflects the gravity and importance of the poem's message, emphasizing the significance of compassion, inclusivity, and the American ideal of liberty. Thus, the sonnet form enhances the poem's effectiveness in conveying its themes and resonating with the reader.

"The New Colossus" is indeed a sonnet, evidenced by its structure and form. A sonnet typically consists of 14 lines, with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. Let's examine the last six lines of "The New Colossus" to highlight its sonnet structure:

Here are the last six lines of the poem:

"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-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

These lines adhere to the sonnet form by comprising a total of 14 lines. Additionally, they maintain a specific meter and rhyme scheme, contributing to the sonnet's formal structure.

The effect of this structure is to emphasize the poem's message and themes within a concise and structured framework. By adhering to the sonnet form, the poem achieves a sense of balance and symmetry, enhancing its aesthetic appeal and rhetorical impact. The strict structure of the sonnet allows the poet to convey powerful emotions and ideas within a limited space, leading to a concentrated and impactful expression of the poem's themes.

Moreover, the sonnet's formality and elegance serve to elevate the poem's subject matter—the welcoming of immigrants to America—to a more dignified and reverential status. The structured nature of the sonnet reflects the gravity and importance of the poem's message, emphasizing the significance of compassion, inclusivity, and the American ideal of liberty. Thus, the sonnet form enhances the poem's effectiveness in conveying its themes and resonating with the reader.

Q&A Education