Compelling Imagery Of A Mighty Statue example essay topic

Multiple critics claim the best way to experience a piece of literature is to recreate the imagery the author is was attempting to portray when writing it. This theory is best put into practice by poetry. Poetry has been debated as some of the most difficult literary works to understand or comprehend a common theme. It has also been found that through imagery, the poet can grasps the reader's attention and helps them focus on the meaning of the poem. Emma Lazarus was no exception. Lazarus created a poem entitled, "The New Colossus", and was written about 1883.

This poem was a request by President Grover Cleveland to capture the essence of the ever-famous Statue of Liberty. President Cleveland read the sonnet at the opening ceremony when the statue was unveiled. To this day, the last line of the poem, "I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" is engraved in the statue's base. The poem was moving to all because the readers and listeners could experience the compelling imagery of a mighty statue, which concluded them to Lazarus' theme of liberty.

The imagination has tendencies to be wild and untamable. However, Lazarus finds great ways to tame the imagination and create one very distinct image. The first way through which she does this through visual imagery. The first visual the reader is given is The New Colossus, which is an allusion to the Colossus of Rhodes. Colossus was a huge bronze statue that once stood in the harbor on the Aegean Island of Rhodes. Built to commemorate a military victory, the statue was considered one of the so-called Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

It has also been said that Colossus was so massive that one foot stood on each side of the harbor. Lazarus used this reference to describe to readers just how large the Statue of Liberty is. Buy giving the reader the two to compare, the statue's size is put into proportion and becomes more visual than just imagination. Also, Lazarus' diction creates this every powerful and mighty visual of the Statue of Liberty.

For example, "mighty woman" is given to the statue rather than the "conquering limbs". The reason being is that Lazarus did not want to give the image that the Statue of Liberty was a threat or reminder of conquering battles. The Statue is to be seen as a statue that stands tall, proud, and potent, giving each American the pride, which we have seen throughout the generations. Lazarus gives a compelling visual image of this enormous, powerful, and mighty statue. Auditory imagery is not one you might think Lazarus would use to be able to portray the magnificence of the Statue of Liberty. However, in the bottom half of the poem, the quotes given to the statue show the radiance proclaimed in the visual imagery". '... your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.. ' " is a alliteration that is used to give the statue's words more emphasis.

The poem would not have been the same or as effective to the reader by stating, .".. your tired, poor, and huddled masses... ". The emphasis of using "your" multiple times gives the reader the auditory visual of multiple people, from different nations, coming to seek refuge under this statue of might. Another example of auditory imagery is again the author's diction. Lazarus' choice of words as "tired,"wretched", and "homeless", are followed by up lifting words like "lamp,"lift", and "golden".

This gives the reader an auditory image of a great statue sheltering the tired and homes by lifting up spirits and opening the golden door to a better world. Another auditory image given is through onomatopoeia. Lazarus uses the words "breath free", in the eleventh line of the poem. While just the words are stated, the reader is given the image of a person who has been let go from all restraints and has finally been given the opportunity to breath deeply and wholly. The reader can hear the sound of the deep breaths because of Lazarus' word choice. The auditory imagery of liberty, might and power is shown through Lazarus' use of alliteration and word choice.

Emma Lazarus' "The New Colossus" is her best-known contribution to mainstream American literature and culture. The poem has contributed to the belief that America means opportunity and freedom for "huddled masses". Lazarus conveyed her deepest loyalty to the best of America through the poem's visual and auditory imagery. The Statue of Liberty is given the characteristics of a hero, with power, might, and hope, while it is also seen as compassionate and gracious. Through all of the imagery, a common theme of pride and liberty is seen and engulfs the reader in America's most prized thoughts and feelings.