Lady Liberty

Today's post is dedicated to Tommy in Philly, whose grandmother gave me the idea for today's lesson and post.

Today I taught Philip about the Statue of Liberty and we read Emma Lazarus's famous poem "The New Colossus" which graces the pedestal of the statue.  The poem reads:

The New Colossus

BY EMMA LAZARUS

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-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

I started off asking Philip some factual questions about the statue: what country was it a gift from (FRANCE), what is it made of (COPPER).  Then we talked about the poem, with some emphasis on trying to understand the meanings of new words from context and then comparing their actual definitions.  It was fun for Philip who loves words. 

I first explained how a colossus is a statue. I asked, "From the sound of that word, what word do you think would describe the kind of statue it is?" BIG.  I told Philip about the original Greek Colossus of Rhodes which was a giant bronze statue considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and was erected to memorialize Rhodes' victory over Cyprus.  

I asked, "What do you think brazen means?"  SUPERIOR.  We looked up brazen which actually has several meanings, one being 'made of brass' and another being 'marked by contemptuous boldness.'  It made me appreciate the author' s word choice which covered both meanings.  It also made me wonder if the word's origin actually came from that triumphant, bronze statue.  

"What is the new colossus?"  STATUE OF LIBERTY.

"How is the new colossus different from the old?"  SHE ACCEPTS ALL PEOPLE

"How are they similar?" STRONG

"What do you think 'imprisoned lightning' symbolizes?"

I THINK REAL STRENGTH IS FROM EACH MAN REGARDLESS OF STATUS.

"What do you think an exile is?"  EACH PERSON REACHING OUT TO ESCAPE THEIR  'NOT' HOMELAND
"Why do you say 'not' homeland?"
SOME PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER WELCOME IN THEIR LAND.

"What do you think beacon means?"  TO NOT MOURN TODAY.  

"Actually it means something else.  It is a signaling or guiding device like a lighthouse.  So let's try again.  Give me another name for beacon."

GUIDE.  Philip added, "I AM EACH DAY LEARNING NEW WORDS."

"How do you think the immigrants felt after a long journey across the ocean and finally seeing the Statue of Liberty?"  THEY FELT WELCOME AND GLAD.

"How would you feel if you were one of the travelers and you looked at her 'mild eyes.'?"

I WOULD FEEL SOME COMFORT

"What do you think 'Keep ancient lands your storied pomp' means?"

STAY AWAY IF YOU ARE RICH AND PROUD.

"What kind of people is she calling?"

I THINK SHE WELCOMES THE POOR AND HOMELESS.

"What is the Golden door?"

THE ENTRANCE TO AMERICA.

"Why is it a gold door?"

IT IS A RICH AND GREAT COUNTRY.

"What did you think of this poem"

I LIKE IT BC IT IS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY EVERYONE HAS IN AMERICA TO NOTABLY ACCOMPLISH THEIR DREAMS.

Under Lady Liberty's Torch

By Philip Reyes

I see a lady strong and free.

She means peace between France and us.

Pillar of tomorrow's dreams,

She lights the path of foreigners' trust.