What is the significance of the title?
Answer. The title of the sonnet, ‘The New Colossus’, explains the significance of a giant statue being used replacement for the earlier statue of Greek God Helios. Thus, this was a bigger event in the history which marked the existence of Roman goddess, ‘Libertas’ (The statue of Liberty) into the lives of Americans as a replacement to the earlier era of disgrace and fallen America.
2. What distinguishes Lady Liberty from Greek predecessor?
Answer. There were many stark contrasts between Lady Liberty and her Greek Predecessor, Helios. First of all, the liberty statue was embarked with gentleness of feminism when compared to masculine valour of Helios. Further, Helios was a personification of general aggressiveness whereas statue of Liberty exemplified maternity to be beyond all moral senses, Mother of all exiles. Finally, the predecessor is explained to be brazen giant whereas the successor is described as enlightening the world. 3. Can you determine what the phrase “twin cities” refers to? What bridge is referred in poem?
Answer. Generally, the material implications from the poem can infer the two cities being referred here to be New York and New Jersey. But, in terms of abstract notifications it can be deduced that the author talked about two era of the old and the new America. The bridge mentioned refers to the Brooklyn Bridge which was built almost in the same year as the statue of liberty.4. What do you think Lazarus and the committee who commissioned her work wanted to communicate? Do you think her promise still holds true?
Answer. Lazarus and her committee aimed at developing a literal mode of communicating the true purpose behind setting up the statue of liberty. The motif which was more inclined towards symbolizing the emancipation of Americans from grieves and miseries. The statue was enshrined to enlighten the world about American glory. Yes, the promise is still intact and evident in the way Americans pursue their True American dream. Anzia Yezierska
What is Yezierska’s initial impression of America? How does she compare it to her life in Russia?
Answer. Yezierska’s initial impression of America was to be land where freedom of expression and right to creativity were fully achievable for an individual. She came to America after she discovered that her Russian life was totally devoid of any rights to choose a career where she could freely choose a career which can give her enough space for creativity. . 2. What does she aspire to do when she first arrives in America? What must she do first?
Answer. When she first arrived in America, Yezierska aspired for a job in which she could have a fare share of self expression in terms of creativity and she vouched for such jobs in spite of the fact that she had no proficiency in English. She should have opted for improving her language skills to master English for attaining her desired job in America. She missed on the language part and were left with no other option but to work as a maid for an American family.3. Do you think her “Americanized family” treats her fairly? Why or why not?
Answer. The Americanized family made her work for a month like a housekeeper and provided her food and shelter to ensure that she worked for maximum hours within the premises. Yezierska also gave her full dedication but at the end of month she was denied of any wage as the family considered her provision to basic amenities to be sufficient enough. Definitely, she was treated unfairly because the family took advantage of the fact that she couldn’t speak English and had nowhere else to go. . 4. What was the best part of her second job on Delancey Street? Why did she end up losing it?
Answer. Yezierska’s second job in Delancey Street was in sweat shop where she was supposed to sew buttons and the wages were so minimal that she could barely keep up with food and lodging. She lost it when the work hours got raised and she was forced to work longer for same wages. Hence, she worked for some time to gain fully on her skills and left for a better job.5. What kind of work does Anzia prefer to do? What is stopping her?
Answer. Anzia preferred to work in a profile where she could express her feelings and her cravings from her Russian background in a way that the Americans valued her opinions. There were two main obstacles between she and her dreams, firstly the command over English language and secondly, she needed to understand the true base of American culture for which she pursued American history. These facts were actually stopping her from achieving her dreams.6. Do you agree with the author’s argument that immigrants should receive free room and board? Why or why not?
Answer. Yes, I agree with author’s argument about provision of basic amenities to immigrants. The author has expressed her situation as an Russian immigrant who suffered from the issues of gaining access to basic amenities like food and shelter in America. As an immigrant may lack language and basic skills to earn properly in the initiate face, it is not easy to learn the basics in initial phase. Hence, the immigrants must be provided these facilities for some initial tenure till they develop themselves for the American environment. . 7. What lessons did she learn from the Pilgrims? How did this knowledge transform her idea of what it takes to succeed in America? Do you agree with her assessment?
Answer. Anzia learned from the life of Pilgrims that instead of pleading for their ways into the American land they were merely forming their own paths and treading on them to reach for their own answers. This fact about the pilgrims gave the notion of taking self oriented stand in exploring the notional fundamentals of American culture, standing in parallel to Americans. Yes, I agree with her assessment as American history itself explains that they value only those who walk along the national pace to create the epitomes of success. .8. How does the author utilize the concepts of “hunger” and “appetite” to bring out her thesis?
Answer. The author has used the concepts of hunger and appetite to express the longing for an individual’s basic amenities in a developed country in spite of the fact that she was not eligible to gain them at direct entry into the country. She has used these nations to express the failure and reason for growth of an individual with respect to the tough times in a nation.
