Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame / With conquering limbs astride from land to land...
-- Speaker (Lines 1 – 2)

Importance: These opening lines of "The New Colossus" establish a contrast between classical militarism and American fellow-feeling that will color the remainder of the poem. "Brazen giant" refers to the notoriously gargantuan Colossus at Rhodes, installed on the shores of that city state in celebration of a recent military victory. While the Grecian statue strikes a possessive, intimidating pose, the Statue of Liberty is altogether more welcoming, raising her torch to light the way of "homeless," wandering foreigners (13).

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand / A mighty woman with a torch...
-- Speaker (Lines 3 – 4)

Importance: This verse follows immediately after the opening lines of the poem. It is the first description we read of the Statue of Liberty, styled in contrast to the "brazen giant" of line one. Here, the statue is characterized as a sort of vigilant...