Question

In lines 6–7 of "The New Colossus," who can the reader infer that the light welcomes?

Answer 1

In lines 6-7 of "The New Colossus", the reader can infer that the light welcomes (a.) oppressed people (exiles).

"The New Colossus" is a poem that was written by Emma Lazarus. She wrote it to raise funds for the Statue of Liberty. For that reason, this poem is still considered to be a symbol of what the statue represents. In the poem, the speaker calls the Statue of Liberty the "Mother of Exiles" since the light that comes out from her torch is one of the first things that immigrants see when they arrive to New York. Therefore, the light welcomes the exiles but it is also a symbol of the protection that the Mother of Exiles offers to those who arrive to America for the first time.