What form is the New Colossus?

• A. A novel
• B. A sonnet
• C. A short story
• D. A painting

Answer: (B)

The main idea is recognizing literary form. The New Colossus is a sonnet, a short, 14-line poem written in verse, often with a regular rhythm and a specific rhyme pattern. This piece is widely taught as a Petrarchan sonnet, which means it follows the tight 14-line structure that concentrates a single idea or emotional argument. Because it is poetry, not prose, it isn’t a novel or a short story, which are longer narrative works, and it isn’t a painting, which is a visual artwork. The poem’s implications and message come through its rhythmic line structure and concise form, making a powerful statement in verse rather than in prose or image.