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AP Success - AP English Literature: Planetarium

A woman in the shape of a monster   
a monster in the shape of a woman   
the skies are full of them
5
a woman      ‘in the snow
among the Clocks and instruments   
or measuring the ground with poles’
in her 98 years to discover   
10
8 comets
she whom the moon ruled   
like us
levitating into the night sky   
15
riding the polished lenses
Galaxies of women, there
doing penance for impetuousness   
ribs chilled   
20
in those spaces    of the mind
An eye,
          ‘virile, precise and absolutely certain’
25
          from the mad webs of Uranusborg
                                                            encountering the NOVA   
every impulse of light exploding
30
from the core
as life flies out of us
             Tycho whispering at last
35
             ‘Let me not seem to have lived in vain’
What we see, we see   
and seeing is changing
40
the light that shrivels a mountain   
and leaves a man alive
Heartbeat of the pulsar
heart sweating through my body
45
The radio impulse   
pouring in from Taurus
         I am bombarded yet         I stand
50
I have been standing all my life in the   
direct path of a battery of signals
the most accurately transmitted most   
untranslatable language in the universe
55
I am a galactic cloud so deep      so invo-
luted that a light wave could take 15   
years to travel through me       And has   
taken      I am an instrument in the shape   
of a woman trying to translate pulsations   
60
into images    for the relief of the body   
and the reconstruction of the mind.
Source 1: Adrienne Rich, "Planetarium"  from Collected Poems: 1950-2012. Copyright © 2016 by The Adrienne Rich Literary Trust.  Copyright © 1971 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. Reprinted by permission of W. W. Norton & Company, Inc..
1
The phrase "a woman in the shape of a monster / a monster in the shape of a woman" (lines 1-2) primarily serves to:
  • Highlight the physical appearance of the woman.
  • Indicate a transformation of the woman into a monster.
  • Contrast the external appearance with the internal identity.
  • Emphasize the societal judgment of the woman's actions.
  • Illustrate the dual nature of the woman's character.
2
In lines 5-7, the imagery associated with "a woman 'in the snow / among the Clocks and instruments / or measuring the ground with poles'" most directly suggests:
  • A sense of isolation and detachment.
  • The passage of time and its effects on the woman.
  • The woman's struggle against natural elements.
  • The woman's engagement with scientific endeavors.
  • The woman's domestic responsibilities.
3
The mention of "8 comets" in line 10 most likely symbolizes:
  • The woman's destructive power and influence.
  • The vastness and mystery of the universe.
  • The fleeting nature of life and opportunities.
  • The woman's achievements and discoveries.
  • The woman's aspirations and dreams.
4
The phrase "she whom the moon ruled" (line 12) implies that the woman:
  • Has a mystical or supernatural connection to the moon.
  • Has a cyclical nature akin to the phases of the moon.
  • Is isolated from society and aligned with nature.
  • Is influenced by external forces beyond her control.
  • Possesses a deep understanding of astronomical phenomena.
5
The reference to "Galaxies of women" in line 17 most likely symbolizes:
  • The isolation and distance between individual women.
  • The multitude of roles women play in society.
  • The expansive and unexplored potential of women.
  • The cosmic insignificance of human endeavors.
  • The collective struggles and triumphs of women.
6
The description of the eye as "virile, precise and absolutely certain" (line 24) contrasts with the earlier depictions of women by suggesting:
  • A male perspective that is confident and assertive.
  • The contrast between human perceptions and cosmic realities.
  • A scientific approach to understanding the universe.
  • The dominance of masculine traits in certain contexts.
  • The reliability and objectivity of observation.
7
The term "NOVA" in line 27 metaphorically represents:
  • The cyclical nature of creation and destruction.
  • The woman's impact on her surroundings and society.
  • A sudden enlightenment or realization experienced by the woman.
  • The birth of new ideas or the beginning of a transformative phase.
  • The explosive and destructive potential within the woman.
8
In lines 37-38, "What we see, we see / and seeing is changing" suggests that:
  • Human interaction with the world is transformative.
  • Observing something can alter its inherent nature.
  • Understanding is a dynamic and evolving process.
  • Visibility and recognition are essential for change.
  • Perception is subjective and influenced by personal biases.
9
The comparison of a heartbeat to "the pulsar" (line 43) serves to:
  • Illustrate the woman's connection to cosmic phenomena.
  • Emphasize the rhythm and vitality inherent in nature.
  • Portray the woman as a central and stable force.
  • Suggest a synchronicity between personal and universal events.
  • Highlight the mechanical aspects of the human body.
10
The passage concludes with the speaker identifying as "an instrument in the shape of a woman" (line 58), which suggests:
  • The speaker's alignment with the tools of discovery and understanding.
  • The speaker's struggle with her identity and purpose.
  • The speaker's role as a mediator between different realms of experience.
  • The reduction of the speaker's identity to her functional attributes.
  • The transformation of the speaker through external influences.
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