Read Rita Dove’s poem "Sonnet in Primary Colors,” then study Frida Kahlo’s painting Self-Portrait with Monkey and Parrot.

Question

This is for the woman with one black wing
perched over her eyes: lovely Frida, erect
among parrots, in the stern petticoats of the peasant,
who painted herself a present—
wildflowers entwining the plaster corset
her spine resides in, that flaming pillar—
this priestess in the romance of mirrors.

Each night she lay down in pain and rose
to the celluloid butterflies of her Beloved Dead,
Lenin and Marx and Stalin arrayed at the footstead.
And rose to her easel, the hundred dogs panting
like children along the graveled walks of the garden, Diego’s
love a skull in the circular window
of the thumbprint searing her immutable brow.

A painting titled Self-Portrait with Monkey and Parrot by Frida Kahlo, showing Frida posing with a dark-furred monkey and a green parrot. The multi-colored leaves of plants are in the background.

Which statements best describe differences in the style of the two works?

A: The painting pays attention to details of Kahlo’s physical appearance, while the poem does not.
B: The poem portrays the painter as serious, while the painting does not.
C: The poem reveals details that explain Kahlo’s facial expressions, while the painting does not.
D: The painting uses imagery that tells of Kahlo’s connection to nature, while the poem does not.

Answer 1

The best statements that describe differences in the style of Rita Dove's poem "Sonnet in Primary Colors" and Frida Kahlo's painting "Self-Portrait with Monkey and Parrot" are:

A: The painting pays attention to details of Kahlo’s physical appearance, while the poem does not.
C: The poem reveals details that explain Kahlo’s facial expressions, while the painting does not.

Explanation:

• A is accurate because the painting visually captures Kahlo's physical features and expression directly, while the poem describes her essence and symbolism but doesn't focus on physical details.
• C is also accurate because the poem discusses Kahlo's emotional and psychological experiences, which can provide insight into her expressions, while the painting presents a more straightforward depiction of her likeness without explaining her inner feelings.

B and D do not apply as closely:

• B is misleading because both works convey a sense of seriousness; however, the tone of the painting can also be interpreted as playful with the presence of the monkey and parrot.
• D is incorrect as the poem does make references to nature through metaphors, particularly with "wildflowers" and "celluloid butterflies."