Final answer:
Isabel's repetition of "ten circles to the left, ten circles to the right" is a literary device signifying the search for order and stability, much like the patterns and repetitions referenced in the provided texts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The refrain "ten circles to the left, ten circles to the right" likely serves as a focal point for Isabel's thoughts, providing a form of mental stability or coping mechanism.
The repetition could convey the sense of routine, control, or an attempt to find order in a chaotic situation.
This technique of using a repetitive phrase is common in literature and poetry to create rhythm, signify preoccupation with a thought, or emphasize a theme.
For example, in prose, characters might fixate on a phrase or idea as a way to center themselves, similarly to how poets use refrain for rhythm and to underscore critical concepts.
The provided references touch upon themes of repetition and pattern, from Herschel's circular band formation, which illustrates spatial understanding and the idea of being centred in a pattern, to the repeated observations in poetry and literature that create a sense of continuity and structure.
By reflecting on these patterns, individuals like Isabel may be using repetition for introspection, comfort, or to express their struggle to break away from the cyclical nature of life or imposed structures, as seen in the case of Claire's thoughts on old patterns and the invasion of new lines into uncharted aspects of life.