AP Latin : Literary Device Identification
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Apostrophe
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
"O patrona virgo" (line 9) is an example of which of the following?
Anaphora
Aposiopesis
Apostrophe
Alliteration
Apostrophe
"O patrona virgo" is an example of apostrophe—addressing a person who is not present.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #1 : Apostrophe
Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.
"Marce Tulli" (line 2) is an example of which of the following?
Alliteration
Exclamation
Anastrophe
Apostrophe
Apostrophe
"Marce Tulli" is vocative because it is referring to someone (Cicero) directly. Cicero, however is not present; this is an example of apostrophe.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Example Question #12 : Semantic Devices
Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit
litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem, 5
inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,
Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.
Musa, mihi causas memora, quo numine laeso,
quidve dolens, regina deum tot volvere casus
insignem pietate virum, tot adire labores 10
impulerit. Tantaene animis caelestibus irae?
The word "Musa" (line 8) is an example of which of the following?
Prolepsis
Metonymy
Apostrophe
Synchesis
Apostrophe
In like 11, Vergil invokes the Muses; however, the Muses are not actually present. Calling upon/speaking to individuals that are not present is called apostrophe.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-12)
Example Question #13 : Semantic Devices
Aeneas miratus enim motusque tumultu
'dic,' ait, 'o virgo, quid vult concursus ad amnem?
quidve petunt animae? vel quo discrimine ripas
hae linquunt, illae remis vada livida verrunt?'
olli sic breviter fata est longaeva sacerdos: 5
'Anchisa generate, deum certissima proles,
Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem,
di cuius iurare timent et fallere numen.
haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est . . .
"O virgo" (line 2) is an example of which of the following?
Metaphor
Litotes
Hyperbole
Apostrophe
Apostrophe
With the words "o virgo," the speaker it speaking to someone who is not present. This is an example of apostrophe.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)
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