AP Latin : Poetic Syntax
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
All AP Latin Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #51 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Forsitan audieris aliquam certamine cursus
veloces superasse viros: non fabula rumor
ille fuit; superabat enim. nec dicere posses,
laude pedum formaene bono praestantior esset.
scitanti deus huic de coniuge 'coniuge' dixit 5
'nil opus est, Atalanta, tibi: fuge coniugis usum.
nec tamen effugies teque ipsa viva carebis.'
territa sorte dei per opacas innuba silvas
vivit et instantem turbam violenta procorum
condicione fugat, 'ne' c 'sum potiunda, nisi' inquit 10
'victa prius cursu. pedibus contendite mecum:
praemia veloci coniunx thalamique dabuntur,
mors pretium tardis: ea lex certaminis esto.'
illa quidem inmitis, sed (tanta potentia formae est)
venit ad hanc legem temeraria turba procorum. 15
sederat Hippomenes cursus spectator iniqui
et 'petitur cuiquam per tanta pericula coniunx?'
dixerat ac nimios iuvenum damnarat amores;
What is the use of "viros" in line 2?
Subject of "audieris" (line 1)
Direct object of "veloces" (line 2)
Direct object of "superasse" (line 2)
Direct object of "audieris" (line 1)
Direct object of "superasse" (line 2)
The word "viros" is the direct object of the infinitive "superasse" in line 2. Note that "veloces" is an adjective, so it cannot take a direct object.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 10. 560-578)
Example Question #51 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
How should "consedere" in line 1 be translated?
They sat down
You are stopped
To stop
To sit
They sat down
The word "consedere" comes from "consido, considere, consedi, concessus," which means to sit down together (to make a decision or hold a conference). "Consedere" is the syncopated form of "consederunt," which translates as they sat down. The syncopated form can be recognized because the infinitive-looking ending ("-ere") is on the end of the perfect stem ("consed-").
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #52 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
What is the case of "corona" in line 1?
Nominative
Accusative
Ablative
Genitive
Ablative
The word "corona" comes from "corona, coronae." "Corona" is in the ablative case because it is being used in an ablative absolute in conjunction with "stante" (line 1).
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #53 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
Which word is the subject of "surgit" in line 2?
"Aiax" (line 2)
"vulgi" (line 1)
"corona" (line 1)
"hos" (line 2)
"Aiax" (line 2)
"Aiax" is the proper subject of the word "surgit." Declined as "Aiax, Aiacis," this is name for one of the famous Greek fighters and is in the nominative case, acting as the appositive for "dominus" (line 2). "Corona" is actually ablative because it is in an ablative absolute. "Hos" is the accusative object of the preposition "ad," and "vulgi" is genitive of specification, describing "corona" (line 1).
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #54 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
What is the case and number of "litora" in line 4?
Accusative Plural
Ablative Singular
Nominative Singular
Nominative Plural
Accusative Plural
The word "litora" comes from "litus, litoris," which is a neuter, third declension noun. "Litora" is the nominative and accusative forms of this word. We know it is in the accusative case; however, because it is acting as the direct object of "respexit" (line 4).
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #55 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic 5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille: 10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?
Why is "esset" (line 1) subjunctive?
It is an indirect Command
it is in the Jussive Subjunctive
It is a result Clause
it is a conditional statement
it is a conditional statement
The word "esset" is in the subjunctive mood because it is in a contrary to fact conditional statement. This is noticeable because of the presence of "si" (if).
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #56 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic 5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille: 10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?
What word is the antecedent of "qui" (line 3)?
"Moenia" (line 3)
"Ego" (line 1)
"Nobilitate" (line 2)
"Telemone" (line 2)
"Ego" (line 1)
The word "qui" is referring to "ego" in line 1. The speaker in this passage is still talking in first person about himself.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #57 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic 5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille: 10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?
What function the word "Troiana" performing in line 3?
Subject of "cepit" (line 3)
Ablative of Means
Ablative of Separation
Describing "litora" (line 4)
Describing "litora" (line 4)
The word "Troiana" comes from "Troianus, a, um," the adjective for Trojan. It is being used in this sentence in order to describe the word "litora," so it is in the accusative plural, neuter form.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #58 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic 5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille: 10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?
What case is "Aeoliden" in line 6?
Dative
Genitive
Accusative
Nominative
Accusative
The word "Aeoliden" is an example of a Greek accusative. This is usually recognizable by an -n ending, in addition to the word being Greek itself. "Aeolides" is a Greek name, which is why the author used Greek here, which is not uncommon in Latin literature.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #59 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Hector adest secumque deos in proelia ducit,
quaque ruit, non tu tantum terreris, Ulixe,
sed fortes etiam: tantum trahit ille timoris.
hunc ego sanguineae successu caedis ovantem
eminus ingenti resupinum pondere fudi, 5
hunc ego poscentem, cum quo concurreret, unus
sustinui: sortemque meam vovistis, Achivi,
et vestrae valuere preces. si quaeritis huius
fortunam pugnae, non sum superatus ab illo.
ecce ferunt Troes ferrumque ignesque Iovemque 10
in Danaas classes: ubi nunc facundus Ulixes?
nempe ego mille meo protexi pectore puppes,
spem vestri reditus: date pro tot navibus arma.
"Pondere" in line 5 is ___________.
an infinitive
an adverb
an ablative case noun
a participle
an ablative case noun
The word "pondere" comes from "pondus, ponderis," which is a noun meaning a weight or burden.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)
All AP Latin Resources
