AP Latin : Poetic Syntax
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #71 : Poetic Syntax
At vos, o proceres, vigili date praemia vestro,
proque tot annorum cura, quibus anxius egi,
hunc titulum meritis pensandum reddite nostris:
iam labor in fine est; obstantia fata removi
altaque posse capi faciendo Pergama, cepi. 5
per spes nunc socias casuraque moenia Troum
perque deos oro, quos hosti nuper ademi,
per siquid superest, quod sit sapienter agendum,
siquid adhuc audax ex praecipitique petendum est,
[si Troiae fatis aliquid restare putatis,] 10
este mei memores! aut si mihi non datis arma,
huic date!' et ostendit signum fatale Minervae.f
Which word does "Troiae" in line 10 modify?
"aliquid" (line 10)
"restare" (line 10)
"putatis" (line 10)
"fatis" (line 10)
"fatis" (line 10)
The word "Troiae"in in the genitive case, describing the word "fatis." The phrase translates as: with the fates of Troy.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 370-382)
Example Question #72 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
At vos, o proceres, vigili date praemia vestro,
proque tot annorum cura, quibus anxius egi,
hunc titulum meritis pensandum reddite nostris:
iam labor in fine est; obstantia fata removi
altaque posse capi faciendo Pergama, cepi. 5
per spes nunc socias casuraque moenia Troum
perque deos oro, quos hosti nuper ademi,
per siquid superest, quod sit sapienter agendum,
siquid adhuc audax ex praecipitique petendum est,
[si Troiae fatis aliquid restare putatis,] 10
este mei memores! aut si mihi non datis arma,
huic date!' et ostendit signum fatale Minervae.
What is the antecedent of "quibus" in line 2?
"annorum" (line 2)
"vestro"(line 1)
"cura" (line 2)
"praemia" (line 1)
"annorum" (line 2)
The antecedent of "quibus" in line 2 is "cura" (line 2). While relative pronouns must agree in number and gender, they do not need to agree in case. The only plural choices are "praemia" and "annorum," but the context of the passage makes "annorum" the more logical choice, since the phrase is in which I strive anxiously. You cannot strive in rewards, so "annorum" is the better choice.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 370-382)
Example Question #72 : Poetic Syntax
Occiderat Tatius, populisque aequata duobus,
Romule, iura dabas: posita cum casside Mavors
talibus adfatur divumque hominumque parentem:
'tempus adest, genitor, quoniam fundamine magno
res Romana valet nec praeside pendet ab uno, 5
praemia, (sunt promissa mihi dignoque nepoti)
solvere et ablatum terris inponere caelo.
tu mihi concilio quondam praesente deorum
(nam memoro memorique animo pia verba notavi)
"unus erit, quem tu tolles in caerula caeli" 10
dixisti: rata sit verborum summa tuorum!'
adnuit omnipotens et nubibus aera caecis
occuluit tonitruque et fulgure terruit orbem.
What is the case and number of "aera" in line 12?
Accusative Plural
Ablative Singular
Nominative Plural
Nominative Singular
Accusative Plural
The word "aera" comes from "aer, aeris," which can be neuter and means air/sky. In this sentence, "aera" is acting as the direct object of the verb "occuluit," so it must be in the accusative case.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 9. 805-818)
Example Question #73 : Poetic Syntax
Occiderat Tatius, populisque aequata duobus,
Romule, iura dabas: posita cum casside Mavors
talibus adfatur divumque hominumque parentem:
'tempus adest, genitor, quoniam fundamine magno
res Romana valet nec praeside pendet ab uno, 5
praemia, (sunt promissa mihi dignoque nepoti)
solvere et ablatum terris inponere caelo.
tu mihi concilio quondam praesente deorum
(nam memoro memorique animo pia verba notavi)
"unus erit, quem tu tolles in caerula caeli" 10
dixisti: rata sit verborum summa tuorum!'
adnuit omnipotens et nubibus aera caecis
occuluit tonitruque et fulgure terruit orbem.
How is the word "iura" (line 2) being used?
Ablative of Accompaniment
Object of "dabas" (line 2)
Subject of "dabas" (line 2)
Main verb
Object of "dabas" (line 2)
The word "iura" as used here comes from "ius, iuris," a neuter, third declension noun meaning law. "Iura" is in the accusative case, acting as the direct object of "dabas."
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 9. 805-818)
Example Question #74 : Poetic Syntax
Occiderat Tatius, populisque aequata duobus,
Romule, iura dabas: posita cum casside Mavors
talibus adfatur divumque hominumque parentem:
'tempus adest, genitor, quoniam fundamine magno
res Romana valet nec praeside pendet ab uno, 5
praemia, (sunt promissa mihi dignoque nepoti)
solvere et ablatum terris inponere caelo.
tu mihi concilio quondam praesente deorum
(nam memoro memorique animo pia verba notavi)
"unus erit, quem tu tolles in caerula caeli" 10
dixisti: rata sit verborum summa tuorum!'
adnuit omnipotens et nubibus aera caecis
occuluit tonitruque et fulgure terruit orbem.
The word "adfatur" (line 3) should be translated as ___________.
you are spoken to
he speaks to
he wants to speak
he is spoken to
he speaks to
The word "adfatur" comes from "adfor, adfari, adfatus sum," which is a deponent verb. Remember, deponent verbs look passive, but translate actively. The correct translation is "he speaks to."
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 9. 805-818)
Example Question #75 : Poetic Syntax
Occiderat Tatius, populisque aequata duobus,
Romule, iura dabas: posita cum casside Mavors
talibus adfatur divumque hominumque parentem:
'tempus adest, genitor, quoniam fundamine magno
res Romana valet nec praeside pendet ab uno, 5
praemia, (sunt promissa mihi dignoque nepoti)
solvere et ablatum terris inponere caelo.
tu mihi concilio quondam praesente deorum
(nam memoro memorique animo pia verba notavi)
"unus erit, quem tu tolles in caerula caeli" 10
dixisti: rata sit verborum summa tuorum!'
adnuit omnipotens et nubibus aera caecis
occuluit tonitruque et fulgure terruit orbem.
What is the case of "genitor" (line 4)?
Vocative
Accusative
Genitive
Nominative
Vocative
The word "genitor" comes from "genitor, genitoris," which means father/creator. In the context of this passage, it is clear that the "genitor" is being spoken to directly, so it must be in the vocative case.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 9. 805-818)
Example Question #71 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In Poetry
Occiderat Tatius, populisque aequata duobus,
Romule, iura dabas: posita cum casside Mavors
talibus adfatur divumque hominumque parentem:
'tempus adest, genitor, quoniam fundamine magno
res Romana valet nec praeside pendet ab uno, 5
praemia, (sunt promissa mihi dignoque nepoti)
solvere et ablatum terris inponere caelo.
tu mihi concilio quondam praesente deorum
(nam memoro memorique animo pia verba notavi)
"unus erit, quem tu tolles in caerula caeli" 10
dixisti: rata sit verborum summa tuorum!'
adnuit omnipotens et nubibus aera caecis
occuluit tonitruque et fulgure terruit orbem.
What is the case and number of "pia" (line 9)?
Nominative Singular
Nominative Plural
Accusative Plural
Ablative Singular
Accusative Plural
The word "pia" comes from "pius, a, um," which is an adjective meaning pious. In order to identify what case "pia" is, you must first figure out whether or not it is modifying another word. In this sentence, "pia" is modifying "verba," which is the direct object of "notavi." Since "verba" is accusative pluarl, "pia" must also be accusative plural.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 9. 805-818)
Example Question #76 : Poetic Syntax
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris? 5
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli? 10
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe? 15
The word movente in line 12 is translated ___________________.
Warring
Moves
Moved
Moving
Moving
The word movente is the Present Active Participle form of the verb moveo, movere. Present Active Participles should be translated verb-ing. The correct choice is "moving."
Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I. 1-15
Example Question #77 : Poetic Syntax
vix etiam Phoebo iam lyra tuta sua est?
cum bene surrexit versu nova pagina primo,
attenuat nervos proximus ille meos;
nec mihi materia est numeris levioribus apta,
aut puer aut longas compta puella comas.' 5
Questus eram, pharetra cum protinus ille soluta
legit in exitium spicula facta meum,
lunavitque genu sinuosum fortiter arcum,
'quod' que 'canas, vates, accipe' dixit 'opus!'
Me miserum! certas habuit puer ille sagittas. 10
uror, et in vacuo pectore regnat Amor.
Sex mihi surgat opus numeris, in quinque residat:
ferrea cum vestris bella valete modis!
cingere litorea flaventia tempora myrto,
Musa, per undenos emodulanda pedes! 15
What is the role of mihi in line 4?
Direct object of apta
Describes materia
Subject of attenuat (line 3)
Indirect object of attenuat (line 3)
Describes materia
The word mihi is the dative singular form of ego, meus, and is being used to describe the word materia in this sentence. The dative is often used in Latin to show possession instead of the genitive case.
Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I. 16-30
Example Question #261 : Sight Reading
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris?
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli?
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe?
What is the role of the underlined word "arma" in line 1?
Direct object of "parabam" (line 1)
Ablative of instrument
Subject of "parabam" (line 1)
Describes "bella" (line 1)
Direct object of "parabam" (line 1)
The word "arma" comes from "armum," "armi," meaning that "arma" is the nominative or accusative plural form of this word. Since the verb does not take a plural subject, it must be in the accusative. In fact, it is the direct object of "parabam."
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)
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