AP Latin : Content of Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Content Of Poetry
Ni te plus oculis meis amarem,
iucundissime Calve, munere isto
odissem te odio Vatiniano:
nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus,
cur me tot male perderes poetis? 5
isti di mala multa dent clienti,
qui tantum tibi misit impiorum.
quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum
munus dat tibi Sulla litterator,
non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, 10
quod non dispereunt tui labores.
di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum!
quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum
misti, continuo ut die periret,
Saturnalibus, optimo dierum! 15
non non hoc tibi, false, sic abibit.
nam si luxerit ad librariorum
curram scrinia, Caesios, Aquinos,
Suffenum, omnia colligam venena.
ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. 20
vos hinc interea valete abite
illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis,
saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.
How does the word "mi" (line 10) translate?
By me
For me
With force
Badly
For me
The word "mi" is a shortened form of "mihi," the dative case "ego, meus." The best translation for this word is "for me."
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 14," ln.1-23)
Example Question #1 : Vocabulary In Poetry Passages
Cenabis bene, mi Fabulle, apud me
paucis, si tibi di favent, diebus,
si tecum attuleris bonam atque magnam
cenam, non sine candida puella
et vino et sale et omnibus cachinnis. 5
haec si, inquam, attuleris, venuste noster,
cenabis bene; nam tui Catulli
plenus sacculus est aranearum.
sed contra accipies meros amores
seu quid suavius elegantiusve est: 10
nam unguentum dabo, quod meae puellae
donarunt Veneres Cupidinesque,
quod tu cum olfacies, deos rogabis,
totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.
The word "bene" in line 1 translates as __________.
Good
Well
Correct
Right
Well
While the word "bene" comes from the word "bonus, a, um," meaning good, "bene" is the adverbial form of the word. It is describing the verb "cenabis" and should therefore be translated as well.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
Example Question #3 : Content Of Poetry
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
"Lepidum" in line 1 translates as __________.
stony
long
little
charming
charming
The word "lepidum" comes from "lepidus, lepidi," the word for charming.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #4 : Content Of Poetry
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
"Solebas" (line 3) translates as which of the following?
You were accustomed to
You liked
You shone
You read
You were accustomed to
The word "solebas" comes from "soleo, solere"—to be accustomed to. You were accustomed to is therefore the best translation for this word.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #5 : Content Of Poetry
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
"Quare" (line 8) translates as which of the following?
Why
When
How
Indeed
Why
The word "quare" translates as why.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #6 : Content Of Poetry
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.
"Quot" (line 3) translates as which of the following?
In what way?
What?
How?
How many?
How many?
The word "quot" translates as how many.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Example Question #7 : Content Of Poetry
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
What does the word "passer" (line 1) mean?
Sparrow
Past
Boyfriend
Sweet
Sparrow
The word "passer" comes from the word "passer," "passeris" and is the word for a sparrow.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #1 : Content Of Poetry
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
The word "lubet" (line 6) translates as ___________.
it pleases
she grasps
she smiles
it chirps
it pleases
The word "lubet" comes from "lubet," "lubere," "lubuit," which means to be pleasing. It is typically used in an impersonal fashion, which is why only the 3rd person forms are given.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #8 : Content Of Poetry
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
"Doloris" (line 7) comes from the word meaning __________.
anger
boredom
happiness
grief
grief
The word "doloris" comes from "dolor," "doloris," which means grief.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #2 : Vocabulary In Poetry Passages
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
"Sicut" (line 9) translates as __________.
without
and
with
just as
just as
The word "sicut" translates as just as.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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