AP Latin : Content of Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
All AP Latin Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #15 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
In lines 8-11, we learn that the author feels __________.
sad
nervous
jealous
happy
nervous
In lines 8-11, the author describes the different feelings that he is experiencing: the tongue is numb, flames flow down under thin limbs, ears ring with their own sound, eyes are covered by night. These are all classic signs of extreme nervousness, in this case nervousness brought on by love.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #16 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
In lines 1-4, we learn that __________.
the author is in love with a God
the author is jealous of a rival
the author is describing a God
the author has met a God
the author is jealous of a rival
In lines 1-4, the author of this poem is talking about some other man (we know this since "ille" is masculine) who seems to be interacting with someone the author likes. The author compares this man to a God because he is able to be near the person ("te" (line 3)) the author desires.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #17 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
According to lines 1-2, what was the golden age like?
Men were expected to live by laws set by the Gods.
Men lived in freedom.
Nothing existed in this age but the Gods.
It was lawless and chaotic.
Men lived in freedom.
The lines state that the Golden Age was without laws ("sine lege") and that people lived with one another by their own will ("sponte sua") and in good faith ("fidem rectumque colebat").
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #18 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Postquam Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso
sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,
auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.
Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris
perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos 5
et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.
tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus
canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit;
tum primum subiere domos; domus antra fuerunt
et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae. 10
semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis
obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.
In this passage, we learn that ___________.
the seasons are very chaotic
this age is worse than the age before it
even the Gods have issues with the weather
Jupiter is causing a storm
this age is worse than the age before it
The passage states in line 2-3 ("subiit [...] aere") that: the silver generation followed, worse than gold, bur more valuable than tawny broze. In other words, it admits that this age (Silver) was worse than the age before it, but was not the worst of the ages of man.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #19 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Tertia post illam successit aenea proles,
saevior ingeniis et ad horrida promptior arma,
non scelerata tamen; de duro est ultima ferro.
protinus inrupit venae peioris in aevum
omne nefas: fugere pudor verumque fidesque; 5
in quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolusque
insidiaeque et vis et amor sceleratus habendi.
vela dabant ventis nec adhuc bene noverat illos
navita, quaeque prius steterant in montibus altis,
fluctibus ignotis insultavere carinae, 10
communemque prius ceu lumina solis et auras
cautus humum longo signavit limite mensor.
nec tantum segetes alimentaque debita dives
poscebatur humus, sed itum est in viscera terrae,
quasque recondiderat Stygiisque admoverat umbris, 15
effodiuntur opes, inritamenta malorum.
According to lines 2-3, what was the Bronze Age like?
It was the best age
Full of evil people
Savage
Decent, once the Gods removed wicked people
Savage
Lines 2-3 state that the Bronze Age was savage, at least more so than the previous age ("saevior"), but it was not wicked or filled with evil ("non scelerata tamen").
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
Example Question #20 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
quae, quamquam comitum turba est stipata suarum,
in latus obliquum tamen adstitit oraque retro
flexit et, ut vellet promptas habuisse sagittas,
quas habuit sic hausit aquas vultumque virilem
perfudit spargensque comas ultricibus undis 5
addidit haec cladis praenuntia verba futurae:
'nunc tibi me posito visam velamine narres,
si poteris narrare, licet!' nec plura minata
dat sparso capiti vivacis cornua cervi,
dat spatium collo summasque cacuminat aures 10
cum pedibusque manus, cum longis bracchia mutat
cruribus et velat maculoso vellere corpus;
additus et pavor est: fugit Autonoeius heros
et se tam celerem cursu miratur in ipso.
We learn in this passage that __________.
the girl has discovered a man
the girl is learning to shoot a bow and arrow
the girl is an expert hunter
the girl is chatting with her friends
the girl has discovered a man
In this passage, the girl is upset because her arrow missed. The reason she let loose the arrow in the first place, however, is revealed in lines 4-14. A man has been hiding under the water.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 3.186-200)
Example Question #121 : Content Of Poetry
Inde per inmensum croceo velatus amictu
aethera digreditur Ciconumque Hymenaeus ad oras
tendit et Orphea nequiquam voce vocatur.
adfuit ille quidem, sed nec sollemnia verba
nec laetos vultus nec felix attulit omen. 5
fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrimoso stridula fumo
usque fuit nullosque invenit motibus ignes.
exitus auspicio gravior: nam nupta per herbas
dum nova naiadum turba comitata vagatur,
occidit in talum serpentis dente recepto. 10
In lines 1-10, we learn that __________.
Orpheus has been bitten by a serpent
Orpheus is searching for his wife in vain
Orpheus is battling a serpent
Orpheus is getting married
Orpheus is searching for his wife in vain
In lines 1-10, we learn that Orpheus is searching for his wife, Eurydice. The passage makes use of words like "nequiquam" - in vain, and "vagatur" - wanders, in addition to others indicating wandering and desperation. The tone, communicated through Ovid's diction and stylistic choices, is one of futile desperation.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 10.1-10)
Example Question #122 : Content Of Poetry
Inde per inmensum croceo velatus amictu
aethera digreditur Ciconumque Hymenaeus ad oras
tendit et Orphea nequiquam voce vocatur.
adfuit ille quidem, sed nec sollemnia verba
nec laetos vultus nec felix attulit omen. 5
fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrimoso stridula fumo
usque fuit nullosque invenit motibus ignes.
exitus auspicio gravior: nam nupta per herbas
dum nova naiadum turba comitata vagatur,
occidit in talum serpentis dente recepto. 10
In the passage attention is drawn mostly to Orpheus' feelings of ___________.
happiness
despair
anger
exhaustion
despair
The passage indicates that Orpheus is wandering and searching in vain. The term provided that most accurately describes his inner emotional state is "despair." In the passage he is described as weeping ("lacrimoso"), serious ("gravior") and unlucky ("nec felix omen"), which rules out "happiness" pretty conclusively. The key to this question is "mostly," while it would be reasonable to assume that Orpheus is angry and exhausted the most specifically highlighted emotional state is his despair.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 10.1-10)
Example Question #277 : Ap Latin Language
Dignane, cui grates ageret, cui turis honorem
ferret, Adoni, fui? nec grates inmemor egit,
nec mihi tura dedit. subitam convertor in iram,
contemptuque dolens, ne sim spernenda futuris,
exemplo caveo meque ipsa exhortor in ambos: 5
templa, deum Matri quae quondam clarus Echion
fecerat ex voto, nemorosis abdita silvis,
transibant, et iter longum requiescere suasit;
illic concubitus intempestiva cupido
occupat Hippomenen a numine concita nostro. 10
luminis exigui fuerat prope templa recessus,
speluncae similis, nativo pumice tectus,
religione sacer prisca, quo multa sacerdos
lignea contulerat veterum simulacra deorum;
hunc init et vetito temerat sacraria probro. 15
Who is speaking in this passage?
A god
It is not possible to guess from the passage who is speaking
Hippomenes
Adonis
A god
We can infer from the words used in this passage that a God is speaking. The first few lines speak about giving thanks (often interpreted as the gods when said in general terms). Temples and Gods are mentioned in addition to mentions of incense ("turis"), which is common in rituals to the gods. Since the speaker says (line 3) s/he does not give frankincense to me, we can infer that the speaker it a god.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 10.681-696)
Example Question #278 : Ap Latin Language
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;
In lines 1-8, we learn that ___________.
Atalanta is an average woman
the gods like Atalanta, and respect her personal autonomy
Atalanta does not want to be married
Atalanta has been crippled in an accident
Atalanta does not want to be married
Lines 1-8 tell us that Atalanta is an outstanding runner, who surpasses many men in competitions and is very beautiful. Because of this, men want to marry her and the Gods inform her that she will be married, but Atalanta flees to the woods after hearing this. She does not want to marry.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 10. 560-578)
All AP Latin Resources
