AP Latin : Content of Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
All AP Latin Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #141 : 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.
"Gratias tibi maximas" (line 4) could be translated as which of the following?
I expect many things from you
You deserve many things
Thank you very much
The greatest things are for you
Thank you very much
"Gratias ago tibi" is a common Latin idiom, meaning thank you. The addition of the word "maximas" could be translated as very much.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Example Question #142 : Content Of Poetry
Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle
quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat.
dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,
in vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.
"Se" (line 1) translates as which of the following?
She
It
He
They
She
The word "se" is a reflexive pronoun that refers back to the subject of the sentence. Since the subject of the sentence is "mulier" (woman), the most fitting translation is she.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 70," ln.1-4)
Example Question #143 : Content Of Poetry
Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle
quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat.
dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,
in vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.
The word "quam" (line 2) translates as which of the following?
Than
Whom
How
Which
Than
The word "quam" is being used here to indicate comparison. The comparison is between the author and everyone else. When "quam" is used for comparison like this, it is translated as than.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 70," ln.1-4)
Example Question #144 : 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 "deliciae" (line 1) translates as __________.
delicious
darling
delicate
sweet
darling
The word "deliciae," specifically in the plural, colloquially means darling or any other such term to denote fondness of something - a pet name.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #145 : Content Of Poetry
Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi 5
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores:
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est, 10
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
The word "mihi" (line 1) is best translated as ___________.
from me
me
with me
for me
from me
The word "mihi" is in the dative case, but often in Latin, the dative case is used to show agency or origination. The correct translation in the context of this poem is from me.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #146 : Content Of Poetry
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
The word "lumina" (line 11) is translated as _____________.
bright
eyes
lights
shiny
eyes
The word "lumina" comes from "lumen," "luminis," which literally means lights; however, it is often used in Latin to refer to the eyes. From context, eyes makes more sense, since the author has been listing a variety of body parts to this point.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #147 : Content Of Poetry
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.
What's the best translation of "legebantur" in line 4?
They gather.
They were read.
They were collected.
They read.
They were collected.
All of the above choices are possible translations of the word "lego," "legere," "legi," "lectus," which this word comes from. This form, however, is in the 3rd person, plural, imperfect, passive, indicative form. They are read does not make much sense in the context of this sentence. The best choice is they are collected.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #296 : Ap Latin Language
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.
The word "ut" in line 6 is translated __________.
as
like
that
so that
that
The word "ut" in this line accompanied by the subjunctive verb "viseret." Therefore, the translation possibilities are limited to that or so that, based on how the word is being used. There is no purpose being mentioned here; in other words, something is not happening so that something else may happen. What we have here is a result clause, showing that men were able to visit the world because there was nothing stopping them. The best translation is that.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #297 : Ap Latin Language
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.
The word "vela" in line 8 should be translated __________.
hides
concealed
sails
coverings
sails
The word "vela" comes from the word "velum," "veli," which means a hide and can be used to refer to coverings. Here, however, it means a sail. In Latin literature, the sails of a ship are often referred to as "vela." Additionally, we have words that are associated with sailing in this sentence like "navita." In the same clause itself, you have the phrase "dabant ventis" - they give them to the winds. There would be no purpose in giving a hide or covering to the wind, literally.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
Example Question #14 : Context Based Meaning Of Words And Phrases In Poetry Passages
Rumor in ambiguo est; aliis violentior aequo
visa dea est, alii laudant dignamque severa
virginitate vocant: pars invenit utraque causas.
sola Iovis coniunx non tam, culpetne probetne,
eloquitur, quam clade domus ab Agenore ductae 5
gaudet et a Tyria collectum paelice transfert
in generis socios odium; subit ecce priori
causa recens, gravidamque dolet de semine magni
esse Iovis Semelen; dum linguam ad iurgia solvit,
'profeci quid enim totiens per iurgia?' dixit, 10
'ipsa petenda mihi est; ipsam, si maxima Iuno
rite vocor, perdam, si me gemmantia dextra
sceptra tenere decet, si sum regina Iovisque
et soror et coniunx, certe soror. at, puto, furto est
contenta, et thalami brevis est iniuria nostri. 15
concipit--id derat-- manifestaque crimina pleno
fert utero et mater, quod vix mihi contigit, uno
de Iove vult fieri: tanta est fiducia formae.
fallat eam faxo; nec sum Saturnia, si non
ab Iove mersa suo Stygias penetrabit in undas.' 20
The word "aequo" in line 1 should be translated as ___________.
even
than just
on the land
on the sea
than just
The word "aequo" comes from "aequus," "a," "um," which can mean level or just. In this sentence, it is being paired with the a comparative adjective. More violent than even/the sea/the land does not make much sense in this context. These words are being used here to describe action without thought or fairness.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.253-273)
All AP Latin Resources
