AP Latin : Content of Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Poetry
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.
The word "mundus" in line 2 means ____________.
mound
power
world
mountain
world
The word "mundus" comes from "mundus," "mundi," one of the words in Latin for the world/universe.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #32 : Poetry
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.
The word "hiemes" in line 5 means __________.
windy
rain
winters
snow
winters
The word "hiemes" comes from the word "hiems," "hiemis," which refers to a cold, rainy season or Winter.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #33 : Poetry
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.
The word "spatiis" (line 6) comes from the word meaning __________.
lands
seasons
rights
space
space
The word "spatiis" comes from "spatium," "spatii," and is the word for an area or space.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #34 : Poetry
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.
The word "virgae" in line 10 comes from the word meaning __________.
pure
twig
bound
virgin
twig
The word "virga" comes from "virga," "virgae," which means a twig. Do not confuse this word with "virgo," "virginis," which is third declension and means virgin.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #35 : Vocabulary 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.
The word "nefas" in line 5 means __________.
weakness
evil
sin
troublesome
sin
The word "nefas" refers to a sin or violation of divine law. In other words, it means something that is unjust or not morally right. Just like it's antonym "fas," this word does not decline and is used often in reference to justice, morals, and rites. Keep in mind that a sin is different from evil in that a sin is a violation of a law/pact of some kind, while evil just refers to bad things in general.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
Example Question #35 : Poetry
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 "pudor" in line 5 means __________.
decency
peace
paleness
justice
decency
The word "pudor" comes from "pudor," "pudoris" and refers to shame/modesty/decency.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
Example Question #36 : Poetry
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 "vis" in line 7 means __________.
you see
strength
deeds
you wish
strength
The word "vis" comes from "vis," "vis," which means strength or power. We know that this word must be a noun here because it is in a list of other nouns.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
Example Question #38 : Vocabulary 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.
The word "recondiderat" in line 15 comes from the word meaning to __________.
set up
hide
take
find
hide
The word "recondiderat"comes from "recondo," "recondere," "recondidi," "reconditus," which means to hide or put away. Do not confuse with the word "condo," "condere," which means to build. Even though the words are related, remember that a prefix may completely change the meaning of a verb.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
Example Question #37 : Poetry
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 "dolus" in line 6 means __________.
grief
darkness
shame
treachery
treachery
The word "dolus" comes from "dolus," "doli," which refers to treachery and deceit.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
Example Question #40 : Vocabulary 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 "rumor" (line 1) translates as __________.
blush
red
hearsay
sickness
hearsay
The word "rumor" literally translates as rumor. A synonym for this word is hearsay.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.253-273)
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