AP Latin : Context of Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Perspectives Of Roman Culture In Poetry Passages
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 "res Romana" (line 5)?
Rome's Government
The city of Rome
Roman Religion
Rome's army
Rome's Government
Often, the Romans used words like "Res Publica" or "Res Romana" to refer to the Roman Empire and its system of government, but not to the city of Rome itself.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 9. 805-818)
Example Question #11 : Context Of Poetry
Defessi Aeneadae, quae proxima litora, cursu
contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad oras.
Est in secessu longo locus: insula portum
efficit obiectu laterum, quibus omnis ab alto
frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos.
"Aeneadae" in line 1 refers to __________.
Aeneas
Aneas' son
The Trojans
Troy
The Trojans
The word "Aeneadae" refers to the Trojans. It is one of many names that they are referred to as in Vergil's Aeneid. In Latin, it is normal to add the suffix "-ida" to the name of someone to indicate that a person or group is the descendent(s) of that person. Since Aeneas is the leader of the Trojans, it makes sense to refer to them as the Aeneadae (The Aeneans or Race of Aeneas).
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.157-161)
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