AP Latin : Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
All AP Latin Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic 5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille: 10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?
In this passage, we learn that _____________.
Ajax is descendant of Jupiter.
Hercules is fighting in Troy
the author has fathered many children
the author has many friends
Ajax is descendant of Jupiter.
In this passage, the author is describing his lineage and claim to nobility. In the course of saying this, he says that he, Ajax, is a descendant of Jupiter (line 8, "sic a Iove tertius Aiax").
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #132 : Content Of Poetry
at non Hectoreis dubitavit cedere flammis,
quas ego sustinui, quas hac a classe fugavi.
tutius est igitur fictis contendere verbis,
quam pugnare manu, sed nec mihi dicere promptum,
nec facere est isti: quantumque ego Marte feroci 5
inque acie valeo, tantum valet iste loquendo.
nec memoranda tamen vobis mea facta, Pelasgi,
esse reor: vidistis enim; sua narret Ulixes,
quae sine teste gerit, quorum nox conscia sola est!
praemia magna peti fateor; sed demit honorem 10
aemulus: Aiaci non est tenuisse superbum,
sit licet hoc ingens, quicquid speravit Ulixes;
iste tulit pretium iam nunc temptaminis huius,
quod, cum victus erit, mecum certasse feretur.
In this passage, we learn that ____________.
the speaker does not like Ulixes
the speaker does not like Ajax
the speaker wants to be remembered for his speaking capabilities
the speaker thinks he is more adept as a warrior than as a speaker
the speaker thinks he is more adept as a warrior than as a speaker
In the passage, the speaker ("Ajax") is explaining that he thinks it is time to have a discussion (line 3-5, "tutius...isti"), but that it is not his place to speak (line 5-9, "quantumque...est"), since he is better at waging war and Ulixes is a much better speaker.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
Example Question #22 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Hector adest secumque deos in proelia ducit,
quaque ruit, non tu tantum terreris, Ulixe,
sed fortes etiam: tantum trahit ille timoris.
hunc ego sanguineae successu caedis ovantem
eminus ingenti resupinum pondere fudi, 5
hunc ego poscentem, cum quo concurreret, unus
sustinui: sortemque meam vovistis, Achivi,
et vestrae valuere preces. si quaeritis huius
fortunam pugnae, non sum superatus ab illo.
ecce ferunt Troes ferrumque ignesque Iovemque 10
in Danaas classes: ubi nunc facundus Ulixes?
nempe ego mille meo protexi pectore puppes,
spem vestri reditus: date pro tot navibus arma.
In lines 1-3, we learn that ____________.
The Gods terrify Hector and Ulysses
Hector terrifies other soldiers
Ulysses is afraid of Hector
Hector is terrified of the Gods
Hector terrifies other soldiers
In lines 1-3, the speaker states that, while Ulysses may not be afraid of Hector, other strong men ("fortes") are afraid. The key here was identifying which characters were afraid, and which character was causing that fear.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)
Example Question #282 : Ap Latin Language
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris?
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli?
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe?
What is the meaning of the underlined portion?
A reference to the meter of the poem.
A reference to the story of Apollo and Daphne
A reference to Ovid's other works
A reference to the story of Cupid and Psyche
A reference to the meter of the poem.
The words "rississe . . . pedem" refers to the meter of the poem. In the previous phrase ("par . . . versus"), Ovid states that "The verse/line was inferior." This line explains why it was inferior: "Cupid is said to have laughed and stolen a foot (apparently, Cupid intentionally made this type of meter shorter)." This is a reference to the length of the meter (elegiac couplets) and its typical use (love poetry) and a comparison of this meter to dactyllic hexameter (used for epics).
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)
Example Question #131 : Sight Reading
Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
rumoresque senum severiorum
omnes unius aestimemus assis!
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux, 5
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus, 10
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus invidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.
"Aestimemus" translates as __________.
We will consider
We heat
Let us estimate
We were considering
Let us estimate
"Aestimemus" is the first-person, plural, present-tense, active, subjunctive form of the verb "aestimo," "aestimare." Therefore, the correct translation is let us estimate.
Example Question #132 : Sight Reading
Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
rumoresque senum severiorum
omnes unius aestimemus assis!
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux, 5
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus, 10
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus invidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.
How is "cum" in line 13 translated?
Why
When
How
With
When
"Cum" in line 13 is translated as when because it is in a "cum" temporal subjunctive clause. In these clauses, "cum" is used as an adverb to indicate the time in which an action is happening.
Passage adapted from "Catullus 5," ln.1-13
Example Question #1 : Context Based Meaning Of Words And Phrases 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.
How does "ut" in line 14 translate?
Just
So that
As
That
As
The construnction of these last few lines can be a bit confusing. While it is true that "ut" is followed by a subjunctive verb (which normally indicates a subjunctive ut clause), reading closely shows that it makes no sense for there to be an ut clause in this area: there is no explanation of purpose and there is no cause and effect. In fact, what we have here is a cum temporal clause. "Cum" in the previous line does not have a direct object. That it is followed by a subjunctive verb ("faciant") indicates a temporal clause.
There is a word missing from this sentence: "est." As usual, Latin authors often leave out this word, but we know that it must be present here because of the succession of accusative words. We do not have multiple direct objects here, but instead a set of appositives. The word "te" is being described as "totum nasum." The line translates as: When you will smell (it), they (the gods) will make you like/as your entire nose.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
Example Question #131 : Poetry
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.
How should "candida" in line 4 be translated?
White
Bright
Pure
Truthful
Pure
While the word "candida" literally means white, the poet is not talking about the color of this girl's skin (not something the Romans would have cared much about). Just like today in Western Culture, the color white is often associated with innocence and purity.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
Example Question #135 : Sight Reading
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla. 5
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive, 10
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita? 15
quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
How should "ducas" be translated in line 2?
To lead
To consider
To force
To want
To consider
Other translations for "duco," "ducere" include to consider and to regard. The usual definition, to lead, does not make sense in the context of this sentence. The line translates: that which you saw to have died, you should consider dead.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 8," ln.1-19)
Example Question #136 : Sight Reading
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.
How does "fuere" (line 2) translate?
They were
To burn
To be
They burn
They were
"Fuere" is the syncopated form of "fuerunt," which translates as they were. "Fuere" comes from the verb "sum, esse, fui, futurus." The syncopated form is recognizable because of the use of the perfect stem with an infinitive-like ending ("-ere").
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All AP Latin Resources
