AP Latin : Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #121 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In 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.
"Loquendo" in line 6 is an example of __________.
Future Active Participle
Gerundive
Present Active Participle
Gerund
Gerund
The word "loquendo" is the gerund form of "loquor, loqui." The "-nd" gives away that the word should be a gerund or gerundive, but keep in mind that gerunds are nouns and gerundives are adjectives. Furthermore, gerunds only take 2nd declension singular endings. "Loquendo" is talking about the actual act of speaking itself and not describing something that is speaking, so it is being used as a noun. It is a gerund.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
Example Question #131 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In 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.
The word "memoranda" in line 7 is an example of ___________.
Perfect Passive Participle
Gerund
Gerundive
Present Active Participle
Gerundive
The word "memoranda" is the gerundive form of "memoro, memorare." The "-nd" gives away that the word should be a gerund or gerundive, but keep in mind that gerunds are nouns and gerundives are adjectives. Furthermore, gerunds only take 2nd declension singular endings. "Memoranda" is being used to describe "mea facta" (my deeds that must be remembered), so it is being used as an adjective. It is a gerundive.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
Example Question #132 : Grammar, Syntax, And Scansion In 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.
What is the use of "a classe" in line 2?
Ablative of Means
Ablative of Instrument
Ablative of Time When
Ablative of Manner
Ablative of Means
The phrase "a classe" is in the ablative case in order to describe the means by which the subject is doing the action of fleeing ("fugavi"). That is - by ship. This use of the ablative is called Ablative of Means.
Note: Manner discusses in what way the action is done (e.g. quickly, happily, slowly, beautifully). Means refers the method by which the action is completed (e.g. by running). Time when indicates just what you'd think it would (e.g. yesterday, next year). Instrument indicates the tool with which an action is completed (e.g. with a sword, with a pencil).
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
Example Question #311 : Sight Reading
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.
What is the case of "Ulixe" in line 2?
Dative
Nominative
Ablative
Vocative
Vocative
The word "Ulixe" comes from "Ulixes, Ulixis." The form "Ulixe" can only be ablative or vocative for this word, but context tells us (the presence of the word "tu" before "Ulixe") that "Ulixe" is being used for direct address. Therefore, it is in the vocative case.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)
Example Question #312 : Sight Reading
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.
The word "fortes" in line 3 is an example of __________.
participle
substantive adjective
supine
gerundive
substantive adjective
The word "fortes" comes from the adjective "fortis, fortis, forte." Here, it is being used as a stand-in for a noun and should be translated as strong (men/people). This use of an adjective in order to take the place of a noun is called a substantive adjective.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)
Example Question #313 : Sight Reading
At vos, o proceres, vigili date praemia vestro,
proque tot annorum cura, quibus anxius egi,
hunc titulum meritis pensandum reddite nostris:
iam labor in fine est; obstantia fata removi
altaque posse capi faciendo Pergama, cepi. 5
per spes nunc socias casuraque moenia Troum
perque deos oro, quos hosti nuper ademi,
per siquid superest, quod sit sapienter agendum,
siquid adhuc audax ex praecipitique petendum est,
[si Troiae fatis aliquid restare putatis,] 10
este mei memores! aut si mihi non datis arma,
huic date!' et ostendit signum fatale Minervae.
Why is "sit" in line 8 subjunctive?
Jussive
Optative
Deliberative
Potential
Jussive
The verb "sit" is being paired with "agendum" in order to indicate that something should happen but may not. This use of the subjunctive in urging statements or commands is called the jussive or hortatory use of the subjunctive.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 370-382)
Example Question #314 : Sight Reading
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 use of "hominum" in line 3?
Genitive of Possession
Accusative Direct Object
Genitive of Specification
Accusative Duration of Time
Genitive of Possession
The word "hominum" is in the genitive plural case (it comes from "homo, hominis"). It is being used to modify the word "parentem," showing possession of it.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 9. 805-818)
Example Question #315 : Sight Reading
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? 5
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? 10
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? 15
The word risisse (line 3) is an example of __________________.
Pluperfect Subjunctive
Gerundive
Infinitive
Perfect Passive Participle
Infinitive
The word risisse is an example of a perfect infinitive. The perfect infinitive in Latin is formed by taking the perfect stem of a word and adding the -isse ending.
Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I. 1-15
Example Question #316 : Sight Reading
vix etiam Phoebo iam lyra tuta sua est?
cum bene surrexit versu nova pagina primo,
attenuat nervos proximus ille meos;
nec mihi materia est numeris levioribus apta,
aut puer aut longas compta puella comas.' 5
Questus eram, pharetra cum protinus ille soluta
legit in exitium spicula facta meum,
lunavitque genu sinuosum fortiter arcum,
'quod' que 'canas, vates, accipe' dixit 'opus!'
Me miserum! certas habuit puer ille sagittas. 10
uror, et in vacuo pectore regnat Amor.
Sex mihi surgat opus numeris, in quinque residat:
ferrea cum vestris bella valete modis!
cingere litorea flaventia tempora myrto,
Musa, per undenos emodulanda pedes! 15
What is the tense of the underlined verb?
Future Perfect
Imperfect
Pluperfect
Perfect
Pluperfect
The words questus eram is an example of a periphrastic (two words that combine to convey one meaning). This is an example of the passive pluperfect conjugation of a verb (formed by combining the perfect passive participle with a form of sum, esse in the imperfect tense).
Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I. 16-30
Example Question #317 : Sight Reading
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 case of the underlined word "Cupido" in line 3?
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
Nominative
Nominative
The word "Cupido" comes from "Cupido," "Cupindinis." "Cupido" is the nominative singular form.
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)
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