AP Latin : Content of Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #71 : Poetry
Forsitan audieris aliquam certamine cursus
veloces superasse viros: non fabula rumor
ille fuit; superabat enim. nec dicere posses,
laude pedum formaene bono praestantior esset.
scitanti deus huic de coniuge 'coniuge' dixit 5
'nil opus est, Atalanta, tibi: fuge coniugis usum.
nec tamen effugies teque ipsa viva carebis.'
territa sorte dei per opacas innuba silvas
vivit et instantem turbam violenta procorum
condicione fugat, 'ne' c 'sum potiunda, nisi' inquit 10
'victa prius cursu. pedibus contendite mecum:
praemia veloci coniunx thalamique dabuntur,
mors pretium tardis: ea lex certaminis esto.'
illa quidem inmitis, sed (tanta potentia formae est)
venit ad hanc legem temeraria turba procorum. 15
sederat Hippomenes cursus spectator iniqui
et 'petitur cuiquam per tanta pericula coniunx?'
dixerat ac nimios iuvenum damnarat amores;
The word "forsitan" in line 1 means __________.
once upon a time
indeed
perhaps
fortunately
perhaps
The word "forsitan" means perhaps.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 10. 560-578)
Example Question #72 : Poetry
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
The word "clipei" in line 2 means ___________.
soldier
armor
shield
army
shield
The word "clipei" comes from "clipeum, clipei," which means a shield (specifically, a round, embossed shield).
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #73 : Poetry
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
"Torvo" in line 3 means ____________.
back
fierce
small
whole
fierce
The word "torvo" comes from the adjective "torvus, a, um," which means savage/wild/fierce.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #74 : Poetry
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
The word "litora" in line 4 means:
shores
lands
tower
little
shores
The word "litora" comes from "litus, litoris," which means a shore.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #75 : Poetry
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
The word "rates" in line 6 means __________.
ships
forts
oars
judgements
ships
The word "rates" comes from "ratis, ratis," which means a ship, raft, or boat.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #76 : Poetry
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?
The word "moenia" in line 3 means __________.
walls
wars
warnings
money
walls
The word "moenia" comes from "moene, moenis," which means the walls of a city. It is most commonly seen in this form - nominative or accusative plural.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #77 : Poetry
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?
The word "prolem" in line 7 means __________.
offspring
task
army
spring
offspring
The word "prolem" comes from "proles, prolis," which means offspring/descendant.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #78 : Poetry
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?
What is the meaning of "saxum" in line 6?
Defenses
Instrument
Rock
Shore
Rock
The word "saxum" comes from "saxum, saxi," which is the word for a rock or stone.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #79 : Poetry
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?
The word "suam" (line 8) translates ____________.
his own
their
it
him
his own
The word "suam" comes from "suus, a, um" and is a reflexive adjective. Reflexive adjectives always refer back to the subject of the sentence, which in this case is "Iuppiter." Since it is being used to describe "prolem," the best translation is his own.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #80 : 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 "at" in line 1 translates ___________.
to
but
at
with
but
The word "at" translates as but (conjunction).
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
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