AP Latin : Content of Poetry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #81 : 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 "valet" in line 6 translates as __________.

Possible Answers:

he ships

a package

he is strong

he says goodbye

Correct answer:

he is strong

Explanation:

The word "valet" comes from the verb "valeo, valere," which means to be strong. This word is only translated as goodbye in the imperative form ("vale/valete").

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)

Example Question #82 : Poetry

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 "adest" in line 1 means __________.

Possible Answers:

to be spoken to

to be absent

to walk towards

to be present

Correct answer:

to be present

Explanation:

The word "adest" comes from the verb "adsum, adesse," which means to be present.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)

Example Question #83 : Poetry

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 "proelia" in line 1 translates ____________.

Possible Answers:

battle

rewards

battles

reward

Correct answer:

battles

Explanation:

The word "proelia" comes from "proelium, proelii," which is the word for a battle. The form "proelia," however, is plural since "proelium" is a neuter word. The correct choice is "battles."

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)

Example Question #84 : Poetry

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 meaning of "facundus" in line 11?

Possible Answers:

Eloquent

Handy

Famous

Noble

Correct answer:

Eloquent

Explanation:

The word "facundus" comes from "facundus, a, um," which means well-spoken or eloquent.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)

Example Question #85 : Poetry

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 "nempe" (line 12) means ___________.

Possible Answers:

above

doubtfully

in the clouds

truly

Correct answer:

truly

Explanation:

The word "nempe" is an adjective that means truly.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)

Example Question #86 : Poetry

Quo tamen haec Ithaco, qui clam, qui semper inermis
rem gerit et furtis incautum decipit hostem?
ipse nitor galeae claro radiantis ab auro              
insidias prodet manifestabitque latentem;
sed neque Dulichius sub Achillis casside vertex                5
pondera tanta feret, nec non onerosa gravisque
Pelias hasta potest inbellibus esse lacertis,
nec clipeus vasti caelatus imagine mundi               
conveniet timidae nataeque ad furta sinistrae:
debilitaturum quid te petis, inprobe, munus,                    10
quod tibi si populi donaverit error Achivi,
cur spolieris, erit, non, cur metuaris ab hoste,
et fuga, qua sola cunctos, timidissime, vincis,              
tarda futura tibi est gestamina tanta trahenti?

The word "clam" in line 1 means __________.

Possible Answers:

harmless

secretly

sharply

with reverence

Correct answer:

secretly

Explanation:

The word "clam" is an adverb that means in secret/secretly.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 103-117)

Example Question #87 : Poetry

Quo tamen haec Ithaco, qui clam, qui semper inermis
rem gerit et furtis incautum decipit hostem?
ipse nitor galeae claro radiantis ab auro              
insidias prodet manifestabitque latentem;
sed neque Dulichius sub Achillis casside vertex                5
pondera tanta feret, nec non onerosa gravisque
Pelias hasta potest inbellibus esse lacertis,
nec clipeus vasti caelatus imagine mundi               
conveniet timidae nataeque ad furta sinistrae:
debilitaturum quid te petis, inprobe, munus,                    10
quod tibi si populi donaverit error Achivi,
cur spolieris, erit, non, cur metuaris ab hoste,
et fuga, qua sola cunctos, timidissime, vincis,              
tarda futura tibi est gestamina tanta trahenti?

The word "inermis" in line 1 means __________.

Possible Answers:

hated

armed

unhurt

unarmed

Correct answer:

unarmed

Explanation:

The word "inermis" comes from the adjective "inermis, is, e," which means unarmed/harmless.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 103-117)

Example Question #88 : Poetry

Quo tamen haec Ithaco, qui clam, qui semper inermis
rem gerit et furtis incautum decipit hostem?
ipse nitor galeae claro radiantis ab auro              
insidias prodet manifestabitque latentem;
sed neque Dulichius sub Achillis casside vertex                5
pondera tanta feret, nec non onerosa gravisque
Pelias hasta potest inbellibus esse lacertis,
nec clipeus vasti caelatus imagine mundi               
conveniet timidae nataeque ad furta sinistrae:
debilitaturum quid te petis, inprobe, munus,                    10
quod tibi si populi donaverit error Achivi,
cur spolieris, erit, non, cur metuaris ab hoste,
et fuga, qua sola cunctos, timidissime, vincis,              
tarda futura tibi est gestamina tanta trahenti?

The word "hostem" in line 2 means ___________.

Possible Answers:

guest

house

host

enemy

Correct answer:

enemy

Explanation:

The word "hostem" comes from "hostis, hostis," which is the word for an enemy.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 103-117)

Example Question #89 : Poetry

Quo tamen haec Ithaco, qui clam, qui semper inermis
rem gerit et furtis incautum decipit hostem?
ipse nitor galeae claro radiantis ab auro              
insidias prodet manifestabitque latentem;
sed neque Dulichius sub Achillis casside vertex                5
pondera tanta feret, nec non onerosa gravisque
Pelias hasta potest inbellibus esse lacertis,
nec clipeus vasti caelatus imagine mundi               
conveniet timidae nataeque ad furta sinistrae:
debilitaturum quid te petis, inprobe, munus,                    10
quod tibi si populi donaverit error Achivi,
cur spolieris, erit, non, cur metuaris ab hoste,
et fuga, qua sola cunctos, timidissime, vincis,              
tarda futura tibi est gestamina tanta trahenti?

The word "galeae" in line 3 means ____________.

Possible Answers:

helmet

sword

breastplate

shield

Correct answer:

helmet

Explanation:

The word "galeae" comes from "galea, galeae," which is the word for a helmet.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 103-117)

Example Question #90 : Poetry

Quo tamen haec Ithaco, qui clam, qui semper inermis
rem gerit et furtis incautum decipit hostem?
ipse nitor galeae claro radiantis ab auro              
insidias prodet manifestabitque latentem;
sed neque Dulichius sub Achillis casside vertex                5
pondera tanta feret, nec non onerosa gravisque
Pelias hasta potest inbellibus esse lacertis,
nec clipeus vasti caelatus imagine mundi               
conveniet timidae nataeque ad furta sinistrae:
debilitaturum quid te petis, inprobe, munus,                    10
quod tibi si populi donaverit error Achivi,
cur spolieris, erit, non, cur metuaris ab hoste,
et fuga, qua sola cunctos, timidissime, vincis,              
tarda futura tibi est gestamina tanta trahenti?

The word "hasta" in line 7 means ___________.

Possible Answers:

new

quickly

spear

reckless

Correct answer:

spear

Explanation:

The word "hasta" comes from "hasta, hastae," which is the word for a spear.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 103-117)

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