AP Latin : Context of Vergil
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Context Of Vergil
Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.
Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta
(horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues
incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt; 5
pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undas, pars cetera pontum
pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
Fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant
ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni 10
sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.
Diffugimus visu exsangues. Illi agmine certo
Laocoonta petunt; et primum parva duorum
corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque
implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus. 15
"Laocoonta" in line 13 is an example of __________.
vocative case
Greek accusative
Greek genitive
ablative case
Greek accusative
"Laocoonta" is an example of the Greek accusative. Latin authors tend to sprinkle some Greek into their works here and there. Usually, it is just in the nominative or accusative form, used to refer to Greek things or people. Usually, the Greek words used end in "-a."
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 2.201-215)
Example Question #2 : Context Of Vergil
Sic pater Anchises, atque haec mirantibus addit:
'aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis
ingreditur victorque viros supereminet omnis.
hic rem Romanam magno turbante tumultu
sistet eques, sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem, 5
tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.'
atque hic Aeneas (una namque ire videbat
egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis,
sed frons laeta parum et deiecto lumina vultu)
'quis, pater, ille, virum qui sic comitatur euntem? 10
filius, anne aliquis magna de stirpe nepotum?
qui strepitus circa comitum! quantum instar in ipso!
What case is "omnis" (line 3)?
Dative
Genitive
Accusative
Ablative
Accusative
"Omnis" is in the accusative case. It is not unusual for authors to use "-is" instead of "-es" as the ending for third declension nouns. Context is essential in order to identify the use of the words when this occurs. In this case, "omnis" is being used as an adjective to describe "viros," an accusative plural noun.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
Example Question #3 : Context Of Vergil
Aeneas miratus enim motusque tumultu
'dic,' ait, 'o virgo, quid vult concursus ad amnem?
quidve petunt animae? vel quo discrimine ripas
hae linquunt, illae remis vada livida verrunt?'
olli sic breviter fata est longaeva sacerdos: 5
'Anchisa generate, deum certissima proles,
Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem,
di cuius iurare timent et fallere numen.
haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est . . .
The words "Cocyti" and "Stygiamque" (line 7) are references to __________.
regions of heaven
rivers of the underworld
Carthage
regions of Europe
rivers of the underworld
Both of these words are refer to two of the underworld's five rivers: Cocytus, the river of wailing, and the Styx, the main river of the underworld and the place by which all the gods swear.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)
Example Question #1 : Perspectives Of Roman Culture In Vergil
Sic pater Anchises, atque haec mirantibus addit:
'aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis
ingreditur victorque viros supereminet omnis.
hic rem Romanam magno turbante tumultu
sistet eques, sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem, 5
tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.'
atque hic Aeneas (una namque ire videbat
egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis,
sed frons laeta parum et deiecto lumina vultu)
'quis, pater, ille, virum qui sic comitatur euntem? 10
filius, anne aliquis magna de stirpe nepotum?
qui strepitus circa comitum! quantum instar in ipso!
In line 4, the words "rem Romanam" refer to __________.
war
cities
Italy
the Senate
the Senate
Whenever Romans use the phrase "Res Publica," "Res Romana," or any variant of this, it is in reference to their system of government that the Romans create—the Republic. The Senate is the defining characteristic of this system of government. This is the Roman thing that Vergil is referencing.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
Example Question #4 : Context Of Vergil
Sic pater Anchises, atque haec mirantibus addit:
'aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis
ingreditur victorque viros supereminet omnis.
hic rem Romanam magno turbante tumultu
sistet eques, sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem, 5
tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.'
atque hic Aeneas (una namque ire videbat
egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis,
sed frons laeta parum et deiecto lumina vultu)
'quis, pater, ille, virum qui sic comitatur euntem? 10
filius, anne aliquis magna de stirpe nepotum?
qui strepitus circa comitum! quantum instar in ipso!
Who is Marcellus (line 2)?
Anchises' father
Aeneas' son
Nephew of Augustus
A Roman soldier
Nephew of Augustus
Marcellus is a reference to the nephew of the Emperor Augustus, who was beloved and was a potential inheritor of the Roman throne, but died very young.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
Example Question #5 : Context Of Vergil
Sic pater Anchises, atque haec mirantibus addit:
'aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis
ingreditur victorque viros supereminet omnis.
hic rem Romanam magno turbante tumultu
sistet eques, sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem, 5
tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.'
atque hic Aeneas (una namque ire videbat
egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis,
sed frons laeta parum et deiecto lumina vultu)
'quis, pater, ille, virum qui sic comitatur euntem? 10
filius, anne aliquis magna de stirpe nepotum?
qui strepitus circa comitum! quantum instar in ipso!
What is happening in the passage?
The Trojans have won a battle
Anchises is showing Aeneas the future
Aeneas is mourning his father
Anchises dies
Anchises is showing Aeneas the future
This passage is from the part of the Aeneid where Anchises shows Aeneas Rome's deeds and the great Romans to come.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
Example Question #6 : Context Of Vergil
inter quas Phoenissa recens a vulnere Dido
errabat silva in magna; quam Troius heros
ut primum iuxta stetit agnovitque per umbras
obscuram, qualem primo qui surgere mense
aut videt aut vidisse putat per nubila lunam, 5
demisit lacrimas dulcique adfatus amore est:
'infelix Dido, verus mihi nuntius ergo
venerat exstinctam ferroque extrema secutam?
funeris heu tibi causa fui? per sidera iuro,
per superos et si qua fides tellure sub ima est, 10
inuitus, regina, tuo de litore cessi.
The word "vulnere" (line 1) refers to __________.
a contract
a physical wound
emotional pain
something broken
emotional pain
This scene happens shortly after Aeneas tells Dido that he cannot be with her. Vulnere refers to the emotional pain that she is feeling from this break-up.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.450-460)
Example Question #7 : Context Of Vergil
1 Quod genus hoc hominum? Quaeve hunc tam barbara morem
2 permittit patria? Hospitio prohibemur harenae;
3 bella cient, primaque vetant consistere terra.
4 Si genus humanum et mortalia temnitis arma
5 at sperate deos memores fandi atque nefandi.
6 Rex erat Aeneas nobis, quo iustior alter,
7 nec pietate fuit, nec bello maior et armis.
Elsewhere in the Aeneid of Vergil, we learn that Dido is wary of strangers in her land because __________.
she fears an attack from the Greeks because she helped the Trojans
she is protecting her people from pirates
she is afraid of retribution from her brother
she has heard a prophecy that foreigners will cause the downfall of her city
she is afraid of retribution from her brother
Venus explains to Aeneas earlier in Book 1 that Dido’s wicked brother, Pygmalion, murdered her husband Sychaeus. Dido saw her dead husband in a dream, where he warned her to take treasure that he had hidden and flee her brother. She took the money and, gathering up her loyal citizens, fled. She is currently building her new city, Carthage. Dido fears an invasion from Pygmalion, not to mention other possible invaders of her new city from surrounding lands.
(Passage adapted from The Aeneid of Vergil 1. 539-546)
Example Question #8 : Context Of Vergil
Sic pater Anchises, atque haec mirantibus addit:
'aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis
ingreditur victorque viros supereminet omnis.
hic rem Romanam magno turbante tumultu
sistet eques, sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem, 5
tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.'
atque hic Aeneas (una namque ire videbat
egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis,
sed frons laeta parum et deiecto lumina vultu)
'quis, pater, ille, virum qui sic comitatur euntem? 10
filius, anne aliquis magna de stirpe nepotum?
qui strepitus circa comitum! quantum instar in ipso!
The word "Quirino" in line 6 is a reference to __________.
Julius Caesar
the line of Julio-Claudians
Romulus
Augustus
Romulus
After his death, the founder of Rome, Romulus, became associated with the god Quirinus. This is why he is referred to as father here, because Romulus was the father of Rome.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
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