AP Latin › Context of 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.
The word "meros"in line 9 is a reference to __________.
Roman drinking culture
Roman standards of friendship
Roman religion
Roman politics
The word "meros" translates as "unmixed_._"Another way to translate the word "meros"is as pure. This relates to the theme of dinner/feasting/partying. Wine is one of the elements of this feast that was mentioned earlier; when Romans drank, they often mixed their wine with other things like water or honey. To get too drunk at a party would be considered shameful. By saying that his love is unmixed, the author is proclaiming the depth/intensity of his love for his friend by saying that it is pure and shameless.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
Inde per inmensum croceo velatus amictu
aethera digreditur Ciconumque Hymenaeus ad oras
tendit et Orphea nequiquam voce vocatur.
adfuit ille quidem, sed nec sollemnia verba
nec laetos vultus nec felix attulit omen. 5
fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrimoso stridula fumo
usque fuit nullosque invenit motibus ignes.
exitus auspicio gravior: nam nupta per herbas
dum nova naiadum turba comitata vagatur,
occidit in talum serpentis dente recepto. 10
The word "Orphea" in line 3 most likely refers to __________.
Eurydice
Orpheus
The Underworld
Orphea
The word "Orphea" is most likely referring to Eurydice. It is obviously based off of the name Orpheus, but the "-a" ending indicates that the name is referring to a female. A Roman woman was often referred to in terms of either her father or her husband. Women did not have much of an identity in Ancient Rome, so, since there is no myth concerning a child between Orpheus and Eurydice, the name most likely refers to Eurydice.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 10.1-10)
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.
Why does the author use the phrase "rumoresque . . . aestimemus assis"?
To indicate that he or she does not value someone's opinion
To talk about money
S/he is bribing someone
To celebrate a special occasion
The word "assis"(from "as,""assis") refers to a denomination of currency equal to a penny or less. When the author uses the phrase "rumoresque . . . aestimemus assis," he is indicating that his companion should consider the rumors as worthless. He thinks the opinions of those who make the rumors are worthless.
Passage adapted from "Catullus 5," ln.1-13
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.
The word "meros"in line 9 is a reference to __________.
Roman drinking culture
Roman standards of friendship
Roman religion
Roman politics
The word "meros" translates as "unmixed_._"Another way to translate the word "meros"is as pure. This relates to the theme of dinner/feasting/partying. Wine is one of the elements of this feast that was mentioned earlier; when Romans drank, they often mixed their wine with other things like water or honey. To get too drunk at a party would be considered shameful. By saying that his love is unmixed, the author is proclaiming the depth/intensity of his love for his friend by saying that it is pure and shameless.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
Inde per inmensum croceo velatus amictu
aethera digreditur Ciconumque Hymenaeus ad oras
tendit et Orphea nequiquam voce vocatur.
adfuit ille quidem, sed nec sollemnia verba
nec laetos vultus nec felix attulit omen. 5
fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrimoso stridula fumo
usque fuit nullosque invenit motibus ignes.
exitus auspicio gravior: nam nupta per herbas
dum nova naiadum turba comitata vagatur,
occidit in talum serpentis dente recepto. 10
The word "Orphea" in line 3 most likely refers to __________.
Eurydice
Orpheus
The Underworld
Orphea
The word "Orphea" is most likely referring to Eurydice. It is obviously based off of the name Orpheus, but the "-a" ending indicates that the name is referring to a female. A Roman woman was often referred to in terms of either her father or her husband. Women did not have much of an identity in Ancient Rome, so, since there is no myth concerning a child between Orpheus and Eurydice, the name most likely refers to Eurydice.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 10.1-10)
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.
Why does the author use the phrase "rumoresque . . . aestimemus assis"?
To indicate that he or she does not value someone's opinion
To talk about money
S/he is bribing someone
To celebrate a special occasion
The word "assis"(from "as,""assis") refers to a denomination of currency equal to a penny or less. When the author uses the phrase "rumoresque . . . aestimemus assis," he is indicating that his companion should consider the rumors as worthless. He thinks the opinions of those who make the rumors are worthless.
Passage adapted from "Catullus 5," ln.1-13
Defessi Aeneadae, quae proxima litora, cursu
contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad oras.
Est in secessu longo locus: insula portum
efficit obiectu laterum, quibus omnis ab alto
frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos.
"Aeneadae" in line 1 refers to __________.
The Trojans
Aeneas
Troy
Aneas' son
The word "Aeneadae" refers to the Trojans. It is one of many names that they are referred to as in Vergil's Aeneid. In Latin, it is normal to add the suffix "_-_ida" to the name of someone to indicate that a person or group is the descendent(s) of that person. Since Aeneas is the leader of the Trojans, it makes sense to refer to them as the Aeneadae (The Aeneans or Race of Aeneas).
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.157-161)
Defessi Aeneadae, quae proxima litora, cursu
contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad oras.
Est in secessu longo locus: insula portum
efficit obiectu laterum, quibus omnis ab alto
frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos.
"Aeneadae" in line 1 refers to __________.
The Trojans
Aeneas
Troy
Aneas' son
The word "Aeneadae" refers to the Trojans. It is one of many names that they are referred to as in Vergil's Aeneid. In Latin, it is normal to add the suffix "_-_ida" to the name of someone to indicate that a person or group is the descendent(s) of that person. Since Aeneas is the leader of the Trojans, it makes sense to refer to them as the Aeneadae (The Aeneans or Race of Aeneas).
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.157-161)
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.
By "Romuli nepotum," (line 1), the author is referring to _________.
Romans
Romulus' children
Italy
Senators
When the author says "Romuli nepotum," he is not literally talking about the children or grandchildren of Romulus. After all, Romulus is at least 500 years before Cicero's time. Since Romulus was the founder of Rome, he would be considered the head or founder of the Roman race. Therefore, all Romans would be the descendents of Romulus. This is what the author means by "Romuli nepotum."
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
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.
By "Romuli nepotum," (line 1), the author is referring to _________.
Romans
Romulus' children
Italy
Senators
When the author says "Romuli nepotum," he is not literally talking about the children or grandchildren of Romulus. After all, Romulus is at least 500 years before Cicero's time. Since Romulus was the founder of Rome, he would be considered the head or founder of the Roman race. Therefore, all Romans would be the descendents of Romulus. This is what the author means by "Romuli nepotum."
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)