Once again, it is time for the Bernice L. Fox Classics Writing competition.
Follow the link for more details, including information about bonus points.
Bonam fortunam!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
"...quod eritque fuitque estque, patet"
In today's test you had to write an essay discussing Vergil's use of foreshadowing as regards the Trojans' imminent demise. For up to 10 bonus quiz points, pick what you think is the most effective instance of foreshadowing in the passage and tell us why it qualifies as being the most effective. The passage is reproduced below for your reference.
In order to earn the most points, your defense of your selection should rely heavily on the Latin. Explanations and justifications which rely on translating for their force will earn fewer points, if any. You may cite the same excerpt as someone else if you choose, but your argument cannot be the same. The most convincing argument will win the greatest number of points, with some points going to two runners up.
Submissions will be accepted until 5pm, Monday, a.d. XV Kal. Feb.
Bonam fortunam!
dividimus muros et moenia pandimus urbis.
accingunt omnes operi pedibusque rotarum
subiciunt lapsus, et stuppea vincula collo
intendunt; scandit fatalis machina muros
feta armis. pueri circum innuptaeque puellae
sacra canunt funemque manu contingere gaudent;
illa subit mediaeque minans inlabitur urbi.
o patria, o divum domus Ilium et incluta bello
moenia Dardanidum! quater ipso in limine portae
substitit atque utero sonitum quater arma dedere;
instamus tamen immemores caecique furore
et monstrum infelix sacrata sistimus arce.
tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra futuris
ora dei iussu non umquam credita Teucris.
nos delubra deum miseri, quibus ultimus esset
ille dies, festa velamus fronde per urbem.
In order to earn the most points, your defense of your selection should rely heavily on the Latin. Explanations and justifications which rely on translating for their force will earn fewer points, if any. You may cite the same excerpt as someone else if you choose, but your argument cannot be the same. The most convincing argument will win the greatest number of points, with some points going to two runners up.
Submissions will be accepted until 5pm, Monday, a.d. XV Kal. Feb.
Bonam fortunam!
dividimus muros et moenia pandimus urbis.
accingunt omnes operi pedibusque rotarum
subiciunt lapsus, et stuppea vincula collo
intendunt; scandit fatalis machina muros
feta armis. pueri circum innuptaeque puellae
sacra canunt funemque manu contingere gaudent;
illa subit mediaeque minans inlabitur urbi.
o patria, o divum domus Ilium et incluta bello
moenia Dardanidum! quater ipso in limine portae
substitit atque utero sonitum quater arma dedere;
instamus tamen immemores caecique furore
et monstrum infelix sacrata sistimus arce.
tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra futuris
ora dei iussu non umquam credita Teucris.
nos delubra deum miseri, quibus ultimus esset
ille dies, festa velamus fronde per urbem.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Short essay sampling
In response to those of you who wanted a little practice before our next test, consider the below as a representative example of a short essay. If you choose to try this, be sure to address the question directly and remember that all your assertions must be supported by references to the Latin.
"hic mihi nescio quod trepido male numen amicum 735
confusam eripuit mentem. namque avia cursu
dum sequor et nota excedo regione viarum,
heu misero coniunx fatone erepta Creusa
substitit, erravitne via seu lapsa resedit,
incertum; nec post oculis est reddita nostris. 740
nec prius amissam respexi animumve reflexi
quam tumulum antiquae Cereris sedemque sacratam
venimus: hic demum collectis omnibus una
defuit, et comites natumque virumque fefellit.
quem non incusavi amens hominumque deorumque, 745
aut quid in eversa vidi crudelius urbe?"
In the passage above, Aeneas realizes that his wife Creusa has not made it with them outside the walls of Troy. In a short essay, discuss how Vergil expresses Aeneas' feelings and reactions upon realizing this. Be sure to refer to the Latin throughout the passage in support of your assertions.
"hic mihi nescio quod trepido male numen amicum 735
confusam eripuit mentem. namque avia cursu
dum sequor et nota excedo regione viarum,
heu misero coniunx fatone erepta Creusa
substitit, erravitne via seu lapsa resedit,
incertum; nec post oculis est reddita nostris. 740
nec prius amissam respexi animumve reflexi
quam tumulum antiquae Cereris sedemque sacratam
venimus: hic demum collectis omnibus una
defuit, et comites natumque virumque fefellit.
quem non incusavi amens hominumque deorumque, 745
aut quid in eversa vidi crudelius urbe?"
In the passage above, Aeneas realizes that his wife Creusa has not made it with them outside the walls of Troy. In a short essay, discuss how Vergil expresses Aeneas' feelings and reactions upon realizing this. Be sure to refer to the Latin throughout the passage in support of your assertions.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Vergilius hodie
As you all enjoy the Christmas holiday and the reading of the first 6 books of the Aeneid in English, there is something I would like to draw to your attention. Bolchazy-Carducci has recently begun putting a lot of material out in electronic form, including AP Vergil vocabulary flashcards for your Ipod. If you're looking for a means to help you review vocabulary, as well as a justification to use an Ipod for legitimate school work, then stop by Ipodius and check it out.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Aeneid Anglice
Since we have now come to the point where we are skipping sections of the Aeneid in Latin, you will need to catch yourselves up on the story in English. If you have not already acquired a copy of the Aeneid in translation, I would strongly recommend doing so before we break for Christmas. You will have an extended reading assignment to complete over the Christmas break.
If you do not already own a copy, I would recommend this copy from Amazon. It is an excellent translation, easy to read, and very cheap.
If you do not already own a copy, I would recommend this copy from Amazon. It is an excellent translation, easy to read, and very cheap.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Final Exam multiple choice Part III
A funeral fit for a king
Artemesia Mausolum virum amasse fertur supra omnes amorum fabulas ultraque affectionis humanae fidem. Mausolus autem fuit, ut M. Tullius ait, rex terrae Cariae…Is Mausolus, ubi fato perfunctus inter lamenta et manus uxoris, funere magnifico sepultus est, Artemisia, luctu atque desiderio mariti flagrans uxor, ossa cineremque eius mixta odoribus contusaque in faciem pulveris aquae indidit ebibitque multaque alio violenti amoris indicia fecisse dicitur. Molita quoque est ingenti impetus operis conservandae mariti memoriae sepulcrum illud memoratissimum dignaturmque numerari inter septem omnium terrarum spectacula. Id monumentum Artemisia cum dis manibus sacrum Mausoli dicaret, “Agona,” id est, “certamen” laudibus eius dicendis, facit ponitque praemia pecuniae aliarumque rerum bonarum amplissima. Ad eas laudes decertandas venisse dicuntur viri nobiles ingenio atque lingua praestabili…
Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights, Book X. xvii. 1-6
28. In line 1, amasse is a syncopated form of
a) amavissem b) amavisse c) amata esse d) amatura esse
b - It is an infinitive and active, thus b.
29. What is the best translation of fertur (line 1)?
a) is carried b) is offered c) is reported d) is endured
c - This one is hard. The presence of accusatives (Mausolum virum) and the infinitive amasse suggest indirect discourse, which makes c the only answer as only it can begin indirect discourse. Or, as here, amasse is working as a complimentary infinitive with fertur, in which case c is the only correct answer as it is the only one that makes sense. In no instance can a work as an answer although it is the obvious, and misleading, choice.
30. According to lines 1-2 (Artemisia…fidem), the love Artemisia felt for her husband
a) surpassed the love of glory of ancient warriors. b) exceeded the love of parents for their children
c) was the most intense love ever felt by mortals. d) exceeded even the passion of the gods.
c - The love was supra omnes amorum fabulas, "beyond all stories of love" AND ultra affectionis humanae fidem, "beyond the faith of human affection". No mention of gods, parents, or heroes.
31. M. Tullius (line 2) is a reference to
a) Caesar b) Cicero c) Pompey d) Livy
b - As we all came from Cicero in Latin III-Honors, or we met him last year a bit in Catullus' little mocking poem about him (optimus patronus), we know who Marcus Tullius Cicero is.
32. Artemisia is described in lines 3-4 as luctu…flagrans, which is best understood as
a) rousing the citizens to war. b) setting fire to her palace.
c) burning her husbands body and possessions. d) aflame with grief.
d - luctu atque desiderio mariti, "with grief and desire for her husband". Being aflame with passion, either good or bad, is a common motif.
33. In line 4, the words mixta and contusa are modifying
a) Artemisia (line 3) b) luctu (line 3) c) ossa (line 4) d) mariti (line 4)
c - ossa is the closest possible word for these adjectives to modify, and a makes no sense given that it isn't likely that Artemisia is being mixed and beaten.
34. According to ossa…ebibitque (lines 4-5), what did Artemesia do?
a) She mixed her husband’s bones and ashes with perfumes and poured it into a stream.
b) She made a paste of her husband’s remains and mixed it with water.
c) She mixed her husband’s remains with water and perfume and drank it.
d) She poured perfumes over the bones and ashes of her husband.
c - Gross, perhaps, but proof of her love. If nothing else, ebibit is the key to the phrase.
35. The expression ingenti impetus operis (line 5) signifies the
a) effort used to build the tomb b) resentment of the workers
c) attacks made on the tomb d) opposition to building the tomb
a - Like the Carthaginians building their city, the hugeness of the work is a sign of the effort involved.
36. The best translation of cum (line 7) is
a) when b) since c) although d) with
a - dis manibus is tempting to take as an ablative, except until we see that Artemisia is speaking, dicaret. This wants a dative indirect object. Also, why the subjunctive unless the clause is subordinate? Since there is no marker for a concessive clause such as tamen, and we know she has been building this tomb for a while now, a is the best answer considering that the games which follow are typical funeral games.
37. According to line 8 (Agona…dicendis), what kind of funeral games were held?
a) chariot races b) wrestling contests c) oratorical contests d) foot races
c - dicendis is the key. The contests (certamen) are to be contests of speaking.
38. According to lines 8-9 (facit…amplissima), what were the prizes for the winners?
a) Praises fit for a king. b) Money and other excellent goods.
c) They were carved onto the tomb. d) A costly and skilled slave.
b - praemia we know well from Vergil; perhaps we know that pecuniary matters in English relate to money; finally there is the talk of other most excellent goods (aliarumque rerum bonarum), which is generic and plural.
Artemesia Mausolum virum amasse fertur supra omnes amorum fabulas ultraque affectionis humanae fidem. Mausolus autem fuit, ut M. Tullius ait, rex terrae Cariae…Is Mausolus, ubi fato perfunctus inter lamenta et manus uxoris, funere magnifico sepultus est, Artemisia, luctu atque desiderio mariti flagrans uxor, ossa cineremque eius mixta odoribus contusaque in faciem pulveris aquae indidit ebibitque multaque alio violenti amoris indicia fecisse dicitur. Molita quoque est ingenti impetus operis conservandae mariti memoriae sepulcrum illud memoratissimum dignaturmque numerari inter septem omnium terrarum spectacula. Id monumentum Artemisia cum dis manibus sacrum Mausoli dicaret, “Agona,” id est, “certamen” laudibus eius dicendis, facit ponitque praemia pecuniae aliarumque rerum bonarum amplissima. Ad eas laudes decertandas venisse dicuntur viri nobiles ingenio atque lingua praestabili…
Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights, Book X. xvii. 1-6
28. In line 1, amasse is a syncopated form of
a) amavissem b) amavisse c) amata esse d) amatura esse
b - It is an infinitive and active, thus b.
29. What is the best translation of fertur (line 1)?
a) is carried b) is offered c) is reported d) is endured
c - This one is hard. The presence of accusatives (Mausolum virum) and the infinitive amasse suggest indirect discourse, which makes c the only answer as only it can begin indirect discourse. Or, as here, amasse is working as a complimentary infinitive with fertur, in which case c is the only correct answer as it is the only one that makes sense. In no instance can a work as an answer although it is the obvious, and misleading, choice.
30. According to lines 1-2 (Artemisia…fidem), the love Artemisia felt for her husband
a) surpassed the love of glory of ancient warriors. b) exceeded the love of parents for their children
c) was the most intense love ever felt by mortals. d) exceeded even the passion of the gods.
c - The love was supra omnes amorum fabulas, "beyond all stories of love" AND ultra affectionis humanae fidem, "beyond the faith of human affection". No mention of gods, parents, or heroes.
31. M. Tullius (line 2) is a reference to
a) Caesar b) Cicero c) Pompey d) Livy
b - As we all came from Cicero in Latin III-Honors, or we met him last year a bit in Catullus' little mocking poem about him (optimus patronus), we know who Marcus Tullius Cicero is.
32. Artemisia is described in lines 3-4 as luctu…flagrans, which is best understood as
a) rousing the citizens to war. b) setting fire to her palace.
c) burning her husbands body and possessions. d) aflame with grief.
d - luctu atque desiderio mariti, "with grief and desire for her husband". Being aflame with passion, either good or bad, is a common motif.
33. In line 4, the words mixta and contusa are modifying
a) Artemisia (line 3) b) luctu (line 3) c) ossa (line 4) d) mariti (line 4)
c - ossa is the closest possible word for these adjectives to modify, and a makes no sense given that it isn't likely that Artemisia is being mixed and beaten.
34. According to ossa…ebibitque (lines 4-5), what did Artemesia do?
a) She mixed her husband’s bones and ashes with perfumes and poured it into a stream.
b) She made a paste of her husband’s remains and mixed it with water.
c) She mixed her husband’s remains with water and perfume and drank it.
d) She poured perfumes over the bones and ashes of her husband.
c - Gross, perhaps, but proof of her love. If nothing else, ebibit is the key to the phrase.
35. The expression ingenti impetus operis (line 5) signifies the
a) effort used to build the tomb b) resentment of the workers
c) attacks made on the tomb d) opposition to building the tomb
a - Like the Carthaginians building their city, the hugeness of the work is a sign of the effort involved.
36. The best translation of cum (line 7) is
a) when b) since c) although d) with
a - dis manibus is tempting to take as an ablative, except until we see that Artemisia is speaking, dicaret. This wants a dative indirect object. Also, why the subjunctive unless the clause is subordinate? Since there is no marker for a concessive clause such as tamen, and we know she has been building this tomb for a while now, a is the best answer considering that the games which follow are typical funeral games.
37. According to line 8 (Agona…dicendis), what kind of funeral games were held?
a) chariot races b) wrestling contests c) oratorical contests d) foot races
c - dicendis is the key. The contests (certamen) are to be contests of speaking.
38. According to lines 8-9 (facit…amplissima), what were the prizes for the winners?
a) Praises fit for a king. b) Money and other excellent goods.
c) They were carved onto the tomb. d) A costly and skilled slave.
b - praemia we know well from Vergil; perhaps we know that pecuniary matters in English relate to money; finally there is the talk of other most excellent goods (aliarumque rerum bonarum), which is generic and plural.
Final Exam multiple choice Part II
Anchises visits his son and counsels him on his next steps.
'nate, mihi vita quondam, dum vita manebat,
care magis, nate Iliacis exercite fatis,
imperio Iovis huc venio, qui classibus ignem
depulit, et caelo tandem miseratus ab alto est.
5 consiliis pare quae nunc pulcherrima Nautes
dat senior; lectos iuvenes, fortissima corda,
defer in Italiam. gens dura atque aspera cultu
debellanda tibi Latio est. Ditis tamen ante
infernas accede domos et Averna per alta
10 congressus pete, nate, meos. non me impia namque
Tartara habent, tristes umbrae, sed amoena piorum
concilia Elysiumque colo. huc casta Sibylla
nigrarum multo pecudum te sanguine ducet.
tum genus omne tuum et quae dentur moenia disces.
15 iamque vale; torquet medios Nox umida cursus
et me saevus equis Oriens adflauit anhelis.'
Aeneid V. 724-739
17. The best translation of mihi vita…care magis (lines 1-2) is
a) dearer to me than life b) beware lest you depart from life
c) life is dearer to me d) take better care of my life
a - care is vocative. So "You, dear to me more (magis) than life (vita as an ablative of comparison).
18. Line 1 indicates that Anchises
a) is warning Aeneas b) is no longer alive
c) is hoping for a long life for Aeneas d) is encouraging Aeneas to life a worthy life
b - manebat is the key here. Life remained for Anchises. Past tense.
19. In lines 2, Iliacis…fatis refers to
a) the love affair between Dido and Aeneas b) the future victory of the Trojans in Latium
c) the predicted glory of Rome d) the misfortunes suffered by the Trojans
d - The fate of Ilium is never a good thing. Also, exercite is vocative, meaning something like "troubled by".
20. The antecedent of qui (line 3) is
a) fatis (line 3) b) imperio (line 3) c) Iovis (line 3) d) huc (line 3)
c - Masculine and singular is needed, and Iovis is handy. No other answer is possible given that a and b are neuters.
21. In line 5, consiliis is dative because it
a) indicates possession b) is dependent on the verb pareo
c) is used with a special adjective d) expresses purpose
b - Datives of possession need est to work, and there is none present. There are no special adjectives around - pulcherrima takes an ablative as we have seen. There is no verb of motion to allow for an expression of purpose. Finally, pare is the imperative form of the verb pareo, which takes a dative as you may recall.
22. In lines 6-7 (lectos…Italiam), Aeneas is advised
a) to take the bravest of his people to Italy. b) that Italy is full of very brave people.
c) to enter Italy as bravely as possible. d) to appreciate the bravery of his people.
a - "Chosen youths" are the lectos iuvenes. Defer is the imperative, commanding Aeneas to bring them to Italy.
23. In line 6, fortissima corda is an example of
a) alliteration b) onomatopoeia c) chiasmus d) synecdoche
d - Speaking of the hearts as brave, instead of the men themselves, is common.
24. In line 8, debellanda tibi…est is best translated
a) is going to subdue you b) must be subdued by you
c) has been subdued by you d) is going to be subdued by you
b - Gerundives typically express purpose or obligation and are used to express actions that need to occur in the future. Also, they take datives of agent.
25. The scansion of the first four feet of line 12 is
a) DSSS b) DSDS c) DDSS d) DDDS
d BUT c is acceptable. - There is a hiatus here in the line, between colo and huc. They should elide, but they don't. You know that in Elysiumque colo, the -umque co- should scan as a dactyl, but that leaves you one beat short if you elide colo and huc. Don't elide them, and you have the correct scansion. Do elide them, and your answer must default to c. Thus c is acceptable for our purposes.
26. According to line 14, the purpose of Aeneas’ trip to the Underworld will be to
a) learn what the future holds for his people. b) ask forgiveness from his father.
c) explore the regions of the Underworld. d) receive advice from Trojans who have died.
a - The whole line hinges on disces: "You will learn". Know that and you will know the answer. The rest of the line talks about his whole race omne genus and his walls quae moenia, so you could still come to a as the answer.
27. According to lines 15-16, as Anchises bids Aeneas farewell it is
a) mid-morning b) nearly midnight c) mid-afternoon d) near dawn
d - Night is described as umida, moist with dew. It has turned its middle course, medios...cursus. And Dawn is coming with its panting horses equis Oriens adflavit anhelis.
'nate, mihi vita quondam, dum vita manebat,
care magis, nate Iliacis exercite fatis,
imperio Iovis huc venio, qui classibus ignem
depulit, et caelo tandem miseratus ab alto est.
5 consiliis pare quae nunc pulcherrima Nautes
dat senior; lectos iuvenes, fortissima corda,
defer in Italiam. gens dura atque aspera cultu
debellanda tibi Latio est. Ditis tamen ante
infernas accede domos et Averna per alta
10 congressus pete, nate, meos. non me impia namque
Tartara habent, tristes umbrae, sed amoena piorum
concilia Elysiumque colo. huc casta Sibylla
nigrarum multo pecudum te sanguine ducet.
tum genus omne tuum et quae dentur moenia disces.
15 iamque vale; torquet medios Nox umida cursus
et me saevus equis Oriens adflauit anhelis.'
Aeneid V. 724-739
17. The best translation of mihi vita…care magis (lines 1-2) is
a) dearer to me than life b) beware lest you depart from life
c) life is dearer to me d) take better care of my life
a - care is vocative. So "You, dear to me more (magis) than life (vita as an ablative of comparison).
18. Line 1 indicates that Anchises
a) is warning Aeneas b) is no longer alive
c) is hoping for a long life for Aeneas d) is encouraging Aeneas to life a worthy life
b - manebat is the key here. Life remained for Anchises. Past tense.
19. In lines 2, Iliacis…fatis refers to
a) the love affair between Dido and Aeneas b) the future victory of the Trojans in Latium
c) the predicted glory of Rome d) the misfortunes suffered by the Trojans
d - The fate of Ilium is never a good thing. Also, exercite is vocative, meaning something like "troubled by".
20. The antecedent of qui (line 3) is
a) fatis (line 3) b) imperio (line 3) c) Iovis (line 3) d) huc (line 3)
c - Masculine and singular is needed, and Iovis is handy. No other answer is possible given that a and b are neuters.
21. In line 5, consiliis is dative because it
a) indicates possession b) is dependent on the verb pareo
c) is used with a special adjective d) expresses purpose
b - Datives of possession need est to work, and there is none present. There are no special adjectives around - pulcherrima takes an ablative as we have seen. There is no verb of motion to allow for an expression of purpose. Finally, pare is the imperative form of the verb pareo, which takes a dative as you may recall.
22. In lines 6-7 (lectos…Italiam), Aeneas is advised
a) to take the bravest of his people to Italy. b) that Italy is full of very brave people.
c) to enter Italy as bravely as possible. d) to appreciate the bravery of his people.
a - "Chosen youths" are the lectos iuvenes. Defer is the imperative, commanding Aeneas to bring them to Italy.
23. In line 6, fortissima corda is an example of
a) alliteration b) onomatopoeia c) chiasmus d) synecdoche
d - Speaking of the hearts as brave, instead of the men themselves, is common.
24. In line 8, debellanda tibi…est is best translated
a) is going to subdue you b) must be subdued by you
c) has been subdued by you d) is going to be subdued by you
b - Gerundives typically express purpose or obligation and are used to express actions that need to occur in the future. Also, they take datives of agent.
25. The scansion of the first four feet of line 12 is
a) DSSS b) DSDS c) DDSS d) DDDS
d BUT c is acceptable. - There is a hiatus here in the line, between colo and huc. They should elide, but they don't. You know that in Elysiumque colo, the -umque co- should scan as a dactyl, but that leaves you one beat short if you elide colo and huc. Don't elide them, and you have the correct scansion. Do elide them, and your answer must default to c. Thus c is acceptable for our purposes.
26. According to line 14, the purpose of Aeneas’ trip to the Underworld will be to
a) learn what the future holds for his people. b) ask forgiveness from his father.
c) explore the regions of the Underworld. d) receive advice from Trojans who have died.
a - The whole line hinges on disces: "You will learn". Know that and you will know the answer. The rest of the line talks about his whole race omne genus and his walls quae moenia, so you could still come to a as the answer.
27. According to lines 15-16, as Anchises bids Aeneas farewell it is
a) mid-morning b) nearly midnight c) mid-afternoon d) near dawn
d - Night is described as umida, moist with dew. It has turned its middle course, medios...cursus. And Dawn is coming with its panting horses equis Oriens adflavit anhelis.
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