#AP Latin: Aeneid Book 2 Study Guide 🚀

Welcome, future Latin legends! This guide is your secret weapon for acing the AP Latin exam, focusing on the key passages from Aeneid Book 2. Let's dive in and make sure you're feeling confident and ready to conquer this text!

#Unit 3: The Fall of Troy 🏛️

This unit focuses on the dramatic events of the fall of Troy, as told by Aeneas to Dido. We'll explore themes of deception, divine intervention, and the tragic consequences of war. Remember, AP questions often combine multiple concepts, so pay attention to the connections between different sections!

#Lines 40-56: Laocoön's Warning 🗣️

This section introduces Laocoön, a Trojan priest, who is suspicious of the Trojan Horse. His warnings are a crucial part of the narrative and highlight the theme of deception.

• Key Events: * Laocoön rushes down from the citadel with a crowd. * He questions the Trojans' sanity for believing the Greeks have left. * He asks if they think any Greek gifts are free from treachery, referencing Odysseus’s cunning. * He speculates about the horse's purpose, suggesting it could be a weapon or a hiding place for soldiers. * He hurls a spear into the horse, causing it to tremble and groan. * Aeneas laments that if they had listened to Laocoön, Troy would still stand.

• Key Vocabulary: * arx, arcis (f.): citadel, stronghold * dolus, doli (m.): trick, deceit * fatum, fati (n.): fate, destiny * caverna, cavernae (f.): cave, cavity

• Visual Aid: Caption: Laocoön, right of the horse, hurls his spear at the horse while Sinon plants the false story about the horse within the Trojans. Image Courtesy of University of Heidelberg

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice:

1. In line 51 (stetit illa tremens), what does illa refer to? a) The horse b) The spear c) Laocoön d) The Trojans
2. Which stylistic device is most prominent in line 54 (insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae)? a) Metaphor b) Simile c) Assonance d) Hyperbole

Free Response: Analyze how Vergil uses the character of Laocoön to create tension and foreshadow the fall of Troy in lines 40-56. Be sure to include specific textual evidence in your response.

Scoring Rubric:

• 2 points: Correctly identifies Laocoön as a figure of warning and suspicion.
• 2 points: Provides textual evidence of Laocoön's warnings and actions (e.g., “ō miseri, quae tanta īnsania, civēs?”, spear throw).
• 2 points: Explains how Laocoön’s actions create dramatic tension and foreshadow the tragic events to come.
• 1 point: Demonstrates understanding of the literary devices and their impact.
• 1 point: Clear and coherent writing.

#Lines 201-249: The Serpents and the Horse's Entry 🐍

This section describes the gruesome death of Laocoön and his sons, followed by the Trojans' decision to bring the horse into the city. It highlights the theme of divine punishment and the Trojans’ tragic blindness.

• Key Events: * Laocoön, a priest of Neptune, is sacrificing a bull. * Two serpents emerge from the sea and attack Laocoön and his sons. * Laocoön and his sons are entangled and killed by the serpents. * The Trojans, believing Laocoön was punished for striking the horse, decide to bring it into the city. * The Trojans prepare the horse for entry, and it is brought into the city, pregnant with weapons. * Cassandra's prophecy is ignored.

• Key Vocabulary: * sanguis, sanguinis (m.): blood * serpens, serpentis (m./f.): serpent * vitta, vittae (f.): headband, fillet * murus, muri (m.): wall

• Visual Aid: Caption: Laocoön with his sons becomes intertwined among the twin serpents. Image Courtesy of the Munich Digitization Center

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice:

1. In line 221 (qualis mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram), what is being compared to the sound of Laocoön's cries? a) A lion b) A bull c) A serpent d) A horse
2. What literary device is used in line 239 (sacra canunt funemque manu contingere gaudent)? a) Anaphora b) Asyndeton c) Polysyndeton d) Metaphor

Free Response: How does Vergil use imagery and symbolism in lines 201-249 to convey the themes of divine punishment and the Trojans’ tragic fate? Provide specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

Scoring Rubric:

• 2 points: Identifies the serpents as symbols of divine punishment.
• 2 points: Provides textual examples of vivid imagery (e.g., “perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno”, “gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones”).
• 2 points: Explains how the imagery and symbolism contribute to the theme of the Trojans’ tragic fate.
• 1 point: Demonstrates understanding of the literary devices and their impact.
• 1 point: Clear and coherent writing.

#Lines 268-297: Hector's Ghost and Warning 👻

This section features the appearance of Hector’s ghost to Aeneas, warning him to flee the city. It highlights the themes of fate, duty, and the tragic loss of Troy.

• Key Events: * The Greeks emerge from the horse and begin their attack. * Hector’s ghost appears to Aeneas in a dream, looking disheveled and wounded. * Hector warns Aeneas to flee the city, stating that Troy is doomed. * Hector entrusts Aeneas with the sacred rites and deities of Troy.

• Key Vocabulary: * exuviae, exuviarum (f. pl.): spoils, armor * flamma, flammae (f.): flame * Pergama, Pergamorum (n. pl.): Troy * gens, gentis (f.): people, nation

• Visual Aid: Caption: The ghost of Hector appears to Aeneas lying on the bed and informs him to flee the city amid the Greeks ravaging Troy. Image Courtesy of University of Heidelberg

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice:

1. In line 275 (Hectore qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli), whose armor is Hector wearing? a) Agamemnon b) Menelaus c) Achilles d) Paris
2. What is the main message of Hector's speech in lines 287-292? a) To fight to the death b) To seek revenge on the Greeks c) To flee the city d) To negotiate a truce

Free Response: Analyze how Vergil utilizes the appearance of Hector's ghost to convey the themes of fate and the fall of Troy in lines 268-297. Be sure to include specific textual evidence in your response.

Scoring Rubric:

• 2 points: Identifies Hector's ghost as a symbol of Troy's tragic fate.
• 2 points: Provides textual evidence of Hector's warnings and instructions (e.g., “heu fuge, nate dea, teque his' ait 'eripe flammis”, “sat patriae Priamoque datum”).
• 2 points: Explains how Hector's appearance and words emphasize the theme of fate and the inevitability of Troy's fall.
• 1 point: Demonstrates understanding of the literary devices and their impact.
• 1 point: Clear and coherent writing.

#Lines 559-620: Aeneas, Helen, and Divine Intervention 🔥

This section depicts Aeneas's emotional turmoil and his encounter with Helen, followed by Venus's intervention. It highlights the themes of divine will, duty, and the need to move forward.

• Key Events: * Aeneas witnesses the destruction of Troy and feels intense grief. * He sees Helen at the Temple of Vesta and contemplates killing her. * Venus appears to Aeneas, revealing the divine forces behind Troy's fall. * She shows him Neptune, Juno, and Pallas actively destroying the city. * Venus urges Aeneas to flee and assures him of her protection.

• Key Vocabulary: * ira, irae (f.): anger, wrath * numen, numinis (n.): divine power, divinity * labor, laboris (m.): labor, effort * limen, liminis (n.): threshold, doorway

• Visual Aid: Caption: Aeneas and his family fleeing Troy. Image Courtesy of Pompeo Batoni

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice:

1. In line 570 (illa sibi īnfestos ēversa ob Pergama Teucrōs), who is illa referring to? a) Venus b) Helen c) Cassandra d) Juno
2. What is the main purpose of Venus's appearance in lines 615-620? a) To encourage Aeneas to seek revenge b) To reveal the divine forces behind Troy's fall and urge him to flee c) To punish Helen for her role in the war d) To demand a sacrifice from Aeneas

Free Response: Analyze how Vergil uses the intervention of Venus in lines 559-620 to shift Aeneas's focus from personal revenge to his divinely ordained duty. Be sure to include specific textual evidence in your response.

Scoring Rubric:

• 2 points: Identifies Venus's intervention as a key turning point in Aeneas's emotional state.
• 2 points: Provides textual evidence of Venus's instructions and explanations (e.g., “iam summās arcēs Trītōnia, respice, Pallas”, “ēripe, nāte, fugam fīnemque impōne labōrī”).
• 2 points: Explains how Venus's intervention shifts Aeneas's focus from revenge to his duty and destiny.
• 1 point: Demonstrates understanding of the literary devices and their impact.
• 1 point: Clear and coherent writing.

#Final Exam Focus 🎯

• Highest Priority Topics: * The Trojan Horse and its deception * Laocoön's warnings and death * Hector's ghost and his message to Aeneas * Venus's intervention and the divine will * The themes of fate, duty, and divine intervention

• Common Question Types: * Translation of specific lines * Identification and analysis of literary devices * Analysis of character motivations and actions * Interpretation of themes and their significance * Scansion of dactylic hexameter

• Last-Minute Tips: * Time Management: Pace yourself and don't spend too long on any one question. Prioritize questions you know you can answer quickly. * Common Pitfalls: Avoid making assumptions about the text. Always refer back to the Latin for evidence. * Strategies: Read the questions carefully and make sure you understand what is being asked. Use your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to help you translate.

#You've Got This! 💪

You've come so far, and you're ready to ace this exam! Remember, this study guide is your friend. Review it, take a deep breath, and go show that AP Latin exam who's boss! Good luck, and may the gods be with you! 🌟