Vergil, Aeneid, Book 1, Lines 418–440

#AP Latin Study Guide: Aeneid Book 1, Lines 418-440

Welcome! This guide is designed to help you feel confident and prepared for your AP Latin exam. We'll break down the text, context, and grammar of Aeneid Book 1, lines 418-440, focusing on both literal and interpretative translations. Let's get started!

#How to Use This Guide

This guide is your go-to resource for a last-minute review. It's designed to be clear, concise, and engaging, helping you quickly grasp key concepts and feel ready for the exam. Remember, this is a supplement to your classwork, focusing on practical application and exam readiness. Let's make sure you're not just memorizing, but truly understanding the text.

#Lines 418-440, Book 1, The Aeneid

#Original Passage

latex
Corripuere viam interea, qua semita monstrat.
Iamque ascendebant collem, qui plurimus urbi
imminet, adversasque adspectat desuper arces. 420
Miratur molem Aeneas, magalia quondam,
miratur portas strepitumque et strata viarum.
Instant ardentes Tyrii pars ducere muros,
molirique arcem et manibus subvolvere saxa,
pars optare locum tecto et concludere sulco. 425
[Iura magistratusque legunt sanctumque senatum;]
hic portus alii effodiunt; hic alta theatris
fundamenta locant alii, immanisque columnas
rupibus excidunt, scaenis decora alta futuris.
Qualis apes aestate nova per florea rura 430
exercet sub sole labor, cum gentis adultos
educunt fetus, aut cum liquentia mella
stipant et dulci distendunt nectare cellas,
aut onera accipiunt venientum, aut agmine facto
ignavom fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent: 435
fervet opus, redolentque thymo fragrantia mella.
'O fortunati, quorum iam moenia surgunt!'
Aeneas ait, et fastigia suspicit urbis.
Infert se saeptus nebula, mirabile dictu,
per medios, miscetque viris, neque cernitur ulli. 440

#Questions about the Latin

1. What is the verb tense used in line 420?
2. What is the subject of the verb in line 425?
3. What is the mood of the verb in line 432?
4. What is the case of the noun "molem" in line 421?
5. What is the number of the verb in line 427?

#Answers about the Latin!

1. The verb tense used in line 420 is the present tense.
2. The subject of the verb in line 425 is "alii" (some).
3. The mood of the verb in line 432 is the indicative mood.
4. The case of the noun "molem" in line 421 is the accusative case.
5. The number of the verb in line 427 is the plural.

#Translation

Meanwhile, they seized the road, on which the path it showed. And now they climb hills, which very much hangs over the city, and from above he gazes at the opposite towers. Aeneas marvels over the mass, huts a long time ago, he marvels at the gates and the noise and the paths of the streets. The eager Tyrians press on, part reading the walls, and laboring at the citadel, and rolling rocks with their hands, another part choosing a location for a roof and finishing with a trench. [They choose laws and administrators and a sacred senate;] Some men are digging out ports here; others are placing the high foundations for theaters here, and they are cutting out huge pillars from the cliffs, the high decorations for the future stages. Just like work exercises bees in summer through new country flowers under the sun, when they lead out the adult children of their race, or when they press liquid honeys and they stretch out their cells with sweet nectar, or they accept heavy things of the ones arriving, or when a battle line has been made, they seperate the lazy herd, the drones, from their hives: the work burns, and the fragrant honeys smell with thyme. ' O fortunate men, whose walls already rise!' Aeneas said, and he looks up at the peaks of the city. He brings himself inside having been surrounded by fog, strange to say, through the middle of men, and he mixes with men, and he is not being distinguished from anyone.

#Wrapping up these Lines

#Grammatical Devices Used:

#Poetic Devices Used:

• Personification: Tyrii are described as "ardentes" (burning with passion) in line 424. - Simile: The scene of bees working in a field in the summertime is used to compare the activity of the Tyrians building the city in lines 430-435. - Alliteration: The repetition of the "m" sound in lines 420-421, "Miratur molem Aeneas, magalia quondam"
• Repetition: The phrase "hic" (here) is repeated in lines 427 and 428, emphasizing the different tasks being undertaken by the Tyrians.
• Anaphora: The repeated use of the word "aut" (or) in lines 432-433, "aut cum liquentia mella / stipant et dulci distendunt nectare cellas," adds a sense of lists and enumeration.
• Hyperbole: The "immanisque columnas" (gigantic columns) in line 429 emphasizes the grandeur of the city being built.
• Irony: In line 439, Aeneas says "O fortunati, quorum iam moenia surgunt!" (Oh fortunate ones, whose walls are already rising) while he himself cannot see the city because he is hidden by a mist.
• Metaphor: In line 425, the act of building the city is compared to "molirique arcem et manibus subvolvere saxa" (to build a fortress and to roll stones with their hands)
• Assonance: The repetition of the "i" sound in lines 425-426, "molirique arcem et manibus subvolvere saxa"
• Onomatopoeia: The sound of the gates ("strepitumque") and the streets ("strata viarum") is described in line 422, creating a sense of the bustling activity of the city.
• Litotes: In line 439, Aeneas says "O fortunati, quorum iam moenia surgunt!" (Oh fortunate ones, whose walls already rise!) which implies that the speaker himself is not fortunate and his walls have not risen yet. Aeneas uses litotes to express his admiration for the Tyrians' ability to build a city so quickly.
• Metonymy: In line 425, "manibus" (with hands) is used to refer to the builders, and in line 435, "ignavom fucos pecus" (lazy sheep) is used to refer to the lazy people. This creates a metaphor, where the hands and the sheep are used to stand for the builders and the lazy people respectively, thus creating a connection between them and the work they are doing or not doing.
• Polysyndeton: In line 432-433, "aut" (or) is repeated several times "aut cum liquentia mella / stipant et dulci distendunt nectare cellas," to link different activities of the bees and to show that these activities are all related and happening at the same time. This repetition of "aut" emphasizes the various different activities that the bees are performing and gives a sense of continuity and unity to their actions.
• Asyndeton: In line 425, the phrase "molirique arcem et manibus subvolvere saxa" (to build the citadel and move rocks with their hands) is a series of related clauses that is linked by "et" which creates a sense of urgency in the actions of the Tyrians.
• Imagery: Imagery is used to describe the building of the city and the frenzied activity of the Tyrians. The passage uses vivid images such as "molem, portas, strepitumque, strata viarum, arces, rupibus excidunt, scaenis decora alta futuris, florea rura, mella, nectare cellas" to create a sense of the bustling activity of the city being built, and the images of bees working in a field in the summer to describe the frenzied activity of the Tyrians.

#Final Exam Focus

Okay, let's talk strategy. Here's what to focus on for the exam:

• Grammar: Pay close attention to verb tenses, moods, and participles. These are frequently tested, especially in multiple-choice questions.
• Literary Devices: Be able to identify and explain common devices like similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration, and anaphora. Understanding their impact on the text is key for FRQs.
• Translation: Aim for a balance between literal accuracy and interpretative fluency. Practice translating passages quickly and efficiently.
• Context: Remember the big picture. How do these lines fit into the larger narrative of the Aeneid? What do they reveal about Aeneas, the Tyrians, and the themes of the epic?

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. In line 427, what is the grammatical function of "effodiunt"? (A) Infinitive (B) Gerund (C) Present Active Participle (D) Present Active Indicative

2. Which literary device is most evident in lines 430-435? (A) Metaphor (B) Simile (C) Personification (D) Hyperbole

3. What is the case of "molem" in line 421? (A) Nominative (B) Genitive (C) Dative (D) Accusative

#Free Response Question

Analyze the use of imagery and simile in lines 429-437. How do these devices contribute to the overall meaning and tone of the passage? Support your answer with specific references to the text.

Scoring Rubric:

• Identification of Imagery (2 points):
  • 1 point for identifying at least two specific examples of imagery (e.g., "florea rura," "liquentia mella").
  • 1 point for explaining how these images create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.
• Analysis of Simile (3 points):
  • 1 point for correctly identifying the simile (bees working in summer).
  • 1 point for explaining the comparison between the bees and the Tyrians.
  • 1 point for discussing how the simile emphasizes the Tyrians' industriousness and collective effort.
• Overall Meaning and Tone (2 points):
  • 1 point for discussing how the imagery and simile contribute to the overall tone of admiration and awe.
  • 1 point for explaining how these devices enhance the reader's understanding of the Tyrians' efforts and the city's grandeur.

#Answers to Multiple Choice Questions

1. (D) Present Active Indicative
2. (B) Simile
3. (D) Accusative

Remember, you've got this! Go into the exam calm, confident, and ready to show off your Latin skills. You've prepared well, and now it's time to shine! 🌟