A.P.* Multiple Choice: Dido's Dilemma, Aeneid 4.522-47 
* = Abney Practice

In this passage not found on the AP syllabus, we explore Dido's mental state
as she considers what to do while Aeneas prepares to go.
Read the passage; then choose the correct answer for the questions that follow. 

For vocabulary help, move the cursor over the underlined words, and a definition will appear.

 

Nox erat et placidum carpebant fessa soporem
corpora per terras, silvaeque et saeva quierant
aequora, cum medio volvuntur sidera lapsu,
cum tacet omnis ager, pecudes pictaeque volucres
quaeque lacus late liquidos quaeque aspera dumis       5
rura tenent, somno positae sub nocte silenti.
, at non infelix animi Phoenissa, neque umquam
solvitur in somnos oculisve aut pectore noctem
accipit: ingeminant curae rursusque resurgens
saevit amor magnoque irarum fluctuat aestu.               10
sic adeo insistit secumque ita corde volutat:
'en, quid ago? rursusne procos inrisa priores
experiar, Nomadumque petam conubia supplex,
quos ego sim totiens iam dedignata maritos?
Iliacas igitur classis atque ultima Teucrum                  15
iussa sequar? quiane auxilio iuvat ante levatos
et bene apud memores veteris stat gratia facti?
quis me autem, fac velle, sinet ratibusue superbis
invisam accipiet? nescis heu, perdita, necdum
Laomedonteae sentis periuria gentis?                      20
quid tum? sola fuga nautas comitabor ovantis?
an Tyriis omnique manu stipata meorum
inferar et, quos Sidonia vix urbe revelli,
rursus agam pelago et ventis dare vela iubebo?
quin morere ut merita es, ferroque averte dolorem.       25

Aeneid 4.522-47

(Excerpt from the Aeneid, available online here: Book 4.)


1.  What basic contrast does Vergil create in the first

     half of the passage?

love and hate
life and death
night and day
tranquility and turmoil


2.  What figure of speech is contained in placidum . . .

     corpora (lines 1-2)?
interlocking word order (synchesis)
chiasmus
asyndeton
metonymy


3.  Identify the tense and mood of quierant (line 2).
imperfect subjunctive
imperfect indicative
pluperfect indicative
pluperfect subjunctive


4.  What do we learn of Dido in lines 7-9?

She relies on dreams to guide her.
She has received Aeneas into her heart and life
     only to be betrayed.
She is restless.
She curses daylight and prays for death.


5.  On which word does irarum (line 10) depend?
aestu (line 10)
amor (line 10)
curae (line 9)
fluctuat (line 10)


6.  What does Dido resist in rursusne . . . experiar      (lines 12-14)?
war with the nomads
to go to sea
another marriage
laughter and happiness


7. What does Dido wonder in Iliacas . . . sequar

    (lines 15-16)?
if she is being chased by the Trojans in her dreams
if she could order the Trojan fleet to remain to the      end of the season
if her last command will be followed
if she could humble herself and go with the Trojans


8.  What is the point of bene . . . facti (line 17)?
Will Dido at least be able to recall the "good old      days"?
Has Dido done right by the Trojans?
Are the Trojans grateful to Dido?
Will memories of the past overwhelm Dido?



9.  What does Dido doubt in quis . . . accipiet

     (lines 18-19)?
whether she can invite herself with the Trojans
whether the Trojans will welcome her company
whether the Trojans will find her arrogant and      presumptuous
whether anyone will begrudge her going to Italy


10. To whom or what does perdita (line 19) refer?
the ruinous falsehood of the Trojans
Dido destroyed
the destructive race
Troy's destruction


11. What is the correct scansion of the first four feet of

      line 21?
dactyl-dactyl-spondee-dactyl
dactyl-spondee-dactyl-spondee
spondee-dactyl-spondee-dactyl
spondee-spondee-spondee-spondee


12. What is the case and function of pelago (line 24)?
ablative of place where--at sea
ablative of place from which--from the sea
ablative of route--by way of the sea
dative of direction--to the sea


13. How many elisions occur in line 25?
0
1
2
3


14. Identify the form morere in line 25.
present active infinitive
3rd plural perfect active
present singular active imperative
ablative singular


15. Upon what does Dido decide in line 25?
death
grief
a strategem
war