AP Latin: Vergil
Magistra Seelbaugh
Summer Assignment
Salvēte omnēs!
The following is a brief description of the course work you should expect next year for AP Latin: Vergil.
AP Latin: Vergil Course Content
Book 1: lines 1-519
Book 2: lines 1-56, 199-297, 469-566, and 735-804
Book 4: lines 1-448, 642-705
Book 6: lines 1-211, 450-476, and 847-901
Book 10: lines 420-509
Book 12: lines 791-842, 887-952
Total number of lines: 1,856
Besides the translation of these lines, we will also:
Ø Discuss the Aeneid in its entirety
Ø Analyze the major themes
Ø Scan dactylic hexameter
Ø Analyze and interpret critically the Aeneid through written essays
Ø Identify and analyze Vergil’s use of stylistic and metrical techniques
Ø Examine the historical, social, cultural, and political context of the Aeneid
Ø Practice sight reading of the Aeneid and other Roman authors
This summer, I am asking each AP Latin student to complete the following required assignments in order to best prepare for our class in the fall. The due date is the first day of school.
Required:
Ø Read the entire English translation of the Aeneid. I would like you to be familiar with the plot, structure and characters of the Aeneid by the first day of class. You may choose a translation, but here are my suggestions:
The Aeneid, Translated by David West (ISBN: 978-0140449327)
-An easy-to-read prose translation
The Aeneid, Translated by Stanley Lombardo (ISBN: 978-0872207318)
-A verse translation that is easy to read
You may read another translation like Fitzgerald or Fagles (both well known and highly respected translations) but these may be difficult to read. The Fitzgerald translation, for example, stays true to the epic style but is a bit archaic in its language usage.
Ø Outline main events in each book
Ø Make a list of major characters with a brief description of each (Dido – queen of Carthage)
Ø Read “The Legend of the Trojan War.” Vergil would have assumed that his contemporary readers of his poem had a familiarity with the references made to the Trojan War. You should have a solid understanding of events, characters and places involved in the Trojan War.
Highly Recommended:
Ø Read/become familiar with the Iliad and the Odyssey. You may attempt to read both epic poems in translation (the Robert Fagles translation is what I would recommend) or you can read a summary/abridged/prose version of each. Here are two abridged versions of the epics that are available online. They are both approximately one-third the length of the original, full translation:
http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/homer/iliadabridged.htm
http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/homer/abridgedodysseyweb.htm
Ø Review your grammar! I would recommend that you look over previous notes, find an online review, or purchase a Latin grammar review. One inexpensive grammar review is Latin Super Review (ISBN: 978-0878913815), which is available on Amazon.com.
Ø Become familiar with the vocabulary of the Aeneid. You just might make your life a little easier during the school year if you are familiar with the frequently used vocabulary found in the Aeneid. Bolchazy-Carducci publishers have a set of AP Vergil flashcards that are available in card format or as an iPod download.
Vergil Vocabulary Cards for AP Selections (can be found on Amazon.com)
For the iPod download: http://ipodius.bolchazy.com/Software/VocabVergil.html
If you would like more information about the course, please visit the AP College Board Website:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_latinverg.html
Please feel free to email me during the summer with any questions or concerns.
Enjoy your summer! I look forward to working with you next year!
Magistra Seelbaugh