ut templi tetigere gradus, procumbit uterque
pronus humi gelidoque pavens dedit oscula saxo
atque ita, "si precibus," dixerunt, "numina iustis
victa remollescunt, si flectitur ira deorum,
dic, Themi, qua generis damnum reparabile nostri       5
arte sit, et mersis fer opem, mitissima, rebus!"
mota dea est sortemque dedit: "discedite templo
et velate caput cinctasque resolvite vestes
ossaque post tergum magnae iactate parentis!"
obstupuere diu: rumpitque silentia voce                       10
Pyrrha prior iussisque deae parere recusat,
detque sibi veniam pavido rogat ore pavetque
laedere iactatis maternas ossibus umbras.

Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.375-87
Click here to read the continuation of the story.

(Excerpt from Ovid available online here: Book 1.)

1. What does the couple do at the steps (lines 1-2)?
They slip on the slimy steps.
They prostrate themselves to the gods.
They sit down to plan what to say.
They clear stones from the ruined temple.


2. Identify the case of humi (line 2).
genitive
locative
dative
nominative


3. From the nature of the couple's question to the oracle,

    qua . . . sit, what area of their education was lacking

    (lines 5-6)?
religious instruction
home economics
health education
woodworking


4. Which of the following words best indicates the

    couple's fear?
tetigere (line 1)
pavens (line 3)
precibus (line 3)
victa (line 4)


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

    of line 5?
dactyl-dactyl-dactyl-spondee
dactyl-spondee-dactyl-dactyl
dactyl-dactyl-spondee-spondee
dactyl-dactyl-spondee-dactyl


6. Identify the reference mersis . . . rebus (line 6).
the justice of the gods
the couple's personal misfortune
the Great Deluge
eternal optimism


7. What is the correct translation of discedite . . .

    templo (line 7)?
Climb down from the temple.
Depart from the temple.
Go forth to the temple.
Decide in the temple.

8. What oracle does the couple receive (line 9)?
Toss their mother on the shore.
Stand behind their mother.
Boast with loud words about their mother.
Throw their mother's bones over their shoulders.


9. What is the correct translation of rumpit . . .

    Pyrrha (lines 10-11)?
Pyrrha interrupts with a silent voice.
Pyrrha breaks the silence with her voice.
Silent Pyrrha interrupts with her voice.
Pyrrha, silent with respect to her voice, breaks down.


10. How does Pyrrha react to the oracle according to

     iussis . . . recusat (line 11)?
She eagerly complies.
She refuses to obey.
She rejoices.
She accuses the gods of favoritism.


11. What does Pyrrha hope (line 12)?
that the goddess will come to them
that they may ask the gods for further advice
that she has not offended Themis
that the goddess will aid their quest


12. What figure of speech occurs in line 12?
synchesis (interlocking word order)
juxtaposition (antithesis)
polyptoton
tricolon crescens


13. What figure of speech occurs in line 13?
onomatopoeia
epanalepsis
synchesis (interlocking word order)
asyndeton


14. What trait known to the Romans motivates Pyrrha

     (lines 14-15)?
superbia
fortitudo
sapientia
pietas