| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| augury | The Roman practice of examining the entrails of sacrificed animals to interpret signs of divine approval or disapproval. |
| Camilla | A warrior figure in Virgil's Aeneid who is protected by the goddess Diana. |
| cum | A Latin conjunction that can mean 'when,' 'since,' or 'although' depending on context and the mood of the verb it introduces. |
| Diana | The Roman goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and fertility, who in the Aeneid shows concern for the warrior Camilla. |
| imperative mood | The mood of a verb used to express commands or direct requests. |
| Latin adjectives | Words in Latin that modify nouns to describe their qualities, attributes, or characteristics, and must agree with the nouns they modify in case, number, and gender. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ablative case | A Latin grammatical case with multiple functions, including showing the means, agent, manner, time, place, or separation in a sentence. |
| adjective | Words that modify nouns and must agree with them in case, number, and gender in Latin. |
| case | The grammatical form of a Latin noun, pronoun, or adjective that indicates its function in a sentence (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, or vocative). |
| causa | A Latin noun meaning 'cause' or 'reason' that, when placed in the ablative case after a genitive noun, is translated as 'for the sake of.' |
| chiasmus | A rhetorical figure in which two corresponding pairs are arranged in inverted order (a-b-b-a) to create emphasis and draw attention to a particular point. |
| dactyls | A metrical foot consisting of one long syllable followed by two short syllables (– ∪ ∪). |
| declensions | The system of noun and adjective endings in Latin that indicate gender, number, and case; there are five declensions for nouns and three for adjectives. |
| epic poetry | A long narrative poem that typically recounts the deeds of heroes and is written in a formal, elevated style. |
| feet | The basic repeating units of meter in poetry, each composed of a specific pattern of long and short syllables. |
| gender | The grammatical classification of Latin nouns, adjectives, and pronouns as masculine, feminine, or neuter. |
| genitive case | A Latin grammatical case used to show possession, descriptive properties, part of a whole, or a quasi-object of a noun implying action. |
| genre | A category or type of literary work with distinctive characteristics, conventions, and features. |
| gerund | A noun formed from a verb in Latin, used to express an action as a noun (e.g., bellandi: of waging war). |
| gerundive | An adjective formed from a verb in Latin that modifies a noun and expresses necessity or purpose (e.g., ad eas res conficiendas: for preparing these things). |
| gods | Divine beings in epic poetry who intervene in human affairs and influence the progression of events in the narrative. |
| gratia | A Latin noun meaning 'favor' or 'grace' that, when placed in the ablative case after a genitive noun, is translated as 'for the sake of.' |
| infinitive | A verbal form that functions as the predicate verb in an indirect statement or as a noun. |
| meter | The regular, predictable pattern of long and short syllables that forms the rhythmic structure of Latin poetry. |
| narrative | The story or sequence of events in a literary work, which in epic poetry is often advanced by divine intervention. |
| number | The grammatical distinction between singular and plural forms of nouns, adjectives, and pronouns in Latin. |
| personified forces of nature | Natural elements or abstract concepts given human characteristics and agency in literary works, often represented as divine beings in epic poetry. |
| pronoun | Words that replace or refer to nouns and have gender, number, and case forms in Latin. |
| rhetorical figure | A device of language used to create specific effects and enhance meaning in writing or speech. |
| spondees | A metrical foot consisting of two long syllables (– –). |
| stylistic device | A technique or literary tool used by an author to create a particular effect or enhance the meaning and impact of a text. |
| substantively | The use of an adjective as a noun, where the adjective refers to an implied noun rather than an explicitly stated one. |
| supine | A fourth declension verbal noun ending in -um or -u that functions as a noun in Latin sentences. |
| syllables | The individual units of sound that make up words and are classified as long or short in Latin poetry. |
| trochees | A metrical foot consisting of one long syllable followed by one short syllable, commonly used in epic poetry. |
| verbal | A word form derived from a verb that functions as another part of speech, such as a participle, gerund, or infinitive. |
| word order | The arrangement and sequence of words in a Latin sentence, which can be manipulated as a stylistic device to create emphasis or convey meaning. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ablative case | A Latin grammatical case with multiple functions, including showing the means, agent, manner, time, place, or separation in a sentence. |
| Carthage | An ancient city in northern Africa founded by Dido, which became a major Mediterranean power. |
| condition | A grammatical structure in Latin introduced by si ('if'), nisi ('if not'), or ni ('not') that expresses a hypothetical or conditional situation. |
| Dido | The legendary founder of Carthage, also known as Elissa, who was originally queen of Tyre and fled after her husband Sychaeus was murdered by her brother Pygmalion. |
| Fates | Three goddesses in Greco-Roman mythology who controlled the destinies of humans, determining their lifespan, accomplishments, and sufferings. |
| figurative language | Language that uses figures of speech such as metaphor, simile, personification, and symbolism to convey meaning beyond the literal sense of words. |
| future perfect tense | A verb tense in the indicative mood expressing an action that will be completed before another future action, translated as 'will have _ed.' |
| future tense | A verb tense in the indicative mood expressing an action that will happen, translated as 'will _.' |
| Gaetulians | An ancient people of northern Africa whose leader Iarbas encountered Dido when she arrived to found Carthage. |
| genitive case | A Latin grammatical case used to show possession, descriptive properties, part of a whole, or a quasi-object of a noun implying action. |
| Iarbas | The leader of the Gaetulians who offered Dido land in northern Africa and later proposed marriage to her, which she rejected. |
| imperfect tense | A verb tense in the indicative mood expressing a past action in progress or habitual action, translated as 'was/were _ing' or 'used to _.' |
| implied meaning | The meaning suggested or understood indirectly from a text, rather than stated explicitly. |
| indicative mood | The mood of verbs used to express facts, statements, and questions; includes six tenses: present, imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect. |
| inferences | Conclusions drawn from evidence and reasoning based on textual clues rather than explicit statements. |
| perfect tense | A verb tense in the indicative mood expressing a completed past action, translated as '_ed,' 'has/have _ed,' or 'did _.' |
| pietas | A Roman virtue encompassing reverence for the gods, loyalty to one's country, and devotion to family members, particularly parents and children. |
| pius | An adjective describing someone who demonstrates pietas through religious devotion, patriotic duty, and familial loyalty. |
| pluperfect tense | A verb tense in the indicative mood expressing an action completed before another past action, translated as 'had _ed.' |
| possessor | In Latin grammar, the person or entity that owns or possesses something, typically expressed using the genitive case. |
| present tense | A verb tense in the indicative mood expressing an action happening now or habitually, translated as 'is/are _ing.' |
| Pygmalion | The brother of Dido who murdered her husband Sychaeus for his wealth, forcing Dido to flee Tyre. |
| Roman social norms | The established customs, behaviors, and social expectations that governed interactions and relationships in Roman society. |
| subjunctive mood | A verb mood used in Latin to express wishes, doubts, conditions, and in dependent clauses such as indirect questions. |
| Sychaeus | The husband of Dido who was murdered by her brother Pygmalion for his wealth. |
| Tyre | An ancient Phoenician city (in present-day Lebanon) where Dido was originally queen before fleeing to Africa. |
| verbals | Non-finite verb forms in Latin (such as infinitives, participles, and gerunds) that function as other parts of speech while retaining verbal characteristics. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Actium | The naval battle in 31 BCE where Octavius defeated the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, establishing Octavius's sole power. |
| allusions | Indirect or implied references to people, literary works, or historical events that readers are expected to recognize. |
| Augustus | The first emperor of Rome (27 BCE-14 CE), born Gaius Octavius, adopted heir of Julius Caesar who consolidated power and established a stable empire. |
| Carthage | An ancient city in northern Africa founded by Dido, which became a major Mediterranean power. |
| Cleopatra | The Egyptian queen whose armies were defeated alongside Mark Antony at Actium in 31 BCE. |
| courage | Bravery and fortitude in facing danger or adversity, highly valued in Roman culture. |
| dactyl | A metrical foot consisting of one long syllable followed by two short syllables. |
| dactylic hexameter | A metrical pattern used in epic poetry consisting of six feet per line, typically composed of dactyls and spondees. |
| Dido | The legendary founder of Carthage, also known as Elissa, who was originally queen of Tyre and fled after her husband Sychaeus was murdered by her brother Pygmalion. |
| divine interventions | Actions by gods or supernatural forces that help or hinder the hero's progress in an epic narrative. |
| epic poetry | A long narrative poem that typically recounts the deeds of heroes and is written in a formal, elevated style. |
| ethical behavior | Conduct guided by principles of right and wrong, reflecting moral values. |
| everyday life | The ordinary activities, routines, and domestic experiences of people in a particular historical period or society. |
| feet | The basic repeating units of meter in poetry, each composed of a specific pattern of long and short syllables. |
| frugality | Careful management of resources and avoidance of excess, an important Roman virtue. |
| Gaetulians | An ancient people of northern Africa whose leader Iarbas encountered Dido when she arrived to found Carthage. |
| genre | A category or type of literary work with distinctive characteristics, conventions, and features. |
| Greco-Roman mythology | The combined body of myths and legends from both Greek and Roman cultures, often shared or adapted between the two civilizations. |
| hard work | Diligent effort and labor, valued as a fundamental Roman principle. |
| honesty | Truthfulness and integrity in dealings with others, a core Roman value. |
| Iarbas | The leader of the Gaetulians who offered Dido land in northern Africa and later proposed marriage to her, which she rejected. |
| Mark Antony | A Roman military leader and member of the Second Triumvirate who was defeated by Octavius at Actium in 31 BCE. |
| mercy | Compassion and leniency shown toward others, valued as a virtue in Roman society. |
| metaphor | A rhetorical figure in which an implied comparison is achieved through figurative use of words, where words are used in an analogous rather than literal sense. |
| meter | The regular, predictable pattern of long and short syllables that forms the rhythmic structure of Latin poetry. |
| moral discernment | The ability to distinguish between right and wrong and make ethical judgments. |
| Pygmalion | The brother of Dido who murdered her husband Sychaeus for his wealth, forcing Dido to flee Tyre. |
| quest | The central journey or mission undertaken by the hero in an epic poem. |
| references | Direct mentions or citations of specific people, places, events, or concepts in a text. |
| responsibility | The obligation to fulfill one's duties and be accountable for one's actions, a key Roman value. |
| rhetorical figure | A device of language used to create specific effects and enhance meaning in writing or speech. |
| Roman character | The distinctive qualities and values that defined Roman civilization and were reflected in their writings and art. |
| Roman social norms | The established customs, behaviors, and social expectations that governed interactions and relationships in Roman society. |
| Second Triumvirate | The political alliance of Octavius, Marcus Lepidus, and Mark Antony that ruled Rome and eventually led to civil war. |
| self-control | The ability to regulate one's emotions and behavior according to reason, a Roman virtue. |
| simile | A rhetorical figure that makes an explicit comparison between two unlike things, typically using 'like' or 'as'. |
| spondee | A metrical foot consisting of two long syllables. |
| stylistic device | A technique or literary tool used by an author to create a particular effect or enhance the meaning and impact of a text. |
| Sychaeus | The husband of Dido who was murdered by her brother Pygmalion for his wealth. |
| trochee | A metrical foot consisting of one long syllable followed by one short syllable. |
| Tyre | An ancient Phoenician city (in present-day Lebanon) where Dido was originally queen before fleeing to Africa. |
| underworld | In classical literature, the realm of the dead that epic heroes must sometimes visit or descend to in order to complete their quest. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ablative case | A Latin grammatical case with multiple functions, including showing the means, agent, manner, time, place, or separation in a sentence. |
| adjective | Words that modify nouns and must agree with them in case, number, and gender in Latin. |
| antecedent | The noun that a relative pronoun refers back to and provides more information about. |
| comparative adjectives | Adjectives that show a comparison between two things, typically translated as '___er,' 'more ___,' or 'rather ___' in English. |
| figurative language | Language that uses figures of speech such as metaphor, simile, personification, and symbolism to convey meaning beyond the literal sense of words. |
| implied meaning | The meaning suggested or understood indirectly from a text, rather than stated explicitly. |
| indirect questions | Clauses introduced by question words with verbs in the subjunctive mood that function as dependent clauses within a sentence. |
| inferences | Conclusions drawn from evidence and reasoning based on textual clues rather than explicit statements. |
| pronoun | Words that replace or refer to nouns and have gender, number, and case forms in Latin. |
| subjunctive mood | A verb mood used in Latin to express wishes, doubts, conditions, and in dependent clauses such as indirect questions. |
| superlative adjectives | Adjectives that show the highest degree of a quality, typically translated as '___est' or 'very ___' in English. |
| verbals | Non-finite verb forms in Latin (such as infinitives, participles, and gerunds) that function as other parts of speech while retaining verbal characteristics. |