LATIN.
The Latin units are construed in accordance with the following Report
of the Commission on College Entrance Requirements in Latin:
I. AMOUNT AND RANGE OF THE READING REQUIRED.
1. The Latin reading required of candidates for admission to college,
without regard to the prescription of particular authors and works, shall
be not less in amount than Cæsar, Gallic War, I-IV; Cicero, the orations
against Catiline, for the Manilian Law, and for Archias; Vergil, Æneid.
I-VI.
2. The amount of reading specified above shall be selected by the
schools from the following authors and works: Cæsar (Gallic War and
the Civil War) and Nepos (Lives); Cicero (Orations, Letters, and De
Senectute) and Sallust (Catiline and Jugurthine War); Vergil (Bucolies,
Georgics, and Æneid) and Ovid (Metamorphoses, Fasti, and Tristia).
II. SUBJECTS AND SCOPE OF THE EXAMINATIONS.
1. Translation at Sight. Candidates will be examined in translation
at sight of both prose and verse. The vocabulary, constructions, and range
of ideas of the passages set will be suited to the preparation secured by
the reading indicated above.
2. Prescribed Reading. Candidates will be examined also upon the
following prescribed reading: Cicero, orations for the Manilian Law and
for Archias, and Vergil, Æneid, I, II, and either IV or VI at the option
of the candidate, with questions on subject-matter, literary and historical
allusions, and prosody. Every paper in which passages from the prescribed
reading are set for translation will contain also one or more passages for
translation at sight; and candidates must deal satisfactorily with both
these parts of the paper, or they will not be given credit for either part.
3. Grammar and Composition. The examinations in grammar and
composition will demand thorough knowledge of all regular inlections,
all common irregular forms, and the ordinary syntax and vocabulary of
the prose authors read in school, with ability to use this knowledge in
writing simple Latin prose. The words, constructions, and range of ideas
called for in the examinations in composition will be such as are common
in the reading of the year, or years, covered by the particular examination.
Note.—The examinations in grammar and composition may be either in
separate papers or combined with other parts of the Latin examination, at the
option of each individual institution; and nothing in any of the above definitions
of the requirements shall be taken to prevent any college from asking questions
on the grammar, prosody, or subject-matter of any of the passages set for translation,
if it so desires.
SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING PREPARATION.
Exercises in translation at sight should begin in school with the first
lessons in which Latin sentences of any length occur, and should continue
throughout the course with sufficient frequency to insure correct methods
of work on the part of the student. From the outset particular attention
should be given to developing the ability to take in the meaning of each
word—and so, gradually, of the whole sentence—just as it stands; the
sentence should be read and understood in the order of the original, with
full appreciation of the force of each word as it comes, so far as this can
be known or inferred from that which has preceded and from the form and
the position of the word itself. The habit of reading in this way should
be encouraged and cultivated as the best preparation for all the translating
that the student has to do. No translation, however, should be a mechanical
metaphrase. Nor should it be a mere loose paraphrase. The full
meaning of the passage to be translated, gathered in the way described
above, should finally be expressed in clear and natural English.
A written examination can not test the ear or tongue, but proper
instruction in any language will necessarily include the training of both.
The school work in Latin, therefore, should include much reading aloud,
writing from dictation, and translation from the teacher's reading. Learning
suitable passages by heart is also very useful, and should be more
practiced.
The work in composition should give the student a better understanding
of the Latin he is reading at the time, if it is prose, and greater facility
in reading. It is desirable, however, that there should be systematic and
regular work in composition during the time in which poetry is read as
well; for this work the prose authors already studied should be used as
models.
In accordance with the above report, the following detailed description
of the four units of Latin is given:
Latin A. Grammar, Composition, and Translation:—The Roman pronunciation;
habitual observance of accent and quantity; thorough mastery
of the regular forms; the simple rules of word-formation and derivation;
syntax of the cases, tenses, and modes; accusative and infinitive, relative
and conditional sentences, indirect discourse, and the subjunctive. Translation
into Latin of easy detached sentences illustrating grammatical principles,
and of very easy continuous prose based upon the vocabulary of
Cæsar and Cicero. (One unit.)
Latin B. Cæsar's Gallic War, Books I-IV, Grammar, Composition:—
A reasonable acquaintance with the time and purpose of the author; intelligent
grasp of the thought; ability to summarize the narrative as a
whole; ready comprehension of the normal forms and constructions: a
reasonable facility in reading at sight passages of like vocabulary and
construction. As much as one book of Cæsar may be substituted by an
equivalent amount of Viri Romæ, or other Latin prose. In connection
with all of the reading there must be constant practice in prose composition,
as well as in sight translation. (One unit.)
Latin C. Cicero's Orations against Catiline, and Two Others, Grammar,
Composition:—A reasonable acquaintance with the time and circumstances
of the Catilinarian conspiracy; intelligent appreciation of the
orator's thought and purpose; ability to summarize the oration as a whole:
readiness in explaining normal forms and constructions; reasonable facility
in reading at sight passages of like vocabulary and structure. As much
as two orations may be substituted by an equivalent amount of Nepos, or
other Latin prose. In connection with all of the reading there must be
constant practice in prose composition, as well as in sight translation.
(One unit.)
Latin D. Vergil's Æneid, Books I-VI, Grammar, Composition:—A
reasonable acquaintance with the time and purpose of the poet; intelligent
appreciation of the poet's thought and art; ability to summarize the story
as a whole; acquaintance with the typical forms and constructions of
poetry; practical mastery of the heroic hexameter; reasonable facility in
reading at sight passages of like vocabulary and difficulty. The third and
fifth book of the Æneid may be substituted by an equivalent amount of
Ovid, or other Latin epic poetry. In connection with all reading there
should be constant practice in prose composition, as well as in sight translation.
(One unit.)
