Formatting & Citation

How To Cite Shakespeare In MLA

Navigating MLA citation for Shakespeare can seem daunting, but with a clear understanding of the guidelines, it becomes straightforward. This guide breaks down how to cite plays, poems, and even specific lines from Shakespeare's vast body of work, ensuring your academic writing is accurate and compliant with MLA standards. We cover in-text citations, the Works Cited page, and common pitfalls to avoid, providing practical examples to illustrate each point. Whether you're writing an essay on Hamlet or analyzing a sonnet, this resource will equip you with the knowledge to cite Shakespeare correctly.

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Why Citing Shakespeare Correctly Matters

William Shakespeare's enduring influence on literature and language means his works are frequently analyzed in academic settings. Proper citation is not merely a bureaucratic hurdle; it's a fundamental aspect of academic integrity. It acknowledges the original source of ideas and language, allowing your readers to locate and verify the information you've presented. In MLA (Modern Language Association) style, this means adhering to specific formatting rules for both in-text citations and the Works Cited page. Missteps here can undermine your credibility and, in more serious cases, constitute plagiarism. This guide aims to demystify the process, providing clear, actionable steps for citing Shakespeare's plays and poems accurately.

The Core Components: In-Text Citations

In MLA, in-text citations are crucial for linking specific passages in your writing to their source in your Works Cited list. For Shakespeare, the standard format involves the author's last name and the act, scene, and line numbers. Unlike prose, where you might use page numbers, Shakespearean plays are traditionally cited using this numerical system, which is consistent across most editions. The author's name is often included in the signal phrase, meaning you only need the act, scene, and line numbers in parentheses. However, if the author's name isn't mentioned in the sentence, it must be included in the parenthetical citation.

Citing Shakespearean Plays: A Detailed Look

When citing a play, the most common and preferred method in MLA is to use act, scene, and line numbers. This system is universally understood by scholars and readers familiar with Shakespeare, regardless of the specific edition they might be using. The format is typically written as Act.Scene.Lines. For instance, a citation might look like (2.1.15-20), referring to Act 2, Scene 1, lines 15 through 20. It's important to note that you do not include the word 'Act' or 'Scene' in the citation itself, nor do you use 'p.' or 'pp.' for page numbers when citing plays.

Consider the famous soliloquy from Hamlet: 'To be, or not to be: that is the question.' In your essay, you might introduce this quote with a signal phrase: 'Hamlet famously contemplates existence, asking, 'To be, or not to be: that is the question' (3.1.56).'

If you are citing multiple works by Shakespeare in the same paper, or if you are quoting from a specific edition that requires clarification, you might include a shortened title of the play. For example, if you were discussing both Hamlet and Othello, you might cite a line from Hamlet as (Ham. 3.1.56). However, the MLA 9th edition guidelines emphasize that if the author is clear from context (i.e., you've mentioned Shakespeare in your text), the author's name is not needed in the parenthetical citation. The play title is generally omitted unless ambiguity arises.

Citing Shakespeare's Poems

Citing Shakespeare's poems, such as his sonnets or longer narrative poems like 'Venus and Adonis,' follows a slightly different convention than plays. For poems, you will typically cite the line numbers. If you are citing a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem, you would refer to the sonnet number and then the line number(s). For example, 'When forty winters shall besiege thy brow' (Sonnet 2.3).

For longer poems, you might use book and line numbers if applicable, or simply line numbers if the poem is not divided into books. Always consult the specific edition you are using to ensure consistency. If the poem is part of a collection, your citation will need to reflect that, including the title of the poem and the collection it appears in on your Works Cited page.

Formatting for the Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page is where you provide full bibliographic information for all the sources you've referenced in your paper. For Shakespearean plays, the entry typically includes the author's name, the title of the play (italicized), and the publisher information. However, MLA 9th edition has a significant update: when citing works that are widely available in multiple editions (like Shakespeare), you can often omit the publisher information if you are citing from a well-known edition or anthology. The focus shifts to providing enough information for the reader to locate the specific text you used.

A standard MLA Works Cited entry for a Shakespearean play might look like this:

Example Works Cited Entry for a Play

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Harold Jenkins, The Arden Shakespeare, 1980.

For poems, the format is similar, but you would use quotation marks for the title of shorter poems like sonnets, and italicize longer narrative poems. If citing a sonnet from a collection, it would look something like:

Example Works Cited Entry for a Sonnet

Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 18." The Norton Anthology of English Literature, edited by Stephen Greenblatt et al., 10th ed., vol. B, W. W. Norton, 2018, pp. 1234-35.

Crucially, the MLA 9th edition encourages citing from stable, online, scholarly sources when possible, such as those provided by university presses or reputable digital archives. If you are using an online edition, you would include a stable URL or DOI if available. For example:

Example Works Cited Entry for an Online Edition

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Barbara Mowat and Paul Yachnin, Folger Shakespeare Library, www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/macbeth/read/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

Handling Specific Editions and Anthologies

The edition you use matters. If you are citing from a specific annotated edition (like the Arden Shakespeare or the Norton Critical Editions) or an anthology, you should include the editor(s) and potentially the edition number. This information is vital for your readers to find the exact text you consulted. For instance, if you are using an edition edited by Stephen Greenblatt, that information should appear in your Works Cited entry.

When quoting from an anthology that contains multiple works, ensure your Works Cited entry clearly identifies the specific work (play or poem) and the anthology it's found within. This often involves listing the author and title of the specific work first, followed by the title of the anthology (italicized), the editor(s), publication details, and page numbers where the work appears in the anthology.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with clear guidelines, it's easy to stumble when citing Shakespeare. Here are some common errors and how to sidestep them:

Confusing Play and Poem Citation: Remember, plays use act.scene.line numbers, while poems primarily use line numbers (and sonnet numbers for sonnets).
Over-reliance on Page Numbers: For plays, avoid page numbers in your in-text citations unless your instructor specifically requires it for a particular edition.
Omitting Essential Information: Ensure your Works Cited entries include the author, title, and relevant editor/publisher information for the specific edition you used.
Inconsistent Formatting: Maintain consistency in your in-text citations and Works Cited entries throughout your paper. Double-check punctuation, italics, and spacing.
Incorrectly Handling Line Breaks in Poetry: When quoting poetry, preserve the original line breaks as closely as possible, using a forward slash (/) with a space on either side to indicate a line break within a prose sentence.
Forgetting the Author's Name: If the author's name isn't in your signal phrase, it must be in the parenthetical citation.

Quoting Dialogue and Stage Directions

When quoting dialogue from a play, include the character's name before the line(s) you are quoting, especially if you are quoting multiple characters in succession or if it clarifies who is speaking. For example: HAMLET: To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? If you are incorporating a short piece of dialogue into your own sentence, use quotation marks and cite accordingly: Hamlet's famous existential query, 'To be, or not to be: that is the question' (3.1.56), encapsulates his internal struggle.

Stage directions are generally not quoted unless they are essential to your analysis. If you do quote them, they are typically enclosed in brackets and follow the same citation rules. For example, if you were discussing Hamlet's feigned madness, you might note: 'He speaks the line 'To be, or not to be' [aside]...' (3.1.56).

Final Check: Ensuring Accuracy and Clarity

The key to citing Shakespeare in MLA effectively lies in meticulous attention to detail and understanding the conventions specific to plays versus poems. Always refer to the latest edition of the MLA Handbook or consult your instructor if you have specific requirements for your assignment. By internalizing these guidelines and practicing with examples, you can confidently integrate Shakespeare's works into your academic writing, ensuring your research is both well-supported and impeccably presented.

FAQs

What is the standard in-text citation format for Shakespearean plays in MLA?

The standard MLA in-text citation for Shakespearean plays uses act, scene, and line numbers, formatted as Act.Scene.Lines. For example, (3.1.56) refers to Act 3, Scene 1, line 56. The author's name is typically included in the signal phrase, so it doesn't need to be repeated in the parenthetical citation unless it's unclear who the author is.

How do I cite a Shakespearean sonnet in MLA?

For Shakespearean sonnets, you cite the sonnet number and the line number(s). For instance, if you are quoting line 5 of Sonnet 18, the citation would be (Sonnet 18.5). On the Works Cited page, you would list the sonnet title in quotation marks, followed by the anthology or collection details.

Should I include publisher information for Shakespearean plays on my Works Cited page?

According to MLA 9th edition, for works that are widely available in multiple editions, like Shakespeare's plays, you can often omit the publisher information if you are citing from a well-known edition or anthology. The priority is to provide enough information for the reader to locate the specific text you used. However, always check if your instructor has specific requirements regarding publisher information.

How do I quote dialogue from a Shakespearean play?

When quoting dialogue, it's good practice to include the character's name before the quoted lines, especially if quoting multiple characters. If incorporating a short piece of dialogue into your own sentence, use quotation marks and the standard act.scene.line citation. For example: 'To be, or not to be: that is the question' (3.1.56).