Formatting & Citation

How To Cite Shakespeare In MLA

Citing Shakespeare in MLA format can seem daunting, but it follows established principles for citing literary works. This guide breaks down how to properly reference plays, poems, and specific editions, ensuring academic integrity in your essays. We cover in-text citations, the works cited page, and common pitfalls to avoid, making your research clear and credible.

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Why Citing Shakespeare Matters in MLA

When you're writing an academic paper, especially one that delves into literature, giving credit where credit is due is non-negotiable. For students working with the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, citing William Shakespeare requires a specific approach. It's not just about avoiding plagiarism; it's about allowing your readers to locate the exact passages you're referencing, which is crucial for understanding and engaging with complex texts like Shakespeare's plays and poems. Proper citation demonstrates your scholarly rigor and respects the original authors and their works.

The Core Components: In-Text Citations

The heart of MLA citation lies in its in-text citations. For Shakespeare, this usually involves the act, scene, and line numbers. This system is particularly effective because Shakespeare's works are so widely published across countless editions. Relying on page numbers can be problematic, as they vary significantly from one edition to another. The act-scene-line format, however, is consistent across most scholarly editions, making it the universal key to finding your quoted material. You'll typically place this citation in parentheses at the end of the sentence containing your quote, before the final punctuation.

For example, if you're quoting Hamlet's famous soliloquy, you might write: 'To be, or not to be: that is the question' (Shakespeare 3.1.55-56). Notice that we include the author's last name if it hasn't been mentioned in the sentence, followed by the act, scene, and line numbers. If you've already mentioned Shakespeare in your sentence, you can omit his name from the parenthetical citation: 'To be, or not to be: that is the question' (3.1.55-56).

Formatting for Plays

When citing Shakespeare's plays, the act, scene, and line number format is standard. For longer passages, you might need to indicate a range of lines. For instance, quoting multiple lines from Macbeth could look like this: 'Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee!' (Shakespeare 2.1.33-34). The numbers refer to Act 2, Scene 1, lines 33 through 34. Always ensure your line numbers are accurate according to the edition you are using. If your edition numbers lines continuously throughout the play, that's the standard to follow. Some older editions might number scenes separately, so check your specific text.

For dialogue, you'll cite the speaker and the line numbers. If you are quoting a character's speech, you might introduce it with the character's name and then provide the citation. For example: 'Hamlet asks, 'What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, / That he should weep for her?' (2.2.550-551). This clearly attributes the lines to Hamlet and provides the precise location for the reader.

Citing Shakespeare's Poems

Shakespeare's poetry, such as his sonnets, is cited differently. Instead of act, scene, and line numbers, you'll typically refer to the poem's number and line number(s). For instance, when citing Sonnet 18, you might write: 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' (Shakespeare, Sonnet 18.1). If you are quoting multiple lines from a sonnet, you'd indicate the range: 'So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, / So long lives this, and this gives life to thee' (Shakespeare, Sonnet 18.13-14).

When listing poems on your Works Cited page, you'll need to be specific about the collection or anthology you used. If you're citing a specific edition of Shakespeare's poems, the entry will reflect that. For example, if you used 'The Complete Sonnets and Poems' edited by A. L. Rowse, your citation would include details about that specific publication.

The Works Cited Page: A Comprehensive List

Your in-text citations are the signposts, but the Works Cited page is the full map. This page, at the end of your paper, lists all the sources you've referenced. For Shakespeare, the entry needs to be precise. The general format for a book in MLA is: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication. However, for Shakespeare, you'll often be citing a specific edition of a play or poem collection.

Here's how a typical entry for a play might look, assuming you used a specific scholarly edition: Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Harold Jenkins, Arden Shakespeare, 1980. This entry provides the author, the title of the play (italicized), the editor(s), the publisher, and the year of publication. If you are using an anthology or a collection of plays, you'll need to include the title of the collection and the page numbers where the play can be found within that collection.

For a collection of poems, it would be similar: Shakespeare, William. The Sonnets. Edited by Stephen Booth, Yale UP, 1977. The key is to be as specific as possible so your reader can find the exact text you consulted. Always double-check the MLA Handbook or reliable online resources for the most current guidelines, as citation styles can be updated.

Handling Different Editions and Anthologies

One of the trickiest aspects of citing Shakespeare is dealing with the sheer variety of editions available. If you're using an edition that includes multiple plays, like The Norton Shakespeare, your Works Cited entry will reflect the collection. For example: Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare. Edited by Stephen Greenblatt et al., W. W. Norton, 1997. In this case, your in-text citations would still use the act-scene-line format, but the Works Cited entry points to the comprehensive volume.

If you are citing a single play from a collection, you will cite the specific play and then the collection it appears in. For example, if you are citing Macbeth from Plays on the English Renaissance Stage, Volume 2, the Works Cited entry might look like this: Shakespeare, William. 'Macbeth.' Plays on the English Renaissance Stage, Volume 2, edited by John Smith, University Press, 2010, pp. 123-180. The in-text citation remains the same (e.g., 1.1.1-5), but the Works Cited entry provides the full bibliographic details for the collection and the specific location of the play within it.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Using page numbers instead of act-scene-line numbers for plays.
Forgetting to include the author's name in the in-text citation if it's not mentioned in the sentence.
Inconsistent formatting for line ranges (e.g., using hyphens instead of en dashes).
Omitting crucial publication details (editor, publisher, year) on the Works Cited page.
Not italicizing play titles or putting quotation marks around them.
Confusing the citation format for plays versus poems.

A Checklist for Citing Shakespeare in MLA

Verify the edition you are using is a scholarly one with standard act, scene, and line numbering for plays.
For plays, use parenthetical citations with act.scene.line numbers (e.g., 3.1.10-15).
For poems (like sonnets), use poem number and line numbers (e.g., Sonnet 18.1-4).
Ensure the author's name is included in the in-text citation if not mentioned in the sentence.
Create a 'Works Cited' page at the end of your paper.
Format the Works Cited entry correctly, including author, title (italicized for plays/poems), editor(s), publisher, and year.
If citing from a collection, include details of the collection and the specific pages where the work appears.
Double-check all citations against the latest MLA guidelines.

Example: Citing a Quote from Othello

Let's say you're quoting Othello's line, 'Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.' In-text citation: 'Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them' (Shakespeare 1.2.62). Works Cited entry (example using a common edition): Shakespeare, William. Othello. Edited by Marvin Rosenberg and James L. Smith, Signet Classics, 2001. This example shows the concise in-text citation that directs the reader to the specific location within the play, and the corresponding Works Cited entry that provides the full publication details for the edition used.

Final Thoughts on Accuracy and Clarity

Mastering the art of citing Shakespeare in MLA format is a skill that will serve you well throughout your academic career. By adhering to the act-scene-line convention for plays and the poem/line number system for poetry, and by meticulously constructing your Works Cited entries, you ensure your research is both credible and accessible. Remember that clarity and precision are paramount; your citations are not just bureaucratic requirements but essential tools that connect your analysis to the original text, enriching the reader's experience and strengthening your own scholarly voice.

FAQs

Do I always need to include the author's name in the in-text citation for Shakespeare?

You need to include the author's last name (Shakespeare) in the parenthetical in-text citation if you have not mentioned it in the sentence introducing the quote. If you have already named Shakespeare in your sentence, you can omit his name from the parentheses and just include the act, scene, and line numbers (e.g., (3.1.55-56)).

How do I cite a specific line from a Shakespearean sonnet?

For Shakespeare's sonnets, you cite the sonnet number followed by the line number. For example, to cite the first line of Sonnet 18, you would use (Shakespeare, Sonnet 18.1). If you are quoting multiple lines, you would indicate the range, such as (Shakespeare, Sonnet 18.13-14).

What if my edition of Shakespeare uses different numbering for scenes or lines?

It's crucial to use the numbering system provided by the specific edition you are consulting. While act-scene-line is standard, variations can occur in older or less common editions. Always refer to the numbering in your text for consistency. If your instructor has a preferred edition, use that one exclusively.

Should play titles be italicized or in quotation marks in MLA?

In MLA style, titles of full-length plays are italicized. For example, you would write Hamlet, not "Hamlet" or Hamlet.

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