Q&A for How to Quote and Cite a Play in an Essay Using MLA Format

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How do you cite Shakespeare quotes in MLA?

Christopher Taylor, PhD
English Professor
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

Christopher Taylor, PhD

English Professor

Expert Answer

To cite a specific quotation from a play in MLA style, place the quotation in quotation marks (using slashes to indicate line breaks) and end with a parenthetical citation of author, name of play, and then page/act (for prose plays) or act/scene/line(s) (for verse).

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Question

How do you cite a play title in an essay?

Christopher Taylor, PhD
English Professor
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

Christopher Taylor, PhD

English Professor

Expert Answer

Use italics to refer to the title of a play in an essay or other written works.

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How do you cite Shakespeare in text?

Christopher Taylor, PhD
English Professor
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

Christopher Taylor, PhD

English Professor

Expert Answer

Since Shakespeare's plays are written in verse, use the verse drama citation rules outlined in the article.

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Would I put a character in the stage directions in all caps?

Community Answer

Yes. Characters names in plays are always capitalized, assuming that they are not spoken by the characters.

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When you cite a quote normally, you may use ellipses. How do I do this in a play?

Community Answer

If you cite something in a play, it depends on the direction given to the actor or actors, to give the necessary pauses and credit.

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Question

How should I quote from a film? Should I use the script or the time specifications of the film itself?

Community Answer

I would quote from the script, then when citing your source, use the title of the play/film and the writer/director's name.

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Question

How do I quote a one act play?

Community Answer

Use the format suggested in the article above.

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Question

To cite a quote from a translator of an original play in a non-English language, how much data do I need to include? Is there any copyright issue for a short, four-line quote?

Community Answer

There is no specific data amount you must include. There is no copyright issue for a short quote as long as you properly cite it, so you're not accused of copyright infringement.

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Question

If I'm calling the reader's attention to an act and a scene to provide context, do I capitalize the words, "act" and "scene"? For example, "In Fences, Troy falls from grace in Act II, Scene 3".

Community Answer

It all depends on you. Professionals do capitalize it, but really doesn’t matter.

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Question

What is the correct way to cite two lines of a play in-text?

Community Answer

Set the quote on a new line, indented half an inch from the left margin. Start the dialogue with the character's name in capital letters, followed by a period. If a character's dialogue runs over one line, indent subsequent lines a further half inch.

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Question

Do I put a period after the citation parentheses, ex. "Tom went to the store?"(3.5.123-125) no period, or this ex. "Tom went to the store?"(3.5.123-125). with the period at the end?

Community Answer

Put a period at the end. It looks professional and makes sense. For example, "Tom went to the store?"(3.5.123-125). , would make more sense.

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Question

I'm quoting one speaker but it runs over 4 lines. Should it be separated from the body as in block quotation or I can put it in quotation marks as a part of the body?

Anushka Palamaneri Rathnagiri

Community Answer

It should be separated from the body as in block quotation. Practice and review and you won't get confused.

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Question

How can I quote from Shakespeare a bulk quotation while omitting some part from the middle?

Community Answer

Use the . . . function. For example, "Harry Potter was a lovely boy but . . . he also had a lightning bolt on his forehead" (Citation).

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Question

(5.165) refers to Act 5, line 165 of a play. If I do that, then do I still need the author and/or the title of the play?

Community Answer

Yes you do. Always reference at least the author. For example, "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love. And I’ll no longer be a Capulet..." (Shakespeare 5.165).

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Question

Could I use an ellipsis when quoting scripts?

Ayeyi M

Community Answer

It is usually not safe to use an ellipsis before or after a quotation. An ellipsis can indicate the omission of words in the middle of a quoted sentence or the omission of sentences within a quoted paragraph.

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Question

When a new act starts, do you start over counting the line numbers?

Community Answer

You do but add act 2 or act 3 in front of it, to help make it clear which part you're writing about.

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Question

When using parenthetical citation in plays (act.scene.lines), do you put a period at the end?

Ellie Johnson

Community Answer

You would put a period, question mark, or exclamation point at the end if you cited it like this, "Whatever your citation text quote is," (1.1.1). Or, a question mark or exclamation point instead of a period.

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