Shakespeare's works use a very specific, unique citation method. All citations are presented in parentheses, which means they always appear in the text of the paper in brackets. There is certain information that must be included in the play's excerpt, including the act, scene, and dialogue numbers. Format it properly so that readers know the source of the material you are citing.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Inserting Quotes in Brackets
Step 1. Use parenthetical quotes for Shakespeare's works
Parenthetical citations are citations that appear in regular brackets in the body of the paper. Whatever style of citation you use, Shakespeare's works are quoted in a unique way. Shakespeare's works are always quoted with parentheses written in the text, not indicated by footnotes or endnotes.
Step 2. Insert a citation at the end of the quoted section
When citing a passage, wait until the end of the section, then enter the source of the quote. Sometimes the passages quoted are very long, such as a dialogue between two characters. The source of the citation is placed at the end of the section.
Step 3. Cite the material that has been paraphrased
If you do not include the original passage, but paraphrase a passage, you must still indicate the source of the passage. Enter a citation in the same format as a direct quote.
Do not use quotation marks for re-paraphrased material
Step 4. Refer to original sources
You may find passages from Shakespeare in other writings, such as a critique of the play you are writing. The Shakespeare text quoted by the critic may be exactly the one you want to use. However, according to proper citation, you should refer to the original play or sonnet. This way, you can read the passage in the proper context.
Cite this passage as found in the original source, such as: Much Ado About Nothing (2.3.217–24)
Part 2 of 4: Formatting Quotation Brackets
Step 1. Include the act, scene, and line number of the play in the quote
The play consists of acts, scenes, and dialogues. When quoting Shakespeare, you are giving the reader a map to find the material you are quoting.
Separate each number with a dot
Step 2. Select Latin or Roman numerals to indicate the acts and scenes of the play
When presenting scene numbers and chapters, you can write them in Latin numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) or Roman numerals (I, II, III, etc.). Choose one format and use it consistently. Line numbers are always written with Latin numerals.
- Most modern scholars prefer to use Latin numerals, but both formats are acceptable.
- Write a large Roman numeral (I, II, III, etc.) for the number of the act. Use lowercase Roman numerals for scene numbers (i, ii, iii, etc.). For example, (IV.ii.56–57).
Step 3. Cite the range of line numbers correctly
The picked material corresponds to a certain line. When quoting text from more than one line, you must enter the line number range.
- If the line number range is below 100, write: 66–84.
- If the line number range is above 100, write: 122–34.
- If the number ranges from below 100 to above 100, write: 90–104.
- Write a dash between the dialog numbers. This dash is longer than the dash, which means "up to".
Step 4. Don't use page numbers
While most citations require page numbers, Shakespeare's is an exception. As the plays were reproduced in many different formats and publications, the page numbers were inconsistent. Therefore, never refer to page numbers when you quote text from Shakespeare plays.
Step 5. Enter Shakespeare's name if you are comparing his work with other authors
In general, if your writing is only about Shakespeare, you don't need to include Shakespeare's name in parentheses. However, if you're comparing them to other authors, differentiate them by putting their names in parentheses.
In MLA format, write: (Shakespeare 3.4.40)
Step 6. Brief the title of the play if necessary
You may have to often distinguish the two plays in parenthetical quotations. Instead of always writing the full title of the play, you can just abbreviate it. For example, write JC for Julius Caesar, Mac. for Macbeth, Rom. for Romeo and Juliet, etc. It will look like this in your paper: (Mac. 1.3.15-20).,
Step 7. Indicate the instruction number or stage hint
When citing clues in plays, you should tell the reader where they came from. Indicate the clue by giving the number at the end of the quote.
For example, the quote for the stage hint is written like this: 3.4.40.1. That is, the stage hint is in Row 1 after Row 40
Step 8. Place the quotes correctly
The amount of text quoted determines the placement of the citation at the end of the quote.
- When citing less than four lines, use quotation marks between the quoted material. Then, write the quote in parentheses, and follow it with punctuation (for example, a period).
- When quoting four or more lines, use block quotes. Block quotations do not use quotation marks, and punctuation marks at the end (for example, periods) are written at the end of the last line. Then, enter a parenthesis quote.
Part 3 of 4: Quoting Shakespeare in Text
Step 1. State who is speaking
When quoting a sentence, you must indicate the character speaking (except from the sonnet). You can introduce the character in your own writing or put his name in capital letters at the beginning of the sentence. For example, select one of the following two options:
- Othello recalls, "Upon this hint I spake: / She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd, / And I lov'd her that she did pity them" (I.iii.166–168). In this option, you must enter quotation marks at the beginning of the sentence.
- "OTHELLO: Upon this hint I spake: / She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd, / And I lov'd her that she did pity them" (I.iii.166–168). In this option, enter quotation marks before the character's name because this is how the name appears in the text.
Step 2. Use slashes to separate sentences that are less than four lines apart
Quoting a sentence in linear form means that the passage of the text does not use blocks. This format is specifically used for sentences that are less than four lines long. If you want to quote two or three lines of a sentence, separate them with a space or slash.
- For example: "OTHELLO: Upon this hint I spake: / She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd, / And I lov'd her that she did pity them" (I.iii.166–168).
- When quoting prose, remove the slash and use a comma.
Step 3. Use block passages for four or more lines of sentences
Long sentences are separated in the body of the paper in block passages. The writing is made indented, containing four or more lines of sentences that you quote.
- Place an inch indent from the left margin. All block passages are separate from the rest of the paper. Place all rows of block quotes one inch indented from the left margin.
- Don't use quotation marks. Block excerpts are separated from the rest of the text. Therefore, you do not need to separate them again with quotes.
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As an example:
Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,
And won thy love, doing the injuries;
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph and with reveling. (1.1.19–22)
Step 4. Maintain line breaks as contained in the original sentence in block passages
Split each line into the same section as the original text.
If you're quoting prose, you don't need to maintain line breaks. These rules differ depending on the publication of the work itself
Step 5. Format the dialogue between two characters correctly
When you want to quote dialogue between two or more characters, format the segment as block passages.
- Write the first line indented one inch in and enter the first character's name in capital letters. Follow the name with a period. Then, add a space and start the character dialog. When you want to start a new line, enter an additional inch (so that the line is 1¼ inch indent from the left margin).
- Start a new line when another character speaks. Again, enter the character's name in uppercase and follow it with a period. Add a space and start the character dialogue.
- Insert a parenthesis quote at the end of the dialog block.
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For example:
HAMLET. No, by the root, not so:
You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife:
And--would it were not so!--you are my mother.
QUEEN. Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak. (3.4.14-17)
Part 4 of 4: Inserting the Source Page
Step 1. List the publications or books you used
You must include a “source” page in the paper. This page lists all the material you used in writing the paper. This may be a collection of Shakespeare's works, a volume with a play, or an anthology of several works by different authors.
- Depending on the style of the citation, this resource page may be called “bibliography” or “reference”.
- Don't just write down the plays you pick. You must indicate the publication that contains the work.
- Sort each source alphabetically.
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Example of an anthology entry:
Shakespeare, William. "The Comedy of Errors." The Oxford Anthology of Tudor Drama. Ed. Greg Walker. Oxford, UK: Oxford U P, 2014. 682-722. Print
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Example entries for a single author's collection:
Shakespeare, William. Love Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare. New York: Doubleday, 1991. Print
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Example entries for a single work:
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Jill L. Levenson. New York: Oxford U P, 2000
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Example entries for live skits:
Hamlet. By William Shakespeare. director. Dominic Dromgoole and Bill Buckhurs. Shakespeare's Globe, London. 25 April 2014. Performance
Step 2. Follow a consistent format
Depending on your preferences and requirements, you may have to choose one of several formats, including MLA, APA, or Chicago.
The format of each style is slightly different. Follow one style for the entire paper
Step 3. Insert the source page at the end of the paper
The source page starts on a new page after the body of the paper. Title it “Works Cited” in the middle in bold at the top of the page.
