When delving into the world of academic writing, particularly for college assignments or projects, the need to reference plays often arises. Whether you’re tackling a classic Shakespearean masterpiece or embarking on a contemporary play analysis, citing plays in the MLA format becomes essential. Not only does it ensure the avoidance of plagiarism, but it also adds a layer of credibility to your work. However, successfully navigating this process requires a nuanced approach, as play citations in MLA differ from those of prose. Let’s explore the intricacies of play citations and their significance within the academic realm.

Navigating MLA Play Citations: A Guide for College Students

As you venture into the realm of MLA play citations, a distinct set of rules and conventions comes into play:

1. Setting Off Quotations

When incorporating a quotation from a play, it’s crucial to set it apart from the rest of your text. This demarcation creates a visual distinction that highlights the play’s dialogue.

2. Character Credentials

Each portion of dialogue from the play should be introduced with the appropriate character’s credentials or name. This introduction serves as a contextual anchor for readers, ensuring clarity in understanding the source of the dialogue.

3. Formatting Character Names

Character names are a pivotal aspect of play citations. They should be meticulously formatted: written in all capital letters, followed by a period, and then followed by the quoted dialogue. This distinct formatting maintains consistency and readability.

4. Indentation for Dialogue

Proper indentation is key to organizing dialogue seamlessly. When a character speaks, an inch indent is introduced, creating a neat structure that guides readers through the dialogue flow.

5. Transitioning Between Characters

In cases where dialogue transitions from one character to another, a half-inch indent marks the beginning of each new line. This formatting style continues throughout the quoted text, offering readers a visual cue for character shifts.

6. Essential Components for In-Text Citations

Play quotations are incomplete without comprehensive in-text citations. These include the author’s name, the full title of the play, scene information, and line numbers. Whenever possible, providing page numbers further enhances citation accuracy.

Significance of Play Citations: Enhancing Academic Rigor

The art of citing plays isn’t just a matter of formatting; it’s a demonstration of academic rigour and integrity. Proper citations illuminate the dialogue’s source, lending authenticity to your analysis or argument. Whether you’re exploring the nuances of Shakespearean tragedies or dissecting contemporary playwrights’ creations, the meticulousness of MLA play citations underscores your commitment to scholarly precision.

Citing Plays in MLA: A Theatrical Trail of References

In the intricate dance of academic writing, properly citing sources is paramount, and plays are no exception. When navigating the captivating world of dramatic works within the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, your reference landscape unfolds like the stages of a theatre, with each citation a unique spotlight.

1. Play Title and Author: Dramatic Beginnings

When summoning the playwright’s masterpiece onto your page, follow this script:

Last Name, First Name. *Play Title.* Publisher, Year.

For instance, if you’re unearthing the nuances of Shakespeare’s tragedy, your citation would mirror:

Shakespeare, William. *Hamlet.* Oxford University Press, 2000.

2. Anthology: The Ensemble Cast

If you’re not just spotlighting a single play but curating a collection of theatrical marvels within an anthology, the curtain call shifts slightly:

Last Name, First Name. “Play Title.” *Anthology Title*, edited by Editor’s Name, Publisher, Year, page range.

The citation choreography might look like this:

Miller, Arthur. “Death of a Salesman.” *The Norton Anthology of Drama*, edited by J. Ellen Gainor et al., W. W. Norton, 2018, pp. 1104-1153.

3. Performance: The Live Experience

Now, if you’re referencing a live performance, your citation cadence dances in a new rhythm:

Last Name, First Name. *Play Title.* Directed by Director’s First and Last Name, Performing Theatre, Location, and Date of Performance.

A Shakespearean play brought to life would take shape as:

Shakespeare, William. *Macbeth.* Directed by John Director, Globe Theatre, London, 15 July 2023.

4. Online Play: The Digital Encore

In the digital era, even plays take their bows online. When referencing an electronic script, lead with this entrance:

Last Name, First Name. *Play Title.* Publisher, Year, URL.

For instance, a modern work like:

Wasserstein, Wendy. *The Sisters Rosensweig.* Dramatists Play Service, 1993, www.dramatists.com/doc_display.asp?documentid=1683.

5. In-Text Citations: Enter the Scene

As your paper unfolds like acts in a play, seamlessly weave your citations. For a direct quote, remember the playwright and page number:

(Author’s Last Name page#).

For paraphrasing, simply the author’s name suffices:

(Author’s Last Name).

In the grand performance of academia, MLA citations illuminate the scholarly stage, giving due credit to the creators of the dramatic narratives that enrich our understanding.

MLA Play Citation Example

If you are writing a paper or an essay that requires you to cite a play, you might be wondering how to do it correctly using the MLA style. MLA stands for Modern Language Association, and it is one of the most common citation styles used in academic writing. In this blog post, we will show you how to cite a play in MLA format, using an example from Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

The basic format for citing a play in MLA is:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Play. Edited by Editor’s Name, Publisher, Year of Publication.

For example, if you want to cite Macbeth by William Shakespeare, edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, published by Simon & Schuster in 2003, you would write:

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Simon & Schuster, 2003.

However, if you are citing a specific part of the play, such as an act, a scene, or a line, you need to include more information in your citation. You need to indicate the act number, the scene number, and the line numbers in parentheses after the title of the play. You also need to use Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals for the act and scene numbers. For example, if you want to cite the following passage from Macbeth:

MACBETH: Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.

Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible

To feeling as to sight? or art thou but

A dagger of the mind, a false creation,

Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?

I see thee yet, in form as palpable

As this which now I draw.

(2.1.33-41)

You would write:

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (2.1.33-41). Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Simon & Schuster, 2003

Note that you do not need to use quotation marks around the passage, since it is longer than four lines. You also need to indent the entire passage one inch from the left margin and use double spacing.

If you are citing more than one play by the same author, you need to include a shortened version of the title of the play in your citation to avoid confusion. For example, if you are citing both Macbeth and Hamlet by William Shakespeare, you would write:

Shakespeare, William. Macb. (2.1.33-41). Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Simon & Schuster, 2003.

Shakespeare, William. Ham. (3.1.55-87). Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Simon & Schuster, 2003.

If you are writing an essay or a research paper that analyzes a play, you may need to cite it using the MLA style. MLA stands for Modern Language Association, and it is one of the most common citation styles used in the humanities and social sciences. In this blog post, we will show you how to cite a play in MLA, both in-text and in the works cited list, using examples from different sources.

How to Cite a Play in MLA: In-text Citations

When you quote or paraphrase a play in your paper, you need to provide an in-text citation that directs the reader to the full source information in your works cited list. The format of the in-text citation depends on whether the play has numbered lines or not, and whether you are citing a single work by one author or multiple works by the same author.

If the play has numbered lines, you should include the author’s last name and the act, scene, and line numbers, separated by periods, in parentheses. For example:

(Hamlet 3.1.55-57)

This means that the quote or paraphrase is from Hamlet, act 3, scene 1, lines 55 to 57. You can use abbreviations for the names of Shakespeare’s plays, as long as you explain them in your first citation or a note.

If the play does not have numbered lines, you should include the author’s last name and the page number where the quote or paraphrase appears, in parentheses. For example:

(Beckett 8)

This means that the quote or paraphrase is from page 8 of Beckett’s play.

If you are citing multiple works by the same author, you should include the title of the play (or an abbreviation) along with the author’s last name and the relevant numbers or page numbers. For example:

(Macbeth 2.1.25)

This means that the quote or paraphrase is from Macbeth, act 2, scene 1, line 25.

How to Cite a Play in MLA: Works Cited List

At the end of your paper, you need to provide a list of all the sources you have cited, arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name. The format of the works cited entry depends on whether the play is published as a standalone work or as part of a collection.

If the play is published as a standalone work, you should follow this format:

Author’s last name, First name. Title of Play. Publisher, Year of publication.

For example:

Hwang, David Henry. M Butterfly. Plume, 1989.

If the play is published as part of a collection, you should follow this format:

Author’s last name, First name. “Title of Play.” Title of Collection, edited by Editor’s name, Publisher, Year of publication, page range.

For example:

Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet.” The Norton Shakespeare: Tragedies, edited by Stephen Greenblatt et al., W.W. Norton & Company, 2008, pp. 1699-1785.

Note that if you are citing a classic play that has been republished many times, you may also include the original year of publication after the title of the play. For example:

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. 1603. The Norton Shakespeare: Tragedies…

For more information and examples on how to cite a play in MLA style, you can check out these sources:

• How to Cite a Play in MLA Style | Format & Examples – Scribbr
• How to Cite a Play in APA, MLA or Chicago | EasyBib
• How to Cite a Play in MLA ~ Formatting & Examples – BachelorPrint

Bottom Line

Properly citing a play in MLA style is essential for maintaining academic integrity and giving credit to the source of the information. By following the guidelines provided in this guide, you can accurately cite plays in your research papers, essays, and other academic documents. Remember that consistency and accuracy are key when creating citations to ensure your work is credible and well-referenced.

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