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How to Cite Lines From Plays in MLA Format

"The play's the thing," Hamlet says in William Shakespeare's play of the same name. If you're a scholar or student of literature, plays might be your thing, too. Plays like Shakespeare's most often comprise lines of dialogue spoken by the characters in, and actors of, the play. When you're discussing a play, you may find it useful to quote an extract of dialogue from the play itself to illustrate or support your discussion or argument. The Modern Language Association (MLA) provides formatting guidelines in MLA-style citation of lines from a play.

Instructions

    • 1

      Write the name of the first character to speak in capital letters followed by a period and indented 1 inch from the left margin, followed by the character's line or lines. For example, if you are quoting a dialogue between Macbeth and the three witches from Shakespeare's "Macbeth," write:

      "SECOND WITCH. By the pricking of my thumbs.

      Something wicked this way comes.

      Open, Locks,

      Whoever knocks."

      Indent each following line after the first line an additional one-quarter inch. Note that MLA style requires that you otherwise preserve the formatting of the original.

    • 2

      Write any stage directions as they appear in your source. For example, write "Enter, Macbeth" on a separate line.

    • 3

      Write the name of the second character to speak in capital letters followed by a period and indented 1 inch from the left margin. For example, write:

      "MACBETH. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!

      What is't you do?"

    • 4

      Write the scene, act and line numbers of the lines you are quoting separated by periods and in parentheses on the same line as the last line of your quotation. For example, write:

      "WITCHES. A deed without a name. (4.1.44-50)".

      In this example, 4 is the act number, 1 is the scene number and the line numbers are 44-50.

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