MLA Formatting Rules: In-Text Citations

PROSE (The Visit, Death and the Maiden) VERSE (Medea) QUOTING A SINGLE CHARACTER FROM A PROSE PLAY QUOTING A SINGLE CHARACTER FROM A VERSE PLAY If you quote a remark from one character, you can incorporate it into the body If you quote a remark from one character, you can incorporate it into the body of the paragraph. of the paragraph. Example: Example: Nora's epiphany occurs when she realizes her husband will never reciprocate the Although Oedipus blames the gods for his tragic fate, he admits that his latest sacrifices she's made to protect his pride. She finally stands up to Helmer, misfortune is his own doing when he cries, "But the blinding hand was my own! telling him, "You neither think nor talk like the man I could join myself to" How could I bear to see when all my sight was horror everywhere?" (Sophocles (Ibsen 27). 114-116). (Note: Ibsen's A Doll House is a prose drama so you cite author and page number.) (Note: Oedipus Rex is annotated with line numbers so you cite author and line numbers.) QUOTING DIALOGUE IN A PROSE DRAMA QUOTING DIALOGUE IN A VERSE DRAMA

Indent the speakers one inch from the left margin. All other lines are indented Indent the speakers one inch from the left margin and indent all other lines an one and a quarter inches. The speakers should be written in all capital letters, additional quarter inch. Capitalize the entire name of the speaker, and follow the followed by a period. Include stage directions as they appear in the original name with a period. Cite the act, scene and line numbers. Try to match the source. Cite the page number as you would for any other quoted prose. formatting of the original, as you would for a poem.

Example: Example: Early on in the play “A Raisin in the Sun,” Walter explodes when Ruth refuses Desdemona takes part in teasing Bianca, although she does not understand that to listen to his ideas: she will soon find herself unable to talk. RUTH. Eat your eggs, Walter. DESDEMONA. Alas, she has no speech! WALTER. (Slams the table and jumps up) --DAMN MY EGGS-- IAGO. In faith, too much. DAMN ALL THE I find it still when I have list to sleep. (Shakespeare 2.1.115-117) EGGS THAT EVER WAS! RUTH. Then go to work. WALTER. (Looking up at her) See--I’m trying to talk to you ‘bout myself--(Shaking his head with the repetition)--and all you can say is eat them eggs and go to work. (Hansberry 34)