Transcript Quoting Poetry the MLA-way

Quoting Poetry the MLA-way
With a [partial] Sample Essay
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Short Quotation
When using short (three—or fewer—than three typed lines of verse)
quotations from poetry, mark breaks in the verse with a slash, ( / ),
at the end of each line (a space should precede and follow the
slash). The parenthetical citation at the end of the quotation
demonstrates the reference of line numbers within the poem.
Cullen concludes, "Of all the things that happened
there / That's all I remember" (11-12).
Long-Quotation Guidelines
• For quotations that are more than four lines of
prose or three lines of verse, place quotations
in a free-standing block of text and omit
quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new
line, with the entire quote indented one inch
from the left margin; maintain double-spacing. . .
. Your parenthetical citation should come after
the closing punctuation mark. When quoting
verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should
maintain double-spacing throughout your
essay.)
Long Quotation
When citing long sections (more than three lines) of poetry, keep formatting
as close to the original as possible.
In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with
his father. The following lines use details to create a vivid image of the dance:
The whiskey on your breath
Could make a small boy dizzy;
But I hung on like death:
Such waltzing was not easy.
We Romped until the pans
Slid from the kitchen shelf;
My mother's countenance
Could not unfrown itself. (1-8)
Essay Content
• Introduction
–
–
–
–
–
Title of Work(s)
Author(s)
Genre
Very Brief Statement of Summary
Thesis Statement
• Subject
• What is to be proven
• How to be proven
• Body Paragraph(s)
– Topic Sentence
– Quoted Evidence [Kept in Context]
– Analysis
• Conclusion
– Reach a final thought about the content of the essay
– What should the reader take from the piece?
Sample Introduction
The Romantic tradition in British Literature
spans nearly fifty years and encompasses a variety
of writers, thinkers, reformers, and artists. Among
the writers, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William
Wordsworth are just two poets able to inspire
readers to journey beyond their mundane urban
lifestyles and glory in the beauty and majesty of
nature. Through Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient
Mariner,” which is a gothic tale of loss and
redemption, and Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a
Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey,” the author’s
personal insights on the wonders and joys of nature,
both writers are able to use symbolism to elevate
different aspects of nature to sublime heights.
[Partial] Sample Body Paragraph
Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” utilizes
enigmatic sea creatures to represent the social
contract between man and nature. When the ship and
crew are stranded at sea, the Mariner initially shows
disgust at the sea snakes which keep company near them.
Contemplating his stagnant and dire situation, the Mariner
reflects, “The very deep did rot: O Christ! / That ever
this should be! / Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs
/ Upon the slimy sea” (123-126). His choice of such
negative words as “rot,” and the repetition of “slimy” in
relation to the elements of nature represented by the sea
and the snakes—which the Mariner disdainfully calls
“things,” not even giving them a specific identification– help
to demonstrate his lack of respect for the world around him
and the various beings that occupy it. This lack of respect
is compounded by his reaction to the deaths of his
crewmates. . . .ETC. . . .REPEAT UNTIL COMPLETE.
Sample Conclusion
While the Romantic poets use their
adoration for nature to inspire, they are
able to also use it as a teaching tool.
When people allow themselves to be
moved by the beauty and enduring power
of nature, they can transfer this same
respect to others.