Quoting a Single Character MLA 6.4.8

If you quote a remark from one character, you can incorporate it into the body of the paragraph.

Example 1

Nora's epiphany occurs when she realizes her husband will never reciprocate the sacrifices she's made to protect his pride. She finally stands up to Helmer, telling him, "You neither think nor talk like the man I could join myself to" (Doll act 3).

(Note: Ibsen's A Doll House is divided by act only. This will be the only division you can cite.)

Example 2

Although Oedipus blames the gods for his tragic fate, he admits that his latest misfortune is his own doing when he cries, "But the blinding hand was my own! How could I bear to see when all my sight was horror everywhere?" (Oedipus exodus. strophe 2. lines 114-116).

(Note: Oedipus Rex is broken into numerous divisions; all available divisions are included in the citation.)

Quoting Dialogue (2 or More Characters) MLA 3.7.4

Tips for quoting dialogue:

• Begin the quotation on a new line.
• Set the quotation off from the body of your paper with one inch indentations.
• If a character's speech continues onto the next line of your paper, indent subsequent lines an additional 1/4 inch (about 3 spaces).
• Double-space each line.
• Write the characters' names in capital letters followed by a period.
• Do not use quotation marks.

Example 1

      OEDIPUS. Ah, what net has God been weaving for me?

      IOCASTÊ. Oedipus! What does this trouble you?

      OEDIPUS. Do not ask me yet. First, tell me how Laïos looked, and tell me how old he was.

      IOCASTÊ. He was tall, his hair just touched with white; his form was not unlike your own.

      OEDIPUS. I think that I myself may be accursed by my own ignorant edict. (Oedipus scene 2. antistrophe 2. lines 211-216)

Example 2:

      KROGSTAD. Yes, yes, yes, to the point: there's still time, and I'm advising you to use your

         influence to prevent it.

      NORA. But Mr. Krogstad, I have absolutely no influence.

      KROGSTAD. You haven't? I thought you were just saying -

      NORA. You shouldn't take me so literally! How can you believe that I have any such influence

          over my husband? (Doll act 1)

Play in an Anthology or Collection MLA 5.5.6

Drama in the Works Cited List

The format of your citation will depend on the source of the play. Plays are usually published in one of the following sources:

• A literature or drama anthology
• A collection of one author's works
• As a single volume

Tips for Citing Drama:

• If the play is in an anthology, look at the title page to see if there is an editor.
• Always begin the citation with the playwright, NOT the editor of the anthology.
• Italicize the title of the play. If the play is in an anthology, italicize both the title of the play and the title of the anthology.

Anthology, Playwright and Editor

Begin the citation with the playwright, not the editor of the anthology.

Example

Aiken note: The problem with using [the love of my life] easybib.com to create the works cited entry for A Doll House is that the title of the play was not italicized. The title of the play as well as the title of the book should be italicized because it is a long play. If it were a short, one-act play, it would be sufficient to simply put it in quotation marks, but A Doll House, as well as plays by Shakespeare, Sophocles, and works of substantial length are italicized. Titles of essays, short stories, poems, and short works are usually in quotation marks.

Does it matter?

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”