How to Cite Plays in Your Essays: A Complete Guide
The Basics of Citing Plays
Quick answer
To cite a play in an essay using MLA format, include the author's last name and the specific location of the text, such as the act, scene, and line numbers. For example, a citation for Hamlet would look like (Shakespeare 3.2.15). If the play is written in prose without line numbers, use the page number. Always ensure character names are capitalized when formatting dialogue blocks.
Formatting Short Quotations
When quoting a single line or a short phrase from a play, incorporate it directly into your sentence using quotation marks. If the quote spans two or three lines of verse, use a forward slash with a space on both sides to indicate the line breaks. Example: Macbeth describes life as "a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage" (Shakespeare 5.5.24-25).
Handling Long Dialogue Blocks
For dialogue involving multiple characters or more than three lines of verse, you must use a block quote format. Begin the quote on a new line and indent it one inch. Start each part of the dialogue with the character's name in all capital letters, followed by a period. Do not use quotation marks for block quotes.
Citing Verse vs. Prose Plays
The citation style depends on whether the play is written in verse or prose. For verse plays like those by Shakespeare, use act, scene, and line numbers separated by periods. For modern prose plays, use the page number. If the play only has one act, you can omit the act number and just provide the scene or page.
The Works Cited Entry
Every in-text citation must correspond to a full entry on your Works Cited page. A standard play citation follows this format: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Play. Publisher, Year of Publication. If the play is part of an anthology, include the title of the collection and the editor's name after the play title.
Punctuation and Parentheticals
Place the parenthetical citation after the closing quotation marks but before the final period of the sentence. In the case of block quotes, the parenthetical citation goes after the final punctuation mark of the quote. This is the only time the period comes before the citation.