how to quote poem lines in essay

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MLA Formatting Quotations

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When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced .

Short quotations

To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.

Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:

When using short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and follow the slash). If a stanza break occurs during the quotation, use a double slash ( // ).

Long quotations

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 1/2   inch  from the left margin while maintaining 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.)

For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples :

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

When citing long sections of poetry (four lines of verse or more), 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 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. (qtd. in Shrodes, Finestone, Shugrue 202)

When citing two or more paragraphs, use block quotation format, even if the passage from the paragraphs is less than four lines. If you cite more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph:

In "American Origins of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Movement," David Russell argues,

Writing has been an issue in American secondary and higher education since papers and examinations came into wide use in the 1870s, eventually driving out formal recitation and oral examination. . . .

From its birth in the late nineteenth century, progressive education has wrestled with the conflict within industrial society between pressure to increase specialization of knowledge and of professional work (upholding disciplinary standards) and pressure to integrate more fully an ever-widening number of citizens into intellectually meaningful activity within mass society (promoting social equity). . . . (3)

Adding or omitting words in quotations

If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text:

If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipses, which are three periods ( . . . ) preceded and followed by a space. For example:

Please note that brackets are not needed around ellipses unless they would add clarity.

When omitting words from poetry quotations, use a standard three-period ellipses; however, when omitting one or more full lines of poetry, space several periods to about the length of a complete line in the poem:

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Quote Poetry in an Essay

Last Updated: June 1, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD . Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 65,108 times.

Quoting poetry in your writing is a bit trickier than quoting prose. Because poetry is stylized a certain way, you try to maintain that style for your readers, though how you maintain the style differs according to whether you're using a short quote or a longer quote. After you quote parts of a poem, you'll also need to create an in-text citation and an end reference for the poem to show your readers where you found the information. The most common style to use for citations in literature essays is the style from the Modern Language Association (MLA), though you may also need to use Chicago or American Psychological Association (APA) style.

Quoting Long and Short Passages

• For instance, you could introduce your quotation in this way: As Lord Byron wrote, "...."
• Epigraphs are short quotations that go at the beginning of a paper or heading, that sort of introduce your reader to the topic of your paper.

• So if you're using the first two lines of Lord Byron's poem "She Walks in Beauty," it would look like the following quotation: As Lord Byron writes in his poem "She Walks in Beauty," "She walks in beauty like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies." [3] X Research source
• Note that you add a spaces around the slash.

• When making a longer quote, it's better to introduce it with a full sentence and a colon rather than a phrase. Also, you don't use quotation marks with a block quote.

• For MLA style, a long quote from Byron's poem would follow this format: Lord Byron begins the poem "She Walks in Beauty" with these four lines:             She walks in beauty like the night             Of cloudless climes and starry skies;             And all that's best of dark and bright             Meet in her aspect and her eyes.

• For example, if you wanted to take "in beauty" out of the first line of Byron's poem, it would look like the following quotation: "She walks ... like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies."

• For example, if you quoted the first two lines of Byron's poem, you could use it to talk about Byron's use of similes.

Creating an In-Text Citation in MLA Style

• For a short quote, use this format: As Lord Byron writes in his poem "She Walks in Beauty," "She walks in beauty like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies" (citation).
• Follow this example for a blockquote: Lord Byron begins the poem "She Walks in Beauty" with these four lines:             She walks in beauty like the night             Of cloudless climes and starry skies;             And all that's best of dark and bright             Meet in her aspect and her eyes. (citation)

• Add the name in like the following quote: The poem "She Walks in Beauty" begins with the following lines: "She walks in beauty like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies" (Byron 1-2).
• If the poem is anonymous or uncredited, such as “I Eat My Peas with Honey,” then use a shortened form of the title: ("I Eat" 1-2) [8] X Research source

• Follow this example: The poem "She Walks in Beauty" begins with the following lines: "She walks in beauty like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies" (Byron 1-2).
• If you skip a line, use a comma to separate the the numbers. For instance, if you use lines 1 and 3, it would look like this example: (Byron 1, 3).

Creating an End Reference in MLA Style

• The beginning of the citation would follow this format: Byron, George Gordon, Lord.
• If the poem's author is anonymous, start with the title of the poem.

• Continue the citation in this manner: Byron, George Gordon, Lord. "She Walks in Beauty."
• Be sure to capitalize important words in the title.

• The citation would continue in this way, since this poem is from the Poetry Foundation: Byron, George Gordon, Lord. "She Walks in Beauty." Poetry Foundation,

• This particular citation has none of these attributes, so leave them blank.

• Here's how the citation looks so far: Byron, George Gordon, Lord. "She Walks in Beauty." Poetry Foundation, Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute,

• If you were to add a date, it would look like the following citation: Byron, George Gordon, Lord. "She Walks in Beauty." Poetry Foundation, Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute, 2 August 2016,

• Here's the final citation: Byron, George Gordon, Lord. "She Walks in Beauty." Poetry Foundation, Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43844.
• Don't add "http://" or "https://" before the web address.

Creating References and In-Text Citations in Chicago and APA

• For example, with APA, the in-text citation would appear this way: "She walks in beauty like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies" (Byron 1-2).
• Just like MLA, you'll use the author's name and line numbers. However, if the poem doesn't have line numbers, you can just use an abbreviation of the title: (Byron "She Walks").

• For APA, use this format with the example from throughout this article: Byron, G. G. (1813). "She Walks in Beauty." Poetry Foundation. Retrieved from www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43844
• Note that APA uses initials rather than full first and middle names. This structure is in place to discourage gender bias.

• In this case, the footnote would look like the following example: 1. Byron, George Gordon, Lord, "She Walks in Beauty," Poetry Foundation, accessed August 2, 2016, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43844.
• You can also add a publication date ("Last modified July 2, 2016,") before the access date.

• For Chicago, use this format: Byron, George Gordon, Lord. "She Walks in Beauty." Poetry Foundation. Accessed August 2, 2016. www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43844.
• Once again, you can add a publication date ("Last modified July 2, 2016,") before the access date if it has it.

• If you need more information on these styles, review the MLA Handbook, Eighth Edition ; The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition ; the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition ; or Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL), which has information on all three.

Expert Q&A

• Always proofread quotations. Double-check that your quotations are accurate and that you have not made any changes to the text when you transcribed it into your paper. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/eng/resources/how-to-quote-poetry-in-english-papers/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/
• ↑ https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43844
• ↑ https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42908/i-eat-my-peas-with-honey
• ↑ http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~simpsone/Connections/Writing/Quote/quote2.html
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/22/
• ↑ https://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/mla-8/mla-7-vs-mla-8/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/05/

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Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process, quoting plays and poetry in mla.

• © 2023 by Angela Eward-Mangione - Hillsborough Community College

The rules for quoting drama and/or poetry in Modern Language Association (MLA) Style differ from those for quoting the genre of prose. This article discusses rules for using MLA style to format quotes from drama and poetry. Consult the MLA Handbook to learn more.

Quoting Poetry

The MLA Handbook offers specific guidelines for quoting poetry.

In addition to the amount quoted and line breaks, other factors that matter include stanza breaks, and unusual layouts.

Special Issues: Stanza Breaks, Unusual Layouts

Stanza Breaks: Mark stanza breaks that occur in a quotation with two forward slashes, with a space before and after them ( / / ) (78).

William Carlos Williams depicts a vivid image in “The Red Wheelbarrow”: “so much depends / / upon / / a red wheel / / barrow / / glazed with rain / / water / / beside the white / / chickens” (“Williams”).

Unusual Layouts: If the layout of the lines in the original text is unusual, reproduce it as accurately as you can (79).

The English metaphysical John Donne uses indentation in some of his poems to create unusual layouts, as the first stanza of including “A Valediction: of Weeping” demonstrates:

Let me pour forth My tears before they face, whilst I stay here, For thy face coins them, and thy stamp they bear, And by this mintage they are something worth, For thus they be Pregnant of thee; Fruits of much grief they are, emblems of more, When a tear falls, that thou falls which it bore, So thou and I are nothing then, when on a divers shore. (lines 1-9)

Quoting Plays

When you must quote dialogue from a play, adhere to these rules:

• Set the quotation off from your text.
• Indent each name half an inch from the left margin and write it in all capital letters.
• Follow the name with a period and then start the quotation.
• Indent all other lines in the character’s speech an additional amount.
• When the dialogue shifts to another character, start a new line indented half an inch.
• Maintain this pattern throughout the quotation (80).

Example: One of the flashbacks in Margaret Edson’s Wit suggests Vivian Bearing’s illness causes her to question some of her previous interactions with students:

STUDENT 1. Professor Bearing? Can I talk to you for a minute?

VIVIAN: You may.

STUDENT 1: I need to ask for an extension on my paper. I’m really sorry, and I know your policy, but see—

VIVIAN: Don’t tell me. Your grandmother died.

STUDENT 1: You knew.

VIVIAN: It was a guess.

STUDENT 1: I have to go home.

VIVIAN: Do what you will, but the paper is due when it is due. (63)

Special Issues

Omissions: Follow the rules for omissions in quotations of prose (83).

Although some of the rules for quoting plays and poetry in MLA differ than those for quoting prose, understanding the guidelines will help you apply them in any scenario.

Donne, John. “The Bait.” The Complete English Poems . Penguin Books, 1971, pp. 43-4.

—. “The Break of Day.” The Complete English Poems . Penguin Books, 1971, pp. 45-6. Edson, Margaret. Wit. Faber and Faber, 1993.

Shakespeare, William. Sonnet 39. The Pelican Shakespeare: The Sonnets . Penguin Books, 1970, p. 59.

Williams, William Carlos: “The Red Wheelbarrow.” Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/resources/learning/core-poems/detail/45502 .

Yeats, William. “A Prayer for My Daughter.” The Collected Poems . Ed. Richard Finneran. Scribner, 1983, pp. 188-190.

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How to Quote a Poem in an Essay: Best ways

Poetry holds a unique place in literature, offering a rich tapestry of emotions and vivid expressions with quote a poem in an Essay. When crafting an essay, incorporating quotes from poems can elevate the narrative, adding layers of meaning and literary flair. In this guide, we’ll explore the art of quoting a poem in an essay, unraveling the intricacies and offering practical tips to seamlessly integrate poetic verses into your writing with our Poem Generator .

What is Poetry Quotes?

Poetry quotes refer to excerpts or lines taken directly from poems that encapsulate the essence, emotion, or artistic expression within a concise form. These quotes are often used to enhance various forms of writing, including essays, by incorporating the poetic language and literary elements found in the original work.

Before diving into the quoting process, it’s essential to grasp the distinction between quoting and paraphrasing. While paraphrasing involves rephrasing the poet’s words in your own, quoting preserves the original language, capturing the essence of the poet’s expression.

A well-integrated quote should seamlessly blend with the surrounding text. Avoid abrupt introductions; instead, let the quote flow naturally within the context of your sentences. This ensures a smooth transition and prevents disruption in the essay’s flow.

Best way to quote a Poem in an Essay

Choosing a quote that aligns with your essay’s theme is crucial. The selected verse should enhance your argument or illustrate a point, contributing to the overall coherence of your writing. Beyond relevance, consider the literary merit of the chosen poem quote. Opt for verses that showcase poetic devices, such as metaphors, similes, or vivid imagery, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your essay.

Quoting a poem in an essay requires a careful and thoughtful approach to ensure seamless integration while maintaining the integrity of the poet’s work. Here’s a step-by-step guide on the best way to quote a poem in an essay:

• Choose a quote that is relevant to your essay’s theme or supports a specific point you’re making. Ensure the selected verse contributes meaningfully to your argument.
• Familiarize yourself with the citation style required (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago). Different styles have specific guidelines for citing poetry, including how to format line numbers and attribute the quote to the poet.
• In MLA, enclose the quote in double quotation marks and include the poet’s last name and the line number(s) in parentheses. For example: (Frost 23-25).
• In APA, include the poet’s name, the publication year, and the line number(s) in parentheses. For example: (Frost, 1916, p. 23).
• Introduce the quote with a lead-in or context to ensure smooth integration into your writing. Avoid abrupt transitions that may disrupt the flow of your essay.
• Use punctuation effectively to maintain the rhythm of the poem. If a quote ends with a period, retain it; if it ends with an ellipsis, preserve that as well.
• Italics are commonly used to emphasize words in a quote. Ensure italics are used accurately to highlight specific elements within the poem.
• After the quote, provide analysis or commentary. Explain the significance of the chosen verse and how it supports your essay’s argument. Interpret the poetic devices employed by the poet.
• While quotes add value, avoid overloading your essay with excessive quotations. Select key verses that amplify your message without overshadowing your own voice.
• Be consistent in your citation style throughout the essay. This includes using the same format for subsequent quotes from the same poem.
• If quoting multiple lines, use an ellipsis (…) to indicate omitted lines. Be sure to include the correct line numbers to maintain accuracy.
• Encouraging Reflection:
• Use the quote as a springboard for reflection. Pose questions or delve into the emotional or thematic aspects of the verse, encouraging readers to engage with the quoted material.

Remember, the best way to quote a poem in an essay involves a delicate balance between your original voice and the poetic expression you’re incorporating. Thoughtful selection, proper citation, and seamless integration contribute to a compelling and well-crafted essay.

Citing Poems in Different Citation Styles

In the Modern Language Association (MLA) format, citing poems involves specifying line numbers. The format is as follows: (Author’s Last Name Line Number).

In MLA (Modern Language Association) citation style, quoting poems involves a specific format to ensure accurate and consistent referencing. Here’s a guide on how to cite poems in MLA style:

• Example: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (Frost 1).
• Example: Robert Frost’s narrator reflects on the choice between “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (1).
• For longer quotes (four or more lines), format the quote as a block quotation. Start a new line, indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin, and do not use

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

• Example: “Do not go gentle into that good night” (Thomas 6).
• Format: Last Name, First Name. “Title of Poem.” Title of Book or Anthology, edited by Editor’s Name if applicable, edition if applicable, Publisher, Year, page range.
• Example: Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged, Henry Holt, 1979, pp. 53-54.
• Example: Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.”
• If the poem is not paginated by lines, but by stanzas or sections, use standard numbering.

Analyzing Poetic Devices in Quotes

Delve into the poetic devices within your chosen quotes. Analyze metaphors, similes, and vivid imagery, showcasing your understanding of the poet’s craft. This adds depth to your essay, impressing upon the reader the layers of meaning embedded in the verses.

As you incorporate quotes, convey the inherent poetic elements effectively. Share your insights on how these elements contribute to the overall theme or message of the poem. This analytical approach elevates your essay beyond a mere collection of verses.

All in all, the judicious incorporation of well-chosen poem quotes will both enrich your essay and add depth and feeling to it. Do your best to follow citation styles, and do not overquote. You should have a pleasant blend of the poet’s voice with yours. Analyze poetic devices, encourage critical reflection and allow each quote to play a part in the overall effect. Incorporating carefully selected poem quotes into an essay is not just a academic exercise, it’s a brings your writing to another level. Therefore, use the power of poetry to enhance your essays and thrill readers with language.

Can I change words in a poem when quoting to fit my essay better?

No, it’s crucial to preserve the original wording of the poem when quoting. However, you can add square brackets to insert clarifications or minor changes for grammatical coherence, ensuring your alterations are clearly indicated.

How do I cite a poem with no line numbers in MLA?

When a poem is not paginated by lines, use standard numbering

Can I quote an entire poem in my essay

It’s generally advisable to avoid quoting an entire poem as it may overwhelm your essay. Select key verses that specifically support your argument or theme. If you must quote extensively, consider using block quotations for longer passages

How do I handle indents when quoting a poem as a block quote in MLA format ?

In a block quote, indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin. Do not use quotation marks for block quotes. Maintain double-spacing throughout, and include the poet’s name and line numbers in parentheses after the quote

Do I need to include the title of the poem in the in-text citation?

While it’s not mandatory in MLA, it’s good practice to include the title, especially if you’re quoting multiple poems by the same poet. This helps readers identify the specific work you’re referencing

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How to Cite a Poem Using APA Style

Last Updated: December 18, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD . Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 162,658 times.

The American Psychological Association (APA) style guide is very popular, especially in the social sciences. If you need to write a paper in APA style, there are a lot of different formatting rules to consider. Citing sources, such as poems, can be one of the most confusing things, but if you follow a few simple rules, you'll have perfectly formatted citations.

Quoting a Poem in Your Essay

• For example, introduce a short quote like this. Frost writes, "Some say the world will end in fire."

• For example, cite two line of a poem like this: "Some say the world will end end fire, / Some say in ice."

• You should not use quotation marks with block quotes. It is not necessary because the indentation signifies that it is a quote.
• Be sure to maintain the same double spacing that you have in the rest of your paper.

Using Proper In-Text Citations

• If you mention the author's name in the sentence that introduces the quote, include the year in parentheses after the author's name, and the page number in parentheses after the end of quote. For example: In his poem "Fire and Ice," Robert Frost (1923) says, "Some say the world will end in fire." (p. 1)
• If you don't include the author's name in the sentence that introduces the quote, provide all three pieces of information, separated by commas, in parentheses after the end of the quote. For example: "Some say the world will end in fire." (Frost, 1923, p. 1)
• Parenthetical citations should always come after the punctuation of the preceding sentence.

• If you are not referring to one specific page of the poem, you may omit the page number from your parenthetical citation, although you are encouraged to provide a page number whenever possible.

• Capitalize all major words in the title of any work.
• Put quotation marks around the titles of shorter works (such as most poems).
• Italicize or underline the title of longer works (such as anthologies).

Citing a Poem in Your Works Cited

• Author's last name, Author's first name (Year of publication). Title of work: Subtitle. Location: Publisher.

• Author's last name, Author's first name (Year of publication). Title of poem. In Editor's first and last name (Eds.), Title of book (pp. page #). Location: Publisher.

• In general, if your source does not provide a specific piece of information, it is okay to omit it from the citation.
• Note that when citing multiple pages you should notate it with "pp." instead of "p."

• For a website, include the words "Retrieved from" followed by the full web address at the end of your citation.
• For an e-book, include the e-book format in square brackets directly after the title of the book (for example, [Kindle DX version]). Then include the words "Available from" followed by the website from which you retrieved the e-book at the end of your citation.

• Capitalize only the first word of the title of a book, not every word.
• Do not surround the title of a poem with quotation marks.
• Use the title References at the top of your page.
• Alphabetize your entries by the author's last name. If you have more than one source by the same author, use the date of publication to list them chronologically.
• The first line of each citation should not be indented, but all additional lines should be indented 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) (two spaces) from the left margin.
• Maintain the same double spacing you have throughout the rest of your paper.
• If you are providing annotations (descriptions of your sources), provide them directly beneath your citation, indented two spaces further than the second line of your citation.

Community Q&A

• If you plan on writing a lot of papers using APA format, it's a good idea to buy a print copy of the manual or pay for online access. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• APA is not the only style guide out there, so double check that your teacher wants you to use APA. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Be sure to cite all of the sources that you quote, paraphrase, or even refer to when writing a paper so that you avoid all appearances of plagiarism. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don’t forget that you will also have to compose your entire essay or paper according to the APA style. This includes using the APA rules regarding line and paragraph spacing, typeface, margins, etc. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://libguides.swansea.ac.uk/APA7Referencing/Poetry
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/punctuation/quotation_marks/quotation_marks_with_fiction.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_author_authors.html
• ↑ https://penandthepad.com/cite-poem-apa-format-5072453.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_basic_rules.html

About This Article

If you want to cite a poem using the APA style, include your quote from a poem in quotation marks if it's less than 40 words, and use forward slashes to indicate line breaks. To cite a longer passage, begin the quote on a new line and indent it to create a block quotation. For your in-text citation, include the author's name, year of publication, and page number, preceded by the letter "p." When it comes to the title, capitalize all major words, place short titles in quotes, and italicize longer titles. To learn how to include your citation in the works cited section of your essay, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Quoting and Citing a Poem in MLA: Tips, Steps, and Insights

You are in the right place if you have been struggling online trying to discover how to quote and cite a poem in an MLA essay. You might have heard your professor say that quoting a poem in MLA means introducing the quote and using quotation marks, as you would for any other source. But how do you do that correctly when the quote includes line breaks? Let us look at this comprehensive guide to citing a poem in an MLA paper.

 In this post, you will discover all the information you need to know to quote and cite poems correctly as per the MLA stylebook.

When to Quote a Poem

Before you learn how to quote and cite a poem, it is vital to learn when it is necessary to do so. You should only quote a poem in your essay:

1. When Absolutely Necessary

You should only quote a poem in your essay when it is necessary. Quoting lines upon lines of a poem in your essay to boost the word count will not do you much good.

Most professors will be annoyed when they notice you have done this in your essay. And this usually leads only to an average or lower grade. Therefore, quote a poem only when absolutely necessary.

You will know it is necessary to quote a poem when quoting a poem adds value to your paper. If you genuinely believe quoting a poem enhances your paper in one way or another, you should do it.

2. When You Want To Support Your Arguments

It would help if you quoted a poem to support your arguments. There are situations where you cannot write your essay correctly without quoting a poem.

For example, when you analyze a poem in your essay, you must quote it several times. This will help show the reader what you are talking about. In other words, it will help you to support your arguments.

Related Reading:

• How to use block quotes in MLA.
• How to title a movie in an essay.
• Indenting paragraphs in an academic essay.

Now that you know when to quote a poem in an essay, it is time to discover how exactly to do so. The information we share below will show you how to quote a poem in MLA.

Essential Tips to Quote a Poem in MLA

There are different rules for quoting just a single line of poetry, two or three lines, and for quoting four or more lines.

1. How to Quote a Single Line of Poetry in Your MLA Essay

Quoting a single line of poetry in an MLA essay is easy. You need to put it in double quotes. This is how you would quote a single line of anything else in your MLA essay. So nothing is challenging about it.

Putting a single line of poetry in your MLA essay without enclosing it with double quotation marks will make it difficult for your professor to know you are quoting something.

And do not for a moment think that italicizing a line of poetry can work in lieu of the double quotation marks. It cannot work since it is not how the MLA stylebook requires you to quote a single line of poetry.

Examples of how to quote a single line of poetry:

• "While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping" – Edgar Allan Poe
• "The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed" – Percy Shelley
• "Life is but an empty dream!" – Henry Longfellow

2. How to Quote Two or Three Lines of Poetry

Quoting two or three lines of poetry is a bit more complex than quoting just one. This is because two or three lines of poetry will need something to tell the reader they are moving to the next line.

So how do you do it? Write two or three lines of poetry and enclose them with double quotation marks. Then use the forward slash symbol "/" to show the transition from one line to the next. The symbol should be preceded and followed by space.

If the lines you are quoting are from two different stanzas, use the double forward slash symbol "//" to show the transition from one stanza to the next.

One important thing to remember when quoting a chunk of poetry in your essay is that you should always retain the same styling, capitalization, and punctuation as in the original poem. Do not adjust or rewrite anything to make it sound better or more correct.

Examples of how to quote two to three lines of poetry:

• "Life is real! Life is earnest! / And the grave is not its goal;" – Henry Longfellow
• "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" – Percy Shelley
• "Does it dry up / Like a raising in the sun?" – Langston Hughes

3. How to Quote Four or More Lines of Poetry

How you quote four or more lines of poetry differs from how you quote three or fewer lines of poetry. It is different because when you quote four or more lines of poetry, you must quote them as a block.

Here is how exactly to quote four or more lines of poetry. First, introduce the quote or provide the reader with some context on the quote you will unleash to them. Second, put a colon at the end of the sentence to show a quote is coming.

Third, create a line break (a new line) and press the "Tab" this will indent your quote (0.5-inch from the left margin) and distinguish it from the rest of your writing. Lastly, quote the poem you wanted to quote without adding any quotation marks.

Example 1 of how to quote four or more lines of poetry:

Langston Hughes' poem opens with a couple of rhetorical questions:

            What happens to a dream deferred?

            Does it dry up

            Like a raisin in the sun?

            Or fester like a sore-

            And then run?

Example 2 of how to quote four or more lines of poetry

Maya Angelou's inspiring poem offers words of encouragement to the downtrodden:

            You may shoot me with your words,

            You may cut me with your eyes,

            You may kill me with your hatefulness,

            But still, like air, I'll rise.

Example 3 of how to quote four or more lines of poetry

The poet John Donne, in his thought-inspiring poem, reveals the deep connection we have to humanity:

            Any man's death diminishes me,

            Because I am involved in mankind,

            And therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

            It tolls for thee.

You now know how exactly to quote a poem in an MLA essay. It is now to discover how to cite a poem in MLA. Citing is not the same thing as quoting. It is more complex. Check the section below to understand.

How to cite a poem in an MLA Paper or Essay

When you name, discuss, mention, or refer to a poem, it is best to cite it so that your reader can read more about it if they want to. Failure to properly cite a poem or any other work you use or discuss in your essay is wrong and is considered academic dishonesty. It will make your essay look like it is missing something and reduce your chances of getting an excellent grade (professors do not like poorly cited essays).

When citing a poem in your essay, you must cite it in-text and on the reference page.

Citing a poem in-text has a few rules that you need to follow. The most important rule is clearly stating the author's last name. The purpose of doing this is to enable the reader to quickly locate the author of the work and the associated source on your references page.

Follow the rules below to cite any poem in-text in your MLA essay properly.

A. How to cite a poem with no line numbers or page numbers

You can find a poem on a website or a published text without any lines or page numbers. The correct way to cite it is only by the author's last name. Do not count the lines or the pages manually for your in-text citation.

Example of how to cite a poem with no line numbers or page numbers

"Every man is a piece of the continent, / A part of the main." (Donne)

B. How to cite a poem with line numbers

Sometimes poems are published with line numbers on the side. This is often true in official poem collections. When you quote or talk about a poem with line numbers in your essay, your in-text citation must show the exact lines you have quoted or are talking about.

Your citation should begin with the author's last name followed by a comma and the exact lines you have quoted or are discussing. Once you cite a poem with line numbers in this manner, put line numbers only in parentheses in subsequent references to the same poem.

Example of how to cite a poem with line numbers

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, / And sorry I could travel both" (Frost, lines 1-2).

C. How to cite a poem with page numbers

A poem can be published over several pages. If a poem is published over several pages but without line numbers, you should provide an in-text citation referencing the exact page number you have quoted or are talking about.

Your citation should begin with the author's last name and the page number. Unlike in the case of line numbers, you are not supposed to put a comma between the poet's last name and the page number.

Example of how to cite a poem with page numbers

"For they sweet love remembered such wealth brings, / That, then I scorn to change my state with kings." (Shakespeare 38).

D. How to cite a poem multiple times

When you cite a poem severally in the same paragraph, you don't need to repeat the entire in-text citation over and over again. You need to put only the line number or page number you are referring to in parentheses.

Example of how to cite a poem consecutively in the same paragraph

"And be one traveler, long I stood / And looked down one as far as I could"

Citing a poem on the reference page MLA

Every poem you cite in-text should have the full citation on your references page. How you reference a poem on the references page depends on the source.

Poems can be found in many places (e.g., online, in a book, or in an anthology). The way you cite a poem you've found online is not the same you cite a poem you've found in a book.

A. How to cite a poem found online

When you find a poem online or on a website, there is a way you need to cite it. You must begin with the author's last name and then their first name. You need to follow the poet's name with the poem's name in parentheses. Check out the format below.

Online citation format:

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title." Year of publication. Title of the website, Website Publisher, Link. Accessed day month year.

Online citation example:

Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 29." 1609. Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45090/sonnet-29-when-in-disgrace-with-fortune-and-mens-eyes. Accessed 19 Feb. 2023.

B. How to cite a poem from a book

When you find a poem in a book, there are rules you need to follow in citing it. The first two elements of the citation (the name and the title of the poem, will be formatted the same way as when citing a poem from an online source. The other elements are different, so the formatting is a bit different. Check out the format below.

Book citation format

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title." Book Title, Publisher. Year of publication, Page number/range.

Book citation example

Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 29." William Shakespeare Poem Collection, Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 32.

C. How to cite a poem from an anthology

An anthology is a collection of poems from different authors. How you cite a poem from an anthology is not the same way you cite a poem from a book with poems from solely one author. Use the format below to cite a poem from an anthology.

Anthology citation format

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Work."  Anthology Collection,  edited by (first name and last name), edition (if applicable), volume (if applicable), Publisher, year of anthology publication, page number or page range.

Anthology citation example:

Hughes, William. "Dark Oceans."  Collection of Modern South African Poems , edited by John Moore, Cape Town University Press, 2009, p. 77.

As we wind up this Super Guide…

If you made it this far, you are now conversant with how to quote poems in an MLA paper. You can now comfortably cite poems from different sources. We hope that the information we have shared with you should make it easy for you to quote and cite poems easily in your MLA essays.

• How to write a poem analysis essay.
• How to write an expository essay.
• How to write a rhetorical analysis essay.

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How to Cite a Poem: MLA and APA Formatting Quotations

Writing, and all of its connected skills, are essential to succeed in studying — especially humanities. One such skill is the proper use of quotations. To make a quotation means to place the exact words of another author in your essay — these words could be lines from a poem as well.

When to Use Poem Quotes

When is it appropriate to cite a poem? Most often, quotes from poems are used by liberal art students, literature students, and language students. It is hard to imagine writing an essay about a poet without including some pieces of his works, or describing some poetry trend without providing examples. Also, you may find poem lines used in descriptive, reflective, argumentative, and compare and contrast essays.

Nevertheless, even if you are not a humanities student, you are not limited to use poem citations in your works if the meaning of the line(s) you have chosen is relevant. While there are no rules on where you may cite a poem, there are a lot on how you should do it in different formatting styles. Continue reading to find out more about how to cite a poem correctly or simply use professional help. Need help? You can buy custom essay at EssayPro.

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Citing Poem Quotes in MLA Style

The most popular formatting style is MLA (Modern Language Association). Despite it possibly being the easiest style to use, you will need some time to learn all of the rules, and time to train to apply them.

You might also be interested in how to style an essay using MLA FORMAT

The rules of citing a poem in MLA style depend on the citation’s length. Quotes up to three lines are considered to be short, and quotes longer than three lines – long.

Citing a Short Quote

• There is no need to start a short quote on a new line; you may write it just between the text.
• Though, it is obligatory to put it in quotation marks.
• If question or exclamation marks are part of the poem, put them inside the quotation marks.; leave them outside if they are a part of your text.
• Use a slash to mark line breaks, or a double slash if there is a stanza break; put a space before and after the slash.
• Start each line of the poem with a capital letter (at the beginning and after the slash marks).

Example: In “Song of Myself”, Walt Whitman wrote, “I exist as I am, that is enough, / If no other in the world be aware I sit content, / And if each and all be aware I sit content.”

Citing a Long Quote

• If you choose a long quote, some rules are just the opposite of how you would properly write a small quote — and you should be really careful not to mix them up.
• Start your quotation from a new line, with a half-inch indent from the left margin.
• Put it in a block quote. Include line breaks in the quote as they are in the original.
• Keep the original formatting and punctuation as part of the author’s style.
• Use double-space spacing inside the quote.
• There is no need for quotation marks or slashes, just skip them.

Example: Emily Dickinson wrote: Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me; The carriage held but just ourselves And Immortality.

Citing the Title of the Poem

Regardless of the length of a quote, you should clearly indicate the poet’s last name. You should also include the title of the poem if you cite more than one poem by the same author in your work. You may do it in two ways: mention it before the quotation in the main text, or include it in a parenthetical citation at the end of the lines. If you mentioned the name and the title before the quote, but you’re not sure if it will be obvious for the reader, you may repeat it in a parenthetical citation — it won’t be considered as a mistake.

Besides the poet’s last name and the title of the poem, a parenthetical citation should include a line or page number. Here are some brief rules for parenthetical citations:

• If a poem was published with line numbers in the margin, put the line number. Use the word “line”, or “lines”, in the first quotation of your work. Only use numbers in all of the following quotations from the same sources you’ve already quoted.

Example: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.” (Frost, lines 18-20)

• If there are no line numbers in the margin, put the page number in parenthetical citation after the poet’s last name instead. Do not use a comma between the poet’s name and page number.

Example: “Your head so much concerned with outer, / Mine with inner, weather.” (Frost 126)

• If you found the poem from a website, or the page numbers are not available for other reasons, don’t put any numbers at all. Leave only the poet’s last name and poem’s title (if required as mentioned above).

Example: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?” (Mary Oliver)

• If you mentioned the poet’s last name and poem’s title before the citation (if required as mentioned above), and you have no lines or page number, don’t make an in-text citation after the quote at all.

Example: Here is what Pablo Neruda wrote about this feeling, “I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, / in secret, between the shadow and the soul.”

• If you would like to cite the title of the poem not in a parenthetical citation, but inside your text, there are two ways to do it, and it depends on the title’s length. Short poem titles should be cited in quotation marks.

Examples: “A Book”, “Fire and Ice”, or “Nothing Gold can’t Stay”

• Long poem titles should be cited in italics.

Example: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Because I could not Stop for Death.

• Don't forget to write a full reference for each source you use in your Works Cited page at the end of your essay. If the poem citation was taken from a book, it should be made in the following format: Poet’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Poem.” Title of Book: Subtitle (if any) , edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Edition (if given and is not first), Publisher’s Name (often shortened), Year of Publication, pp. xx-xx.

Examples: Dickinson, Emily. “A Book.” Emily Dickinson: Selected Poems , edited by Anthony Eyre, Mount Orleans Press, 2019, pp. 55-56.

• If the poem citation was taken from a website, it should be made in the following format: Poet’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Poem.” Title of Book: Subtitle (if any) , Edition (if given and is not first), Publisher Name (often shortened), Year of Publication, Website Name, URL. Accessed Access Date.

Example: Frost, Robert. “Fire and Ice”. Poetry Foundation , https://poetryfoundation.org/poems/44263/fire-and-ice. Accessed 28 Nov. 2019.

You may also be interested in how to write a conclusion for a research paper . This information will be useful for all kinds of student papers, whether you need just to cite a poem or write a political science essay .

How to Cite a Poem in APA Style?

APA is the abbreviation for American Psychological Association, and is the second most popular formatting style — used mainly in social studies. Here are some APA rules for poem citations that you need to know from our service:

• For poem quotes up to 40 words (short quotes), using quotation marks is obligatory.
• You don’t have to start a short quote from a new line.
• Line breaks in short quotes should be marked by a slash.
• Block citations should be used for quotes longer than 40 words (long quotes).
• You have to start a block citation from a new line.
• Do not use quotation marks for block citations
• Block quotations should be indented 1.3 cm from the left margin, and in double-space formatting.

A Short Quote Example: Robert Frost, in his poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening , wrote: “The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, / But I have promises to keep, / And miles to go before I sleep, / And miles to go before I sleep.”

A Long Quote Example: Here is how Emily Dickinson describes the meaning of a book: There is no frigate like a book To take us lands away, Nor any coursers like a page Of prancing poetry. This traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of toll; How frugal is the chariot That bears a human soul! 2019.

If your quote is taken from a book, a full reference to the source in the Works Cited page (in APA style) should be made according to the following template: Poet’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Poem title. In Editor Initial. Last Name (Ed.), Book title (pp. xx-xx). Location: Publisher.

Example: Dickinson, E. (2019). A book. A. Eyre (Ed.), Emily Dickinson: Selected Poems (pp.55-56). Cricklade, U.K.: Mount Orleans Press.

If a quotation was taken from a website, the following template should be used: Poet’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Poem title. Retrieved from http://WebAddress.

Example: Dickinson, E. (2019, November 28). I'm Nobody! Who are you? Retrieved from https://poets.org/poem/im-nobody-who-are-you-260.

Tips and Tricks on How to Cite a Poem

Here are a few recommendations on how to format poem quotations properly. They will be useful whether or not you are a beginner or advanced user of poem citations, regardless of what formatting style you are using.

• Read the whole poem to be sure you understand the meaning of the citation and author’s message correctly. Then, decide which lines can be used as a quote for your work.
• Write a few words about: why you chose the lines from your poem, their message, and what their connection is with your essay topic.
• Do not overuse quotations in your work. You may also paraphrase, instead of quoting, in order to share other’s views. Moreover, it is your own work and you shouldn’t rely on others’ words the whole time.
• There is no need to cite the entire poem if you need a few lines in the beginning and a few in the end. Omit middle lines that you don’t need (use ellipses to point out that you will skip words), or create two quotations that connect with your text between them.
• Use embedded quotes. These are quotes that are implemented as a part of your sentence. You may put it at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of your sentence. The idea is to make it an organic part of your text. Example: As well as Robert Frost, at first “I hold with those who favor fire”.
• When citing a specific source (periodicals or a website perhaps), check the specifics on how to cite it in MLA or another format — as there are some particularities we didn’t have time to cover.
• Together with the final review of your essay, proofread your cited quotes for both: appropriate usage, and correct formatting.

As with any other skill, practice is the best way to learn the details of citing a poem; you will not only need to make one poem citation to become an expert in the matter. Though, we truly believe that you will succeed — we gave you the main rules, and shared some of the most important tips on how to cite a poem. For now, before you hone your professional skills, we are here to help you! Do not hesitate to contact our service, no matter what kind of help you need, whether it's a poem citations or physics help .

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Everything You Need to Know About Citing a Poem

Academic study, especially in literature, will likely bring you to a moment when you'll need to cite a poem in an essay. When that happens, don't worry, we have you covered. We're going to look at citing poetry in the two most common citation styles, APA and MLA, including in-text citations and those required for footnotes/endnotes and Reference or Works Cited pages.

Although commonly used for citing sources within the field of behavioral and social sciences, APA is the style guide of the American Psychological Association (APA) and can be required for essays citing poetry.

In-text citations

For an in-text citation of a poem, APA requires that you add parentheses to the end of the quote and include the last name of the author, followed by a comma and the year of publication of the source. If you are quoting a poem that is online, you can simply use the date of publication of the poem. If you found the poem in a collection or anthology, the in-text citation should include the page number in the anthology where the poem is printed.

But we loved with a love that was more than love--

I and my Annabel Lee--

With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven

Coveted her and me. (Poe, 1849)

Note that since the above quoted poem is three or more lines, it is formatted within the text like a block quote. Quotation marks are not used and the poem is written exactly as it is in the source. Also note that each line is indented and the section is double spaced, with an in-text citation placed after the final punctuation of the quote.

For poetry quotes that are a single line, this should be treated like any other quote. For example:

In his poem Annabel Lee, Poe writes "But we loved with a love that was more than love--," (1849).

Notice that the in-text citation is placed before the final punctuation and the citation only includes the date since the author (Poe) has already been mentioned.

If the poetry quote contains two lines, treat it like any other quote but include a slash mark (/) where the line breaks in the original source. For example:

The author writes, "But we loved with a love that was more than love--/I and my Annabel Lee--,"(Poe, 1849).

Reference page citation

If you found the poem in an anthology, include the poet's name, anthology publication year, poem title, editors' names, anthology name in italics, page numbers, publishing city and publisher name in the following format:

Eliot, T.S. (1970). Journey of the magi. In A. Allison and H. Barrows (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of Poetry (Third Edition) (pp. 1012-1013). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

If you found the poem on the Web, include the poet's name, year of publication, poem title, retrieval date and web address in the following format:

Poe, E., A. (1849). Annabel Lee. Retrieved, November 30, 2019, from https://poestories.com/read/annabellee

Published by the Modern Language Association (MLA), the MLA style is often used for English studies, modern languages and literatures, literary criticism, and media studies.

For an in-text citation of a poem, MLA requires that you add parentheses to the end of the quote and include the last name of the author. However, this is where the similarity to APA style ends. After stating the name of the author, you'll need to include a comma followed by line numbers of the poem quotes. If there are no line numbers in the text, include the page number where the poem was found. Note that if you go this route, there is no comma in between the author's last name and the page number.

Coveted her and me. (Poe, lines 1-4)

As with APA style, for poetry quotes that are a single line, this should be treated like any other quote. For example:

In his poem Annabel Lee, Poe writes "But we loved with a love that was more than love--," (line 1).

Notice that the in-text citation is placed before the final punctuation and the citation only includes the line number since the author (Poe) has already been mentioned.

The author writes, "But we loved with a love that was more than love--/I and my Annabel Lee--,"(Poe, lines 3-4).

For the reference page or works cited page, include the poet's name, the name of the poem in quotation marks, anthology name, names of editors, publishing company, date of publication, and page number where the poem is found. Here's an example:

Poe, Edgar Allan. "Annabelle Lee." The Norton Anthology of Poetry, edited by A. Allison and H. Barrows, W.W. Norton & Company, 1970, p. 697.

If you found the poem on a website, include the author's last name, author's first name, name of the poem in quotation marks, the name of the website, the website's URL, and the date it was accessed. Here's an example:

Poe, Edgar Allan. "Annabel Lee." Poe Stories, https://poestories.com/read/annabellee. Accessed November 30, 2019.

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Explore the beauty of poetry – discover the poet within

How To Quote Lines Of Poetry In An Essay

Understanding the Basics of Quoting Poetry

When it comes to quoting a line of poetry in an essay, understanding the basics is key. Quoting a line of poetry can help bring additional insight into an argument and provide a unique perspective to the topic. Although it is relatively easy to quote a line of poetry, there are several important rules to consider depending on the style guide used.

The American Psychological Association (APA) or Modern Language Association (MLA) are the two most commonly accepted styles in academic writing. When quoting from a poem, ensure the line or lines of the poem are included with quotation marks as well as the page number in parenthesis. Without the page number, the reader will not be able to easily find the exact source that was quoted.

Researching the Line of Poetry

Researching the line of poetry is essential prior to including it in an essay. Most times, the message or meaning of the poem is the most important factor to consider. Select a line of poetry that best supports the point being made in the essay and avoid lines that are too abstract or too literal that could cause the reader to lose focus.

It is also important to look at meter and cadence when selecting a line of poetry. For instance, if citing a line of iambic pentameter, make sure each word adheres to that meter. Additionally, if citing a line of enjambment, the surrounding lines should also be considered as they contribute to a greater understanding of the poem.

Understand the Effect of the Quote

When the selected line of poetry is appropriate to the essay, it can be quite effective. When used correctly, a well-placed quote can add emphasis to a point being made. Be aware, however, that although the quote is from a poem, it should be incorporated in the essay in a way that it is still recognized as being from a poem. This can be difficult to do, but can be done by retaining certain poetic elements.

Things to consider are the imagery and figurative language that is often used in poetry. Maintaining these elements alongside quoted lines of poetry can add depth and additional insight to an argument. Alternatively, omitting the imagery and figurative language when quoting can change the meaning of the poem for the reader and is not recommended.

Following MLA Style Guide

When quoting poetry, consistent formatting is important. Following the MLA Style Guide is especially important to the overall success of the quote. According to the MLA Style Guide, the line of poetry should be included within quotation marks. The line number should be included directly after the quote in parenthesis. This makes it easier for readers to locate the exact source of the quote.

An example of correctly formatting a quote according to the MLA Style Guide can be seen below:

“To be, or not to be, that is the question” (3.1.55).

In this example, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” is the quote and (3.1.55) is indicating the line and act number in the play that it came from.

APA Style Guide on Quoting Poetry

The APA Style Guide, like MLA, also handles quoting from a poem with the same basic principle. The line of poetry should be included in quotation marks and with parenthesis indicating the line number of the source. For books, the page number should be included as well.

An example of correctly formatting a quote according to the APA Style Guide can be seen below:

“To be, or not to be, that is the question” (3.1.55, p. 100).

In this example, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” is the quote, (3.1.55) is indicating the line and act number in the play that it came from, and (p.100) is the page number in the book the play was found.

Quoting Lines of Poetry in Context

Quoting lines of poetry in an essay is not as difficult as it may sound. Once the basics have been understood thoroughly, it is possible to accurately reference a line of poetry. When quoting a line of poetry, ensuring it is well researched and properly attributed depends largely on the style guide used. Following the MLA and APA Style Guides is integral for accurately quoting a line of poetry.

Considering Other Factors

In addition to researching and citing lines of poetry correctly, it is important to consider the effect the quote has on the essay. Selecting a line that is too abstract can cause the reader to lose focus. Alternatively, selecting a line that is too literal can cause the reader to become bored.

Getting the appropriate meter and cadence for the line of poetry is also important. If not adhered to, the quote can be distorted and its intended meaning lost. Being mindful of the context of poetry when quoting is an essential step in writing an engaging essay.

Selecting the Right Line of Poetry

Selecting the right line of poetry to quote can be difficult. To ensure the most appropriate line of poetry is used,consider the main message of the poem and the effect the quote may have on the essay. Additionally, if not correctly formatted, the quote may be completely unrecognizable.

Make sure the correct style guide is used and research the line of poetry before citing it. Consider the context of the poem, pay attention to meter and cadence, and maintain the figurative language in the quote. These steps, combined with understanding the basics, help lead to an effective line of poetry.

Proofreading for Accuracy

Proofreading for accuracy is an important step when quoting lines of poetry in an essay. It is best to read the essay aloud and with a trusted mentor or classmate when possible. This can help identify any errors made related to quoting the line of poetry, or if it is a suitable selection for the essay. Inappropriate meter and cadence, incorrect formatting or mistakes made in the research can all be identified this way.

Considering Multiple Perspectives

When quoting lines of poetry in an essay, taking into account multiple opinions is important. Reading critiques and understanding the implications of each quote can provide a deeper understanding to the poem, the essay, and the argument being made. Taking the time to hear out the perspectives of others can be key when trying to decide which quote will be most effective.

Adding Emotional Triggers

When quoting lines of poetry, it can be useful to include emotional triggers. Triggers can include allusions, metaphors, and imagery. Appropriately adding these triggers can evoke emotion in the reader that helps bring the argument of the essay to life. Additionally, when referencing the poem, contextual information can be included to help guide the reader.

Minnie Walters

Minnie Walters is a passionate writer and lover of poetry. She has a deep knowledge and appreciation for the work of famous poets such as William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and many more. She hopes you will also fall in love with poetry!

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How to Cite a Poem in Harvard Referencing

4-minute read

• 30th August 2020

If you’re writing about poetry in an essay, knowing how to reference a poem is vital. But how does this work? In this post, we explain how to cite a poem in Harvard referencing , including both in the text and in the reference list.

‘Harvard referencing’ is another name for parenthetical author–date referencing . This might sound technical, but all it means in practice is that you cite sources by giving the author’s name and a year of publication in brackets. We could cite a poem like this, for instance:

‘The Fly’ is notable for its unusual choice of subject (Blake, 1794).

Here, we’re citing ‘The Fly’ by William Blake using its original publication date. We would then give full source details in the reference list .

Quoting Poetry

Quoting poetry can be a little different to quoting prose in two respects:

• The kind of pinpoint citation you include.
• How you present quoted poetry on the page.

In terms of pinpoint citations, you may want to use line numbers rather than page numbers, especially if the version you’re quoting includes them.

In terms of presentation, meanwhile, if you’re quoting a single line from a poem, you would quote it like you would any other source:

Donne (1633, line 3) writes, ‘It sucked me first, and now sucks thee’.

But for two or three lines, you will also need to use a forward slash to mark the line breaks. For example:

The poem begins ‘Mark but this flea, and mark in this,/How little that which thou deniest me is’ (Donne, 1633, lines 1-2).

And for longer passages, you should set the poem out as it is in the source:

In the final stanza, Donne (1633, lines 18-22) writes:

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Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail, in blood of innocence? Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it sucked from thee?

This helps to preserve the flow of the poem you are quoting.

Poems in a Harvard Reference List

The correct format for a poem in a Harvard reference list depends on where you found it. The three most common formats are as follows:

• For a poem published as a standalone book , reference it as a book .
• If the poem is part of a collection or anthology of work by various poets, reference it as a chapter from an edited book .
• For a poem found online , reference it as a page from a website .

You can see examples of Harvard-style references for a few poems below:

Blake, W. (1794) ‘The Fly’, Poets.org [Online]. Available at https://poets.org/poem/fly (Accessed 17 July 2020).

Donne, J. (1633) ‘The Flea’, in Ferguson, M. W., Salter, M. J. and Stallworthy, J. (eds) The Norton Anthology of Poetry , New York, W.W. Norton (this edition 1996), p. 12.

Eliot, T. S. (1922) The Wasteland , London, Faber & Faber (this edition 2019).

Note that, where relevant, we’ve included the date of the edition (or the anthology in which a poem is reproduced) as well as the original date of publication. This is to help the reader find the version you’ve used.

Harvard Variations and Proofreading

For this post, we use a version of Harvard referencing based on the Open University guide [PDF] . However, the exact rules for citing a poem in Harvard referencing may depend on the version of the system you’re using, so make sure to check your style guide if you have one.

And if you want to be extra sure your written work is error free, including your referencing, it pays to have it proofread! Why not submit a free sample document today and find out how our expert editors can help you ensure clarity and consistency in your writing?

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How to Show a Line Break in a Poem Using MLA Format

If you are writing an essay that analyzes or discusses a poem, you will most often need to use Modern Language Association format for quoting the poem. The type of formatting for the quotation and line breaks, however, depends on the amount of text you use. These guidelines, found in the 7th edition of the MLA handbook, contain all the information you need to format line breaks in a poem.

Fewer than Three Lines

If a poem quotation contains less than three lines, type the text directly into the essay. For more than one line, mark the line breaks by putting a slash between each line, with a space both before and after the slash. For example, the lines "The window square / Whitens and swallows its dull stars" are from Sylvia Plath's "Morning Song."

Three Lines or More

Quotations of three lines or more should be put into block quotation format, separated from your essay by a hard return, indented one inch from the left margin and double-spaced. The line breaks in this quotation should be kept just like those in the original, or as close to their format as possible.

• Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting Quotations
• PSCC Library Study Guides: Citing Poetry in the Text of Your Paper

Gale Marie Thompson's work has been published in "Denver Quarterly," "Los Angeles Review" and "Best New Poets 2012." Thompson holds a BA in English and creative writing from the College of Charleston, a MFA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and is working on a PhD at the University of Georgia.

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How to Cite a Poem in Chicago Footnote Referencing

4-minute read

• 17th March 2020

If you’re studying literature, there’s a good chance you’ll write about poetry in your work . But how do you cite a poem? Here, we’ll look at how to format the footnote citation and reference list entry for a poem in Chicago referencing.

Footnote Citations for Poems

Chicago footnote referencing, as set out in the Chicago Manual of Style , uses superscript numbers in text (e.g., 1 ,  2 ,  3 ) that point to a footnote citation. What that footnote citation looks like depends on where you found the poem:

• For a poem published as a standalone book or in an anthology with a single author, you would use the standard book format .
• If a poem was published in a periodical, you would use the magazine/newspaper format or the journal article format (for periodicals with volume and issue numbers).
• For poems published as part of an anthology or collection with several authors, you would cite it as a chapter from an edited book.
• For poems found online, cite them as a page on a website.

The two most common formats are probably the edited book and website formats. We will look at these in more detail below.

Citing a Poem from an Edited Book

If a poem is from an edited book, such as an anthology , the footnote format is:

n. Author name, “Title of poem,” in Book , ed. Editor(s) name (City: Publisher, Year of Publication), page number(s).

In practice, then, we would cite a poem from an edited book as follows:

1. Frank O’Hara, “Meditations in an Emergency,” in The Poetry of Crisis, ed. Donald Allen (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1995), 197–198.

And to cite the same poem later in the document, you can use a shortened footnote format (i.e., either just the author’s surname for consecutive citations or the author’s name and the title for non-consecutive citations).

Citing a Poem from a Website

If you found a poem on a website, the footnote citation would look like this:

n. Author name, “Title of poem,” Publishing Organization or Name of Website, publication/last modified/accessed date, URL.

If the website provides a publication or modification date, then use this in the footnote. Otherwise, you can include a date of access instead:

2. Anne Carson, “The Glass Essay,” Poetry Foundation, accessed January 29, 2020. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48636/the-glass-essay.

As above, you can use a shortened footnote format for repeat citations.

Quoting a Poem in Chicago Referencing

When you quote a poem in Chicago referencing, you can also give line or stanza numbers after the page numbers in a citation. For instance, if we quoted lines 14 and 15 of a poem, we would cite it like this:

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3. Frank O’Hara, “Meditations in an Emergency,” in The Poetry of Crisis, ed. Donald Allen (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1995), 197–198, lines 14–15.

To quote whole stanzas, moreover, use “st.” instead of “lines.”

Poems in a Chicago Reference List: Edited Book

When it comes to creating the reference list entry for a poem, the format again depends on where the poem is published. This will be similar to the first footnote citation, except you should give the author’s surname first.

Here, for example, we have the format for a poem from an edited book:

Author Surname, First Name. “Title of Poem.” In Book , edited by Editor(s) name, page number(s). City: Publisher, Year of Publication.

As you can see, we also replace “ed.” with “edited by,” move the page number in front of the publication information, and the punctuation is different.

The bibliography entry for the poem from the anthology cited above would be:

O’Hara, Frank. “Meditations in an Emergency,” in The Poetry of Crisis, edited by Donald Allen, 197–198. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1995.

Poems in a Chicago Reference List: Online

For a poem published online, the format is as follows:

Author Surname, First Name. “Title of Page.” Publishing Organization or Name of Website. Publication/last modified/accessed date. URL.

The poem from the website above would thus look like this:

Carson, Anne. “The Glass Essay.” Poetry Foundation. Accessed January 29, 2020. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48636/the-glass-essay.

So, whether the poem you’re citing is online or from an anthology, you can now cite it in Chicago footnote referencing. And if you’d like an expert to check your references, why not upload a document for proofreading ?

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50 Ways to End a Poem

Emily Skaja Has Some Recommendations for Making a Strong Exit

This first appeared in Lit Hub’s  Craft of Writing  newsletter— sign up here .

When T.S. Eliot wrote, “April is the cruelest month,” he was not talking about trying and failing to meet the 30 poems in 30 days National Poetry Month challenge. But you could be forgiven for repeating this phrase ominously to yourself as you start to lose your stride around day 6, staring into your Notes app as you try to decipher what “death as a wall of cornflakes!!!” meant to the 3 AM self who urgently transcribed this line straight from the muse.

As National Poetry Month challenges go, I recommend following Taylor Byas, who publishes a calendar of formal challenges every April. If 30 poems in 30 days still sounds a little daunting, that’s because it is. But to quote Karyna McGlynn in her craft essay from Marbles on the Floor , “You LIKE writing poems, remember??”

As a teacher, I want my students to appreciate that you can find inspiration for a poem anywhere, but giving yourself a few obstacles to work around will help you write this ONE poem rather than every conceivable poem there is. That’s why I created the Poetry Prompt Generator , an online resource for poets that randomizes potential features for a poem. Using a prompt—even if you stray from it—is a great way to kickstart a poem. But how do you finish a poem, especially a problem poem that needs something you can’t yet see?

Ending a poem was something of a mystery to me as an MFA student. My poetic instincts, whatever they were, could not be relied upon to deliver solid gold, and this was distressing to me. I am a Gemini and my rising sign is Scorpio, so I volunteer this as context for my appetite for sustained intensity in poetry. To my dismay, however, I would often start a poem strong and then just peter out at the end, as if awkwardly backing offstage. I remember my former MFA professor Marianne Boruch crossing out the ends of several of my poems and telling me in workshop that I’d overshot my landing. “This part down here is just tacked on, like ‘P.S., Don’t forget the mayonnaise,’” she said.

I became curious about all the possible ways to end a poem. What is the right ending for this particular poem, and how will I know it when I see it? In Adrienne Rich’s tradition of revision as “re-seeing,” I invite the poets I teach to try out as many alternate variations of a poem as possible, to think of revision not as correction but as a remix, a companion to the original.

Presumably, just as there are infinite ways to start a poem, there are infinite ways to finish it and get the hell out of dodge.

These 50 are just the start.

1. End on an image (the classic choice)

2. Use a two-part ending: set yourself up in one line and then kick the door in with the other

3. End with a question, like Hayden : What did I know, what did I know / of love’s austere and lonely offices?

4. End with a dramatic shift in dynamics. Move from run-on to fragment, from concrete to abstract. Turn the volume knob. Introduce yourself to the other margin. Disturb your punctuation. Get breathless or let more air into the poem

5. End with a punchline

6. End with epiphanic closure—suddenly now you see it, lightning strikes the tower of the self, etc.

7. Name something that previously felt difficult to name; call it up out of the darkness

8. End by going back to the beginning (circle back to an image, replicate your syntax, repeat a thesis, return to the start of the story)

9. Leave something out, end mysteriously, or give a little hint and invite the reader to figure it out

10. Find what you said you were looking for, say you’ll keep looking, or announce that you’ve given up looking

11. End with a remix, like the envoi of a sestina —condense and reconfigure your key ideas in a new order

12. End with a reversal: invert the story, flip the power ratio, change the point of view, or literally reverse the poem’s order from the bottom up

13. End with a prophecy or by fulfilling a prophecy

14. Write two endings and let the reader pick their favorite

15. Use a refrain—like the pantoum or duplex , begin and end with the same line

16. End with a non sequitur and make your reader really wonder about you

17. Cut yourself off—perhaps you’ve already written the real ending and it’s a few lines up

18. End with a pattern of three, which makes everything sound lyrical and profound (looking at you, Bob Hass : blackberry, blackberry, blackberry)

19. End in the style of a cento : borrow (but also cite) lines by other poets arranged in a new order

20. Distill your imagery into its essential parts and close out the poem in the compressed style of haiku

21. End with a litany or prayer

22. In a tribute to Márquez , have the last line of the poem carried away by ants

23. Take a look at your first and last lines—are they in the right places? Is your end really your beginning and your beginning really your end (not to get too philosophical or too # Semisonic )?

24. End in the style of a ghazal : refer to yourself by name and end with a patterned rhyme and refrain

25. Try a Hercule Poirot ending: gather all the suspects in the drawing room & rule them out one by one until the least likely ending is left

26. Change the direction of the poem’s gesture—if it’s an internal kind of poem, then gesture outward at the world, or vice versa: go introspective at the end

27. Summarize what has come before, “And so…” or “In short…” or “In other words” or “I said what I said”

28. Change your tone—for example, by making fun of something you may have taken very seriously until now

29. Write an imitation of The Monster at the End of This Book and, like Grover, beg your reader to stop turning pages; promise them they don’t want to know how this ends

30. Let AI, dice, or the n+7 method decide how to end your poem

31. Go ekphrastic —end with the description of a work of art

32. End with the revelation of an important secret

33. End with a pithy piece of wisdom or even (borrowing from Shakespeare) with a smug little proverb in a rhyming couplet

34. Outsource your metaphors and involve dreams, fairy tales, fables, or myths

35. End with an erasure of your own words

36. “Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way”

37. Shape your poem like a monologue in a Shonda Rimes show: first state your metaphor, then fully explain it, then repeat it again vehemently while crying

38. End with existential dread, death, the sun swallowing the earth, other cheerful topics

39. End with a second turn—surprise! Your reader thought they knew where this was going

40. End with rebirth, like Plath’s bees who “ taste the spring ”

41. Disagree with your own conclusions, change your mind, refute what has come before, reject your epiphany

42. Be like Rilke and suddenly confront your reader with “You must change your life”

43. Argue with someone: yourself, someone in the poem already, a new person, a famous person, a secret person, a loved one, a critic, the reader, the world, God, the moon, history

44. Issue an elaborately detailed thousand-year curse upon your enemies

45. Undermine yourself, go Prufrock and say that wasn’t what you meant at all

46. If the poem has been primarily narrative in mode (scene, character, plot, dialogue), end with a lyric strategy (repetition, music, imagery, figurative language)

47. Suggest that your lawyer has redacted your real ending to protect you from going to jail

48. If the poem has been sure of itself up until this point, concede the limits of the speaker and switch it up by introducing the unknown, the unanswerable question or ongoing worry

49. If the poem has been working in unanswerable worries already, switch it up by making the speaker more certain of some insight

50. Refuse to end, resist closure, tell your reader it’s a lifelong poem project and threaten that you’ll see them around

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Can Poetry Make a Difference in Our Lives and in the World?

April is National Poetry Month. What role does poetry play in your life?

By Natalie Proulx

How important is poetry in your life? Do you read or write it? Do you ever turn to poems when you are feeling lost or overwhelmed? When you need comfort or direction?

Do you think poetry has the power to make a difference — in our individual lives and in the world?

In the guest essay “ How to Breathe With the Trees, ” Margaret Renkl writes about Ada Limón, who is serving her second term as poet laureate of the United States. Ms. Renkl says that in a new poetry anthology, Ms. Limón makes a case for poetry being able to heal us and the earth itself:

April is National Poetry Month, and it strikes me that no one is better positioned than Ms. Limón to convince Americans to leave off their quarrels and worries, at least for a time, and surrender to the language of poetry. That’s as much because of her public presence as because of her public role as the country’s poet in chief. When Ada Limón tells you that poetry will make you feel better, you believe her. In her nearly weekly travels as poet laureate, Ms. Limón has had a lot of practice delivering this message. “Every time I’m around a group of people, the word that keeps coming up is ‘overwhelmed,’” she said. “It’s so meaningful to lean on poetry right now because it does make you slow down. It does make you breathe.” A poem is built of rests. Each line break, each stanza break and each caesura represents a pause, and in that pause there is room to take a breath. To ponder. To sit, for once in our lives, with mystery. If we can’t find a way to slow down on our own, to take a breath, poems can teach us how. But Ms. Limón isn’t merely an ambassador for how poetry can heal us . She also makes a subtle but powerful case for how poetry can heal the earth itself. At this time of crisis, when worry governs our days, she wants us to look up from our screens and consider our own connection to the earth. To remember how to breathe by spending some time with the trees that breathe with us.

Students, read the entire essay and then tell us:

Does poetry play a role in your life? If so, when do you turn to it most, whether that means reading it, writing it or both? Why? What effect does it have on you?

What do you think about Ms. Limón’s idea that poetry can heal us and the earth? To what extent can poetry make a difference in our lives? What about in our relationship to the earth? Or to the world at large?

Do you think poetry gets the respect and attention it deserves? Why do you think some people might be turned off or intimidated by poetry? How important do you think it is for young people to read and learn about this art form?

Tell us about one of your favorite poems. What thoughts, memories or feelings does it evoke? What does it mean to you?

If you’re not a reader or writer of poetry, is there another form of art or creative expression that you turn to when you’re feeling overwhelmed or lost? If so, what is it and how does it help you? Have you seen it make a difference in the world?

Bonus: Try your hand at the prompt Ms. Limón gave to writers in “You Are Here,” her new anthology of nature poems: Write a poem that “speaks back to the natural world, whatever that means to you.” If you would like, share your poem in the comments.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Natalie Proulx joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2017 after working as an English language arts teacher and curriculum writer. More about Natalie Proulx