Introduction
Citing a poem correctly is crucial for any academic or literary work. Whether you are writing an essay, research paper, or simply analyzing a poem, providing accurate citations is essential to give credit to the original author and to support your arguments. In this guide, we will explore the various citation styles and provide examples to help you cite poems effectively.
Citing a Poem in MLA Style
In-Text Citations
In MLA style, in-text citations are used to acknowledge the source of a direct quote or paraphrase within the body of your text. When citing a poem, include the author’s last name and the line numbers in parentheses. If the poem does not have line numbers, use the page number instead. Here are a few examples:
– Quoting a line from a poem with line numbers:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (Frost 1).
– Quoting multiple lines from a poem with line numbers:
As Robert Frost wrote in his famous poem:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both” (1-2).
– Quoting a poem without line numbers:
According to Robert Frost, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (23).
Works Cited Entry
In the Works Cited page, you will provide a full reference for the poem. The format for citing a poem in MLA style is as follows:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Poem.” Title of Book or Anthology, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Edition (if applicable), Publisher, Year, Page Range.
For example:
Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym, 8th ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2012, pp. 123-124.
Citing a Poem in APA Style
In-Text Citations
In APA style, in-text citations include the author’s last name and the year of publication. When citing a poem, include the line numbers for direct quotes. If the poem does not have line numbers, use the page number instead. Here are a few examples:
– Quoting a line from a poem with line numbers:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (Frost, 1916, p. 1, line 1).
– Quoting multiple lines from a poem with line numbers:
As Robert Frost wrote in his famous poem:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both” (Frost, 1916, p. 1, lines 1-2).
– Quoting a poem without line numbers:
According to Robert Frost, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (Frost, 1916, p. 23).
Reference List Entry
In the reference list, you will provide a full reference for the poem. The format for citing a poem in APA style is as follows:
Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of Poem. In Title of Book or Anthology (pp. Page Range). Publisher.
For example:
Frost, R. (1916). The Road Not Taken. In The Norton Anthology of American Literature (pp. 123-124). W. W. Norton & Company.
Citing a Poem in Chicago Style
Footnotes
In Chicago style, footnotes are used to cite sources. When citing a poem for the first time, use a footnote to provide the full reference. For subsequent citations, you can use a shortened version. Here are a few examples:
– First footnote citation:
^1 Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken,” in The Norton Anthology of American Literature, ed. Nina Baym, 8th ed. (W. W. Norton & Company, 2012), 123.
– Subsequent footnote citation:
^2 Frost, “The Road Not Taken,” 124.
Bibliography Entry
In the bibliography, you will provide a full reference for the poem. The format for citing a poem in Chicago style is as follows:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Poem.” In Title of Book or Anthology, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Page Range. Publisher, Year.
For example:
Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” In The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym, 123-124. W. W. Norton & Company, 2012.
Conclusion
Citing a poem correctly is essential for maintaining academic integrity and giving credit to the original author. By following the guidelines and examples provided in this guide, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and in accordance with the required citation style. Remember to always consult the specific guidelines provided by your instructor or the style manual for any additional requirements or variations.