Macbeth

General information about MLA and Shakespeare

• Italicize the titles of the plays – Macbeth (for the play), Macbeth (for the character)

• Use the author's last name in the in-text citation if you are only talking about ONE of the author's works (i.e. your paper is only discussing Mabeth)

In-text citations for the play itself - (Shakespeare 1.3.14-17) refers to Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 14 to 17 of Macbeth

• You may abbreviate the title of the play in the parenthetical citation (check with your teacher first) - only if you are speaking about more than one of the author's works in your paper...

  • Macbeth – Mac.

  • Hamlet – Ham.

• Do not use page numbers in parenthetical citation – always include (act.scene.lines)

  • Usually use Arabic numbers (1.5.4-5) or (2.1.110-13)

  • Some teachers still prefer Roman numerals (II.iv.4-6)

• Always mention the author’s name – either in the text or in the parenthetical citation.

  • If author’s name mentioned in the text, only put the page number in parentheses, otherwise (author’s last name #).

  • If there are no different sources between quotes – can use  (#)