The MLA poem citation guide is an essential resource for scholars and students who need to properly cite poetic works in their research papers and essays. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used in the humanities, including literature, language, and cultural studies. In this article, we will explore the MLA poem citation guide, providing a comprehensive overview of the rules and guidelines for citing poems in MLA style.
Introduction to MLA Poem Citation
When citing a poem in MLA style, it is essential to include the poet’s name, the title of the poem, the title of the collection or anthology, and the publication date. The citation should also include the page numbers where the poem can be found. The MLA poem citation guide provides specific guidelines for citing different types of poems, including single poems, collections of poems, and anthologies.
Citing a Single Poem
To cite a single poem, include the poet’s name, the title of the poem in title case, and the publication date. If the poem is published in a collection or anthology, include the title of the collection or anthology, and the page numbers where the poem can be found. For example:
Smith, John. "The Road Not Taken." 1916. The Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48248/the-road-not-taken.
Citing a Collection of Poems
To cite a collection of poems, include the poet’s name, the title of the collection in title case, and the publication date. If the collection is edited by someone other than the poet, include the editor’s name. For example:
Frost, Robert. New Hampshire. Henry Holt and Company, 1923.
Citing an Anthology of Poems
To cite an anthology of poems, include the title of the anthology in title case, the editor’s name, and the publication date. If the anthology includes poems by multiple poets, include the page numbers where the specific poem can be found. For example:
The Norton Anthology of Poetry. Edited by Margaret Ferguson, et al., W.W. Norton & Company, 2005, pp. 1234-1236.
| Type of Citation | Example |
|---|---|
| Single Poem | Smith, John. "The Road Not Taken." 1916. The Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48248/the-road-not-taken. |
| Collection of Poems | Frost, Robert. New Hampshire. Henry Holt and Company, 1923. |
| Anthology of Poems | The Norton Anthology of Poetry. Edited by Margaret Ferguson, et al., W.W. Norton & Company, 2005, pp. 1234-1236. |
In-Text Citations for Poems
In-text citations for poems are used to acknowledge the source of a quote or idea in the text. To cite a poem in the text, include the poet’s last name and the line numbers where the quote can be found. For example:
(Frost 12-15)
Citing a Poem with No Line Numbers
If a poem does not have line numbers, cite the poem by including the poet’s last name and the page numbers where the quote can be found. For example:
(Smith 23-24)
Citing a Poem with Multiple Authors
If a poem has multiple authors, cite the poem by including the last names of all the authors, separated by commas. For example:
(Frost, Eliot, and Pound 12-15)
- When citing a poem in MLA style, include the poet's name, the title of the poem, the title of the collection or anthology, and the publication date.
- Use in-text citations to acknowledge the source of a quote or idea in the text.
- If a poem does not have line numbers, cite the poem by including the poet's last name and the page numbers where the quote can be found.
How do I cite a poem in MLA style?
+To cite a poem in MLA style, include the poet’s name, the title of the poem, the title of the collection or anthology, and the publication date. The citation should also include the page numbers where the poem can be found.
What if the poem does not have line numbers?
+If a poem does not have line numbers, cite the poem by including the poet’s last name and the page numbers where the quote can be found.
How do I cite a poem with multiple authors?
+If a poem has multiple authors, cite the poem by including the last names of all the authors, separated by commas.
