Best Tips for Citing Poems

Citing poems is really important when you’re writing for school or literature because it shows respect to the people who wrote the poems originally. It’s like saying “thank you” to them for their work. It also shows that you’re being honest and not copying someone else’s work.

Best Tips for Citing Poems

This guide will help you understand how to cite poems correctly. It covers all sorts of poems, from old classics to modern ones, and tells you how to do it properly according to different citation styles like MLA, APA, and Chicago Style.

With so much information available online today, it can be tricky to cite poems correctly. Sometimes there aren’t page numbers or the poems are in a weird format. This guide will help you deal with those challenges and give you clear instructions on how to cite poems from different places, like books, websites, and online collections.

Understanding Poetry Citations

Different Citation Styles

When it comes to citing poems, it’s crucial to adhere to the specific guidelines of the chosen citation style. Here, we’ll delve into three commonly utilized citation styles and highlight their key disparities:

MLA (Modern Language Association):

MLA style finds its primary application in literature, humanities, and language studies. In the MLA format, your citation will typically comprise the poet’s name, the title of the poem (enclosed in quotation marks), the title of the book or anthology (italicized), the editor’s name (if applicable), the publisher, the year of publication, and the page numbers (if accessible).

APA (American Psychological Association):

Primarily employed in social sciences, APA style can also extend to literature essays and poetry within specific academic contexts. When citing poems in APA format, you’ll include the poet’s name, the publication year of the anthology or collection, the title of the poem (rendered in sentence case), the title of the book or anthology (italicized), the page numbers (if available), the publisher, and the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if the poem is accessed online.

Chicago Style:

Chicago style is prevalent in history, arts, and various other disciplines. For poetry citations, the preferred format often revolves around the notes and bibliography system. Within this framework, your citation will encompass the poet’s name, the poem title (either enclosed in quotation marks or italicized), the title of the book or anthology (italicized), the editor’s name (if relevant), publication details, and the page numbers (if applicable).

Specific Requirements for Poetry Citations

When you’re citing poetry, there are some specific things you need to pay attention to:

Formatting Titles:

The way you write the title of the poem depends on the citation style you’re using. In MLA and Chicago styles, you put the poem title in quotation marks. But in APA style, you write it in italics and treat it like a regular sentence.

Line Numbers:

In some citation styles, like MLA, you have to include the line numbers of the poem if it doesn’t have regular page numbers. This helps readers find the exact part you’re referring to.

Anthologies and Collections:

If the poem is part of a book of poems or an anthology, you need to mention both the poem’s title and the title of the book or anthology. You also have to include when and where the book was published.

Online Sources:

When you’re citing a poem you found online, you need to include the web address or DOI (Digital Object Identifier). And if you’re using APA style, you have to mention when you accessed the poem online. This helps people find the poem if they want to look it up themselves.

Elements to Include in a Poetry Citation

When you’re citing a poem, regardless of which citation style you’re using, it’s important to include certain key elements to provide proper credit and enable readers to locate the poem you’re referencing. Here’s a detailed look at what should be included in a comprehensive poetry citation:

Author’s Name:

Begin your citation with the full name of the poet. This ensures that credit is given to the person who wrote the poem. If the poet is commonly known by a pseudonym or nickname, you can use that instead.

Title of the Poem:

Next, include the title of the specific poem you’re citing. This allows readers to identify which poem you’re referring to within the poet’s body of work. In most citation styles, such as MLA or APA, the poem title is typically enclosed in either quotation marks or italics to distinguish it from other text.

Title of the Book or Anthology:

If the poem is part of a larger collection, such as an anthology or a book of poetry, it’s important to include the title of that collection. This provides context for the poem and helps readers locate it within the broader publication.

Editor’s Name (if applicable):

For anthology citations, where multiple poems are compiled by different authors, it’s common to include the name of the editor or compiler who put the collection together. This acknowledges their role in curating the anthology.

Publication Information:

Include details about the publication of the book or anthology containing the poem. This typically includes the publisher’s name, the year of publication, and the city where it was published. Providing this information helps readers locate the publication if they want to find the poem themselves.

Page Numbers or Line Numbers:

If available, include the page numbers or line numbers of the poem within the book or anthology. This allows readers to pinpoint the exact location of the poem within the larger text. In some citation styles, such as MLA, line numbers may be necessary if the poem does not have traditional page numbers.

By including all of these elements in your poetry citation, you ensure that proper credit is given to the poet, the poem is accurately identified, and readers have the necessary information to locate and reference the poem themselves.

MLA Style Poetry Citation

Guidelines for Formatting

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is often used for citing sources in subjects like literature, humanities, and language studies. Here’s how to cite poems in MLA format:

Font and Size:

Make sure to use a clear font like Times New Roman, size 12.

Page Margins:

Keep 1-inch margins all around your document.

Title:

Put a centered “Works Cited” heading on the page where you list your citations.

Alphabetical Order:

Arrange your citations on the Works Cited page in alphabetical order based on the poet’s last name.

Hanging Indents:

Indent each entry on the Works Cited page, with the first line flush left and subsequent lines indented.

In-Text Citation for a Single Poem

When you mention a single poem in your text, use the poet’s last name and the line numbers if you have them. If there are no line numbers, you can use the poem’s title instead.

Example:

(Wordsworth 7-12) [If you have line numbers]

(Frost “The Road Not Taken”) [If there are no line numbers]

In-Text Citation for Multiple Poems from the Same Poet

If you’re citing multiple poems by the same poet, you can differentiate them by using the poem’s title (in quotes) or a shortened version of the title. If you’re quoting directly, include the line numbers.

Example:

(Wordsworth, “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey” 22-30)

(Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” lines 5-8)

Works Cited Page Entry for a Single Poem

When citing a single poem on your Works Cited page, include:

• Poet’s Name: Last name followed by the first name.
• Poem Title: In quotation marks.
• Title of the Book or Collection: Italicized or underlined.
• Editor’s Name (if applicable): Mentioned after the book or collection title.
• Publication Information: Includes the publisher, publication year, and medium.

Example:

Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” The Collected Poems of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem, Holt, 1991, pp. 104-105.

Works Cited Page Entry for a Poem in an Anthology

If you’re citing a poem from an anthology, add:

• Poem Author: Last name first, then the first name.
• Poem Title: In quotation marks.
• Title of the Anthology: Italicized or underlined.
• Editor’s Name: Mentioned after the anthology title.
• Page Range: Provide the page numbers of the poem.
• Publication Information: Includes the publisher, publication year, and medium.

Eliot, T.S. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry, edited by Jahan Ramazani et al., Norton, 2003, pp. 154-159.

Chicago Style Poetry Citation

Formatting Guidelines

Chicago style offers two main ways to cite sources: the notes and bibliography system (used in literature, arts, and history) and the author-date system (used in social sciences). For citing poetry, the notes and bibliography system is usually used. Follow these steps for Chicago-style citations:

Font and Size:

Make sure to use a clear font like Times New Roman, size 12.

Page Margins:

Keep 1-inch margins all around your document.

Title:

Put a centered “Bibliography” heading on the page where you list your citations.

Footnotes/Endnotes:

In your text, use small raised numbers to show where you got your information. Then, at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of your paper (endnotes), write out the full citation.

Footnote/Endnote Citation for a Single Poem

When you’re talking about one poem in Chicago style, use a raised number in your text. Then, in a footnote or endnote, write the poet’s name, the poem title (in quotation marks or italics), the title of the book or anthology (in italics), and the publication information.

Example:

Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken,” in The Collected Poems of Robert Frost (New York: Holt, 1991), 104-105.

Footnote/Endnote Citation for Multiple Poems from the Same Poet

To cite more than one poem by the same poet, include their name, the poem title (in quotation marks or italics), the book or anthology title (in italics), and the page numbers for each poem in the footnote or endnote.

Example:

Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken,” in The Collected Poems of Robert Frost (New York: Holt, 1991), 104.

Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” in The Collected Poems of Robert Frost (New York: Holt, 1991), 108-109.

Bibliography Entry for a Single Poem

In the bibliography, include:

• Poet’s Name: Last name followed by the first name.
• Poem Title: In quotation marks or italics.
• Title of the Book or Collection: Italicized or underlined.
• Publication Information: Includes the publisher, publication year, and location.

Example:

Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” In The Collected Poems of Robert Frost, 104-105. New York: Holt, 1991.

Bibliography Entry for a Poem in an Anthology

When citing a poem from an anthology, add:

• Poem Author: Last name followed by the first name.
• Poem Title: In quotation marks or italics.
• Title of the Anthology: Italicized or underlined.
• Editor’s Name: Mentioned after the anthology title, with “In” and “edited by.”
• Page Range: Provide the page numbers of the poem within the anthology.
• Publication Information: Includes the publisher, publication year, and location.

Example:

Eliot, T. S. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” In The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry, edited by Jahan Ramazani et al., 154-159. Norton, 2003.

Tips for Citing Poems Effectively

Citing poems can get tricky, especially with things like line numbers, missing info, or translations. Here are some easy tips to help you get it right:

Using Line Numbers or Page Numbers in Citations

For MLA Style:

If the poem doesn’t have page numbers, use line numbers instead, especially for quoting directly. If it’s a long poem, you can mention a range of lines.

Example:

(Dickinson lines 3-5)

For APA and Chicago Styles:

If you’re citing from a book, use page numbers. If it’s in an anthology, say which pages the poem’s on.

Example (APA):

(Cummings, 1996, p. 45)

Dealing with Missing Information

Unknown Author:

If you don’t know who wrote the poem, just start with the title. When listing it in your Works Cited or References, put it in alphabetical order based on the first word of the title.

Example (MLA):

“The Raven.” The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, edited by Edgar Smith, Penguin, 2006, pp. 89-91.

Missing Publication Date:

If you can’t find when the poem was published, use “n.d.” for “no date” in both your text and the bibliography or references.

Example (APA):

Blake, William. “The Tyger.” The Poems of William Blake, edited by W. H. Stevenson, n.d.

Handling Translations or Adaptations of Poems

Translations:

When talking about a translated poem, mention the translator’s name after the poem title, with “trans.” or “translated by” in brackets. If there are line numbers, include those too.

Example (Chicago):

Neruda, Pablo. “Oda al Tomate” (“Ode to the Tomato”). Translated by Robert Bly. In Neruda and Vallejo: Selected Poems, edited by Robert Bly, 28-29. Beacon Press, 1993.

Adaptations:

If you’re talking about a poem that’s been changed by someone else, still give credit to the original poet in your citation. Include both the original poet’s name and the new author’s.

Example:

Heaney, Seamus (after Beowulf). “Beowulf.” In Beowulf: A New Translation, 12-89. W.W. Norton, 1999.