To quote Romeo and Juliet, one must follow certain guidelines to ensure accuracy and clarity. Here’s a detailed explanation on how to properly quote from this famous play by William Shakespeare.
1. Quoting Dialogue:
When quoting dialogue from Romeo and Juliet, use the following format:
– Start the quote with the character’s name written in all capital letters, followed by a period.
– Indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin.
– Use double quotation marks around the text of the quote.
– Place the citation at the end of the quote, including the act, scene, and line numbers.
For example, if you want to quote the following lines from Act 2, Scene 2:
“But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”
The quote would be formatted as:
ROMEO.
“But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” (2.2.2-3)
2. Quoting Prose:
If you need to quote prose passages (non-dialogue) from the play, follow these guidelines:
– Indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin.
– Do not use quotation marks for prose passages.
– Include the citation at the end, providing the act, scene, and line numbers.
For example, if you want to quote the following lines from Act 1, Scene 1:
“Gregory, o’ my word, we’ll not carry coals.”
“for then we should be colliers.”
The quote would be formatted as:
SAMPSON.
Gregory, o’ my word, we’ll not carry coals.
ABRAHAM.
For then we should be colliers. (1.1.1-2)
3. Quoting Poetry:
When quoting poetry passages from Romeo and Juliet, follow these guidelines:
– Indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin.
– Use double quotation marks around the text of the quote.
– If the quote is longer than four lines, set it as a block quote by starting it on a new line and indenting it one inch from the left margin. Omit quotation marks for block quotes.
– Include the citation at the end, providing the act, scene, and line numbers.
For example, if you want to quote the famous balcony scene from Act 2, Scene 2:
“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.”
The quote would be formatted as:
JULIET.
“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” (2.2.33-36)
Remember to always include accurate act, scene, and line numbers to provide proper context and enable readers to locate the quote within the play.
Quoting from Romeo and Juliet requires attention to detail and adherence to these guidelines. By following these formatting rules, you can effectively incorporate quotes from this iconic play into your writing or analysis.