16 August,2023
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Citing poems is an essential practice in academic and literary contexts that allows writers to give proper credit to the original authors and sources of poetic works. When referencing poems, it not only acknowledges the creativity and efforts of poets but also demonstrates a writer’s credibility and adherence to academic integrity by avoiding plagiarism. Additionally, proper citation enables readers to locate and explore the cited poems, further enriching their understanding and analysis.
The purpose of this guide is to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly outline of how to cite poems accurately. From classic verse to contemporary masterpieces, this guide covers various types of poetic works and the corresponding citation formats, adhering to widely recognized citation styles such as MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), Chicago Style, etc.
In today’s digital age, information is readily accessible, but this ease of access can lead to improper citation practices. Students, academics, and writers often encounter challenges when attempting to cite poems due to the lack of page numbers, unconventional formats, or different editions of the same work. This guide will address these concerns and present clear guidelines on citing poems from different sources, including books, anthologies, websites, and digital repositories.
When citing poems, it is essential to follow the specific guidelines of the chosen citation style. Here are three commonly used styles and their key differences:
MLA (Modern Language Association):
MLA style is used in literature, humanities, and language studies. In MLA format, you will typically include the poet’s name, the title of the poem (in quotation marks), the title of the book or anthology (in italics), the editor’s name (if applicable), the publisher, the publication year, and the page numbers (if available).
APA (American Psychological Association):
APA style is primarily used in social sciences but can also be applied to literature essay and poetry in certain academic contexts. In APA format, you’ll include the poet’s name, the publication year of the anthology or collection, the title of the poem (in sentence case), the book or anthology title (in italics), the page numbers (if available), the publisher, and the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if the poem is accessed online.
Chicago Style:
Chicago style is commonly used in history, arts, and other disciplines. For poetry citations, the preferred format is often the notes and bibliography system. In this style, you’ll include the poet’s name, the poem title (in quotation marks or italics), the title of the book or anthology (in italics), the editor’s name (if applicable), the publication information, and the page numbers (if applicable).
When citing poems, there are several unique considerations to keep in mind:
Formatting Titles:
Poem titles are usually enclosed in quotation marks in MLA and Chicago styles, while APA style prefers sentence case and italics for the titles.
Line Numbers:
In some citation styles, you may need to include specific line numbers if the poem does not have traditional page numbers. This is especially common in MLA format.
Anthologies and Collections:
If the poem is part of an anthology or collection, you’ll need to provide both the poem’s title and the anthology’s title, along with the appropriate publication information.
Online Sources:
When citing poems found online, you’ll need to include the URL or DOI along with the retrieval date (if applicable), especially in APA style.
Regardless of the citation style, a complete poetry citation should include the following elements:
Author’s Name:
The poet’s full name or the name they are commonly known by.
Title of the Poem:
The title of the specific poem being cited, typically in quotation marks or italics.
Title of the Book or Anthology:
If the poem is part of a larger collection, include the title of that book or anthology.
Editor’s Name (if applicable):
For anthology citations, include the editor’s or compiler’s name.
Publication Information:
This includes the publisher’s name, the publication year, and the city of publication.
Page Numbers or Line Numbers:
If available, provide the page numbers or line numbers of the poem in the book or anthology.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is commonly used for citing sources in literature, humanities, and language studies. When citing poems in MLA format, follow these guidelines:
Font and Size:
Use a legible font (e.g., Times New Roman) in 12-point size.
Page Margins:
Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the document.
Title:
Create a centered “Works Cited” heading for the page where you list your citations.
Alphabetical Order:
Arrange citations on the Works Cited page alphabetically by the poet’s last name.
Hanging Indents:
Use a hanging indent for each entry on the Works Cited page, where the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented.
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When citing a single poem in your text, use the poet’s last name and the line numbers (if available). If there are no line numbers, you can use the poem title instead.
Example:
If you are citing multiple poems from the same poet, distinguish between them by using the poem’s title (in quotation marks) or a shortened version of the title. Include the line numbers for direct quotations.
Example:
The Works Cited page entry for a single poem includes the following elements:
Poet’s Name:
Last name followed by the first name.
Poem Title:
Enclosed in quotation marks.
Title of the Book or Collection:
Italicised or underlined (in handwritten work).
Editor’s Name (if applicable):
Mentioned after the book or collection title, preceded by “Edited by.”
Publication Information:
Includes the publisher, publication year, and medium (e.g., print).
Example:
Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” The Collected Poems of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem, Holt, 1991, pp. 104-105.
When citing a poem from an anthology, follow these additional guidelines:
Poem Author:
As with a single poem, list the poet’s name last name first, followed by the first name.
Poem Title:
Enclosed in quotation marks.
Title of the Anthology:
Italicized or underlined (in handwritten work).
Editor’s Name:
Mentioned after the anthology title, preceded by “Edited by.”
Page Range:
Provide the page numbers of the poem within the anthology.
Publication Information:
Include the publisher, publication year, and medium (e.g., print).
Example:
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.
APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used in the social sciences, but it can also be applied to literature and poetry in certain academic contexts. When citing poems in APA format, follow these guidelines:
Font and Size:
Use a legible font (e.g., Times New Roman) in 12-point size.
Page Margins:
Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the document.
Title:
Create a centred “References” heading for the page where you list your citations.
Alphabetical Order:
Arrange citations on the References page alphabetically by the poet’s last name.
Hanging Indents:
Use a hanging indent for each entry on the References page, where the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented.
In APA style, when citing a single poem in your text, include the poet’s last name and the publication year of the anthology or collection in parentheses. If the poem is available online and includes page or line numbers, include those as well.
Example:
If you are citing multiple poems from the same poet, distinguish between them by including the publication year of the anthology or collection, along with a letter after the year. The letter differentiates between the poems and is listed in alphabetical order, starting with “a.”
Example:
The Reference List entry for a single poem includes the following elements:
Poet’s Name:
Last name followed by the first initial.
Publication Year:
Enclosed in parentheses and followed by a period.
Poem Title:
In sentence case, without quotation marks or italics.
Title of the Book or Collection:
Italicized or underlined (in handwritten work).
Page Range or DOI (Digital Object Identifier):
Include the page range if the poem is from a printed source, or the DOI if accessed online.
Example:
Frost, R. (1991). The Road Not Taken. In E. C. Lathem (Ed.), The Collected Poems of Robert Frost (pp. 104-105). Holt.
When citing a poem from an anthology, follow these additional guidelines:
Poem Author:
As with a single poem, list the poet’s name last name first, followed by the first initial.
Poem Title:
In sentence case, without quotation marks or italics.
Title of the Anthology:
Italicised or underlined (in handwritten work).
Page Range or DOI (Digital Object Identifier):
Provide the page numbers of the poem within the anthology or the DOI if accessed online.
Editor’s Name:
Mentioned after the anthology title, followed by ” (Ed.)” or ” (Eds.)” in parentheses.
Example:
Eliot, T. S. (2003). The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. In J. Ramazani et al. (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry (pp. 154-159). Norton.
Chicago style offers two main citation systems: the notes and bibliography system (used in literature, arts, and history) and the author-date system (used in social sciences). For poetry citation, the notes and bibliography system is commonly employed. Follow these guidelines for Chicago-style citations:
Font and Size:
Use a legible font (e.g., Times New Roman) in 12-point size.
Page Margins:
Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the document.
Title:
Create a centred “Bibliography” heading for the page where you list your citations.
Footnotes/Endnotes:
Use superscript numbers to indicate citations in the text and provide full citations in corresponding footnotes or endnotes.
When citing a single poem in Chicago style, use a superscript number in the text, and provide the full citation in a footnote or endnote. The format for the footnote/endnote includes 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.
To cite multiple poems from the same poet in Chicago style, use the poet’s name, the poem title (in quotation marks or italics), the title of the book or anthology (in italics), and the page numbers for the specific poems. Include this information in the footnote or endnote corresponding to the superscript number in the text.
Example:
The bibliography entry for a single poem in Chicago style includes the following elements:
Poet’s Name:
Last name followed by the first name.
Poem Title:
In quotation marks or italics.
Title of the Book or Collection:
Italicised or underlined (in handwritten work).
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.
When citing a poem from an anthology in Chicago style, follow these additional guidelines:
Poem Author:
Last name followed by the first name.
Poem Title:
In quotation marks or italics.
Title of the Anthology:
Italicised or underlined (in handwritten work).
Editor’s Name:
Mentioned after the anthology title, preceded by “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.
Citing poetry from various sources can present unique challenges due to differences in formats, access, and publication. Here’s how to cite poetry from different sources:
When citing poems from print anthologies or collections, follow the citation guidelines for the specific citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago) mentioned earlier. Include the poet’s name, poem title (in quotation marks or italics), anthology or collection title (in italics), editor’s name (if applicable), publication information (publisher, publication year, and location), and page numbers.
Example (MLA):
Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” The Collected Poems of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem, Holt, 1991, pp. 104-105.
When citing poems from online sources, provide additional information about the URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) along with the retrieval date for APA and Chicago styles. If the poem does not have page numbers, use line numbers in MLA style for direct quotations.
Example (APA):
Eliot, T. S. (2003). The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. In J. Ramazani et al. (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry (pp. 154-159). Norton. DOI:xxxxxxxxx
When citing self-published or unpublished poems, include as much information as possible to assist readers in locating the work. Specify the poet’s name, the title of the poem (in quotation marks or italics), the medium of publication (e.g., manuscript, self-published book), and, if available, the year of composition or creation.
Example:
Smith, Jane. “Reflections.” Self-published manuscript, 2023.
When citing poems from audio or video recordings, provide details about the recording format (CD, DVD, online video, etc.), the poet’s name, the poem title (in quotation marks or italics), the recording title (in italics), the year of recording, and the name of the publisher or platform.
Example:
Angelou, Maya. “Still I Rise.” Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, 2015, Poetry Foundation. Online video.
Citing poems effectively can be challenging, especially when dealing with specific poetic elements, missing information, or translations. Here are some tips to ensure accurate and effective poetry citations:
Line Numbers (for MLA Style):
If the poem does not have traditional page numbers, use line numbers for direct quotations. If the poem is lengthy, you can indicate a range of lines in the citation.
Example:
(Dickinson lines 3-5)
Page Numbers (for APA and Chicago Styles):
Use page numbers when citing poems from print sources. If the poem is part of an anthology, provide the page range where the poem appears.
Example (APA):
(Cummings, 1996, p. 45)
Unknown Author:
If the author of the poem is unknown, start the citation with the poem title. In the Works Cited or References page, alphabetise the entry based on the first significant word of the poem 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 the publication date is unavailable, use “n.d.” (no date) in both in-text citations and the bibliography or references entry.
Example (APA):
Blake, William. “The Tyger.” The Poems of William Blake, edited by W. H. Stevenson, n.d.
Translations:
When citing translated poems, include the translator’s name after the poem title, followed by “trans.” or “translated by” in parentheses. If the poem has line numbers, include them as well.
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 are referencing an adaptation or reimagining of a poem by a different author, acknowledge the original poet in the citation. Include both the original poet’s name and the adapted poem’s author.
Example:
Heaney, Seamus (after Beowulf). “Beowulf.” In Beowulf: A New Translation, 12-89. W.W. Norton, 1999.
Properly citing poems is crucial to maintain academic integrity, avoid plagiarism, and provide accurate references for readers. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when citing poems:
Inconsistent Italics or Quotation Marks:
Be consistent with your use of italics or quotation marks for poem titles. Stick to the specific formatting guidelines of the chosen citation style.
Missing or Misplaced Punctuation:
Pay attention to commas, periods, and colons in the citation. These punctuation marks can affect the clarity and accuracy of the reference.
Improper Capitalisation:
Use correct capitalisation for the poem title and other essential elements in the citation. Some citation styles require a sentence case, while others use a title case.
Example (Incorrect MLA):
Frost, Robert. The road was not taken. The Collected Poems of Robert Frost, Edward Connery Lathem, Holt, 1991, pp. 104-105.
Missing Author’s Name:
Always include the poet’s name in the citation. If the author is unknown, use the poem title as the starting element.
Incomplete Publication Information:
Ensure that your citation includes the publisher’s name, publication year, and, if applicable, the location (city and/or country) of publication.
Example (Incomplete APA):
Eliot, T. S. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry.
Using Elements from Different Styles:
Avoid mixing elements from various citation styles within the same work. Stick to one consistent style throughout your paper or project.
Incorrect In-Text Citations:
Ensure that your in-text citations match the corresponding entries in the bibliography or references page.
Example (Mixing APA and MLA):
To reinforce the concepts discussed earlier, let’s look at sample citations in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles for different types of poems and sources:
Poem from a Print Anthology:
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.
Poem from an Online Source (No Page Numbers):
Dickinson, Emily. “Because I could not stop for Death.” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, www.poets.org/poem/because-i-could-not-stop-death.
Poem from a Print Anthology:
Frost, R. (1991). The Road Not Taken. In E. C. Lathem (Ed.), The Collected Poems of Robert Frost (pp. 104-105). Holt.
Poem from an Online Source (With DOI):
Neruda, P. (2004). Ode to a Beautiful Nude (S. Mitchell, Trans.). Poetry, 184(2), 107-108. DOI: 10.xxxxx
Poem from a Print Anthology:
Blake, William. “The Tyger.” In The Complete Poetry and Prose of William Blake, edited by David V. Erdman, 28-29. Anchor Books, 1988.
Poem from an Online Source (No Page Numbers):
Angelou, Maya. “Still I Rise.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46446/still-i-rise.
Remember that these are general examples and may need adjustments based on the specific details of the poems and sources you are citing. Always verify the accuracy of your citations and consult the relevant style guide for any unique situations or special cases.
Proper poetry citations are essential for several reasons:
Academic Integrity: Citing poems accurately demonstrates your commitment to academic integrity and the ethical use of sources in your work.
Avoiding Plagiarism: Proper citations give credit to the original poets and prevent unintentional plagiarism.
Providing Verification: Readers can use citations to locate and verify the poems you reference, enhancing the credibility of your arguments.
Supporting Literary Analysis: Accurate citations strengthen the foundation of your literary analysis by showing a clear connection to the source material.
As you navigate the world of poetry citation, remember these final thoughts:
Consistency: Choose a citation style and stick to it throughout your work to maintain a professional and polished appearance.
Attention to Detail: Pay close attention to formatting, punctuation, and all relevant information to ensure your citations are complete and accurate.
In MLA style, when citing a poem, include the poet’s name, the poem title (in quotation marks), the title of the book or anthology (in italics), the editor’s name (if applicable), the publication information, and page numbers (if available).
When citing a poem in APA style, you need to include the poet’s name, the publication year of the anthology or collection, the poem title (in sentence case), the book or anthology title (in italics), and the page numbers (if available).
In Chicago style, you can use the notes and bibliography system for poetry citations. Include the poet’s name, the poem title (in quotation marks or italics), the title of the book or anthology (in italics), the editor’s name (if applicable), the publication information, and page numbers (if applicable).
Yes, in MLA style, you can use line numbers instead of page numbers for poems that do not have traditional page numbers. Line numbers are particularly common for citing poems from digital sources.
If the publication date or author of a poem is unknown, use “n.d.” (no date) in the citation for APA and MLA styles. For Chicago style, start the citation with the poem title and provide as much information as available to assist readers in locating the work.
Regularly practice citing different types of poems and sources to build confidence and proficiency in the citation process.
Use Resources: Rely on reputable style guides, citation tools, and academic resources to assist you in creating proper citations.
By mastering the art of citing poems effectively, you contribute to the scholarly conversation, acknowledge the creativity of poets, and uphold the standards of academic and literary excellence. Embrace the process of citation as a fundamental part of your writing journey, and let it become a testament to your commitment to scholarly integrity.
I am Jack Williams, a Biochemist by profession. However, I developed a flair for writing while working on my Bio dissertations at university. So, I decided to take his passion to another level by stepping into the field of English essay writing. Ever since I have not only been learning the essentials of English writing but also been sharing my learning with students. My blog posts are intended to help not only students learn the technicalities of essay writing but also enable them to face related changes head-on. When I am not researching in my lab or sharing my valuable learning, you can find me playing soccer with my buddies or painting something that touched my heart and inspired me.
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