How to Use Shakespeare Quotes

How to Use Shakespeare Quotes You can make your essays interesting by adding a famous quote, and there is nobody better than a Shakespeare to quote! However, many students feel intimidated at the thought of quoting Shakespeare. Some fear that they may end up using the quote in the wrong context; others may worry about using the quote verbatim, owing to the archaic Shakespearan expressions. If you wish to learn how to skillfully quote Shakespeare, you have reached the right place. In this article, you will learn how to use quotes from Shakespeare in your own writing and how to attribute the quote correctly.   Find the Right Shakespeare Quote You can refer to your favorite resources, be it your school library, a public library, or of course, your favorite content destination on the internet- thoughtco.com. Make sure that you use a reliable source that gives you complete attribution, which includes the name of the author, the play title, the act, and the scene number. Using the Quote You will find that the language used in Shakespeare plays have archaic expressions that were used during the Elizabethan era. If you are unfamiliar with this language, you run the risk of not using the quote correctly. To avoid making mistakes, be sure to use the quote verabatim- in exactly the same words as in the original source. Quoting From Verses and Passages Shakespeare plays have many beautiful verses; its up to you to find an appropriate verse for your essay. One way to ensure an impactful quote is to ensure that the verse you choose does not leave the idea unfinished. Here are some tips for quoting Shakespeare: If you are quoting verse and it runs longer than four lines, you must write the lines one below the other as you do when you write poetry; However, if the verse is one to four lines long, you should use the line division symbol (/) to indicate the beginning of the next line. Here is an example: Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, / Too rude, too boisterous; and it pricks like thorn(Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Sc. 5, line 25)If you are quoting prose, then there is no need for line divisions. However, to effectively represent the quote, it is beneficial to first provide the contextual relevance of the quote and then proceed to quote the passage. Context helps your reader to understand the quote and to better grasp the message that you wish to convey by using that quote, but you should exercise caution when deciding how much information to supply. Sometimes students give a brief synopsis of the play to make their Shakespeare quote sound relevant to their essay, but it is better to pro vide short, focused background information. Here is an example of how a small amount of context can be provided before a quote to improve its impact:Miranda, daughter of Prospero, and the King of Naples son Ferdinand, are to get married. While Prospero is not optimistic about the arrangement, the couple, Miranda and Ferdinand are looking forward to their union. In this quote, we see the exchange of viewpoints between Miranda and Prospero: Miranda: How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people int!Prospero: Tis new to thee.(The Tempest, Act V, Sc. 1, line 183-184) Attribution No formal Shakespeare quote is complete without its attribution. For a Shakespeare quote, you need to provide the play title, followed by act, scene, and line number. It is a good practice to italicize the title of the play, as shown here: In order to ensure that the quote is used in the right context, it is important to reference the quote appropriately. That means, you must mention the characters name who made the statement. Here is an example: He was ever precise in promise-keeping.(Measure for Measure, Act I, Sc. 2)In the play Julius Caesar, the relationship of the husband-wife duo (Brutus and Portia), brings out the conniving nature of Portia, in startling contrast to Brutus gentleness: You are my true and honourable wife;/As dear to me as are the ruddy drops/That visit my sad heart.(Julius Caesar, Act II, Sc. 1) Length of the Quote Avoid using long quotes. Long quotes dilute the essence of the point. In case you have to use a specific long passage, it is better to paraphrase the quote. A Final Word of Advice On this site, you will find a vast resource of Shakespeare quotes. These quotes have been categorized by the title of the Shakespeare play. You can also find more information on how to use quotations in essays.