In-text Citation
for Short Story Quotations In-text Citation
for Short Story Quotations1. When quoting from a short story, incorporate quotations of four or fewer lines in your essay into the text of your essay, using quotation marks. At the end of the quotation, you should include the page number(s) where the quotation is found, if available. If there are no page numbers (or paragraph numbers), then omit the parentheses.
Examples:
Desiree "disappeared among the reeds and willows" and never returns to L'Abri.
As Desiree herself claims, It is a lie; it is not true, I am white!
Montressor sums up his philosophy of revenge in the first paragraph of the story: "I must not only punish, but punish with impunity" (346).
The narrator begins to be haunted by guilt even before he is finished wreaking his revenge. As he admits, "My heart grew sick . . ." (352).
2. If a quotation runs more than four lines in your essay, lead into it with a full sentence and a colon and then indent the quotation ten spaces (or two tabs). Note that when you have an indented quotation you do not use quotation marks.
Example:
"The Cask of Amontillado" begins on an ominous note as Montressor confesses to an unknown listener that he will have his revenge on Fortunato:
THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged ; this was a point definitively settled but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. (346)
3. If your quotation already contains quotation marks, you may need to change them to single quotes (for a short quotation) or retain them (for a block quotation).
Examples:
When Desiree asks Armand if he wants her to leave, "He said nothing. 'Shall I go, Armand?' she asked in tones sharp with agonized suspense."
When Montressor feigns concern for Fortunato's health, Fortunato ironically dismisses the possibility of death:
"Come" I said with decision, "we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi―"
"Enough," he said; "the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough." (348)
4. If you quote dialogue that continues over more than one paragraph, use the block quotation format, regardless of the length of the quotation.
Example:
One example of dramatic irony in the story takes place when Fortunato and Montressor share a toast near the entrance of the catacombs. Fortunato toasts the dead, not knowing that he will soon be among them, and Montressor toasts Fortunato's long life, knowing that Fortunato's life will soon be cut short:
"I drink," he said, "to the buried that repose around us."
"And I to your long life." (349)