How to mhra reference a play

Overview

Referencing plays is a crucial skill for academic writing, ensuring that you properly acknowledge the sources of your information and allow your readers to locate the original texts. The Modern Humanities Research Association (MHRA) style guide provides a specific set of rules for citing plays, which are essential for students and scholars in literature and related fields. Adhering to these guidelines ensures academic integrity and facilitates clear communication within the scholarly community.

MHRA Referencing for Plays: A Detailed Guide

The MHRA style guide is widely used in the humanities, particularly in English literature and language studies. Its approach to referencing plays is systematic, requiring specific information to be presented in a consistent manner for both in-text citations and the bibliography. This section will break down the process into manageable steps.

In-Text Citations

When you refer to a play within the body of your text, you need to provide immediate attribution to the source. MHRA typically uses a shortened footnote or endnote system, often accompanied by parenthetical references for direct quotations. For plays, this usually involves:

Author's Surname and Page Number: For direct quotations, the most common format is to include the author's surname followed by the page number from the edition you are using. For example: (Shakespeare 45). If you have already mentioned the author's name in your prose, you may only need to include the page number: (45).

Act, Scene, and Line Numbers: For classical plays or plays where act, scene, and line numbers are standard (e.g., Shakespearean drama), these can be used in addition to or instead of page numbers, especially in more specialized contexts or if the edition lacks consistent pagination. The format might look like: (Shakespeare III.ii.15-20) for Act 3, Scene 2, lines 15-20. Always check your specific edition and style guide requirements.

Footnotes/Endnotes: While parenthetical citations are common for direct quotes, MHRA also heavily relies on footnotes or endnotes for more detailed information or when a first citation is made. A footnote for a play might look like this:

¹ William Shakespeare, Hamlet, ed. Harold Jenkins (London: Arden, 1982), II.ii.1-5.

Subsequent citations to the same work can be shortened, e.g.,

² Shakespeare, Hamlet, V.i.150.

Bibliography Entries

The bibliography, typically placed at the end of your work, provides a full list of all sources cited. For plays, the MHRA format requires the following elements:

Author's Full Name: Start with the author's full name (e.g., William Shakespeare).

Title of the Play: The title of the play must be italicized (e.g., Hamlet).

Editor/Translator (if applicable): If you are using an edition with an editor or translator, include their name after the title, preceded by 'ed.' or 'trans.' respectively. For example: ed. Harold Jenkins.

Publication Details: This includes the place of publication, the publisher, and the year of publication. For example: London: Arden, 1982.

Example of a Full Bibliography Entry:

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Harold Jenkins. London: Arden, 1982.

Multiple Editions: If you have consulted multiple editions of the same play, you should cite the specific edition you used for your quotations and references. If a play has been published in several volumes or parts, include relevant volume or part information.

Plays from Collections/Anthologies: If the play is part of a larger collection or anthology, the citation needs to reflect this. The format would typically be:

Author's Full Name, 'Title of Play', in Title of Collection, ed. Editor's Full Name (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), page range of the play.

For example:

Miller, Arthur. 'Death of a Salesman', in Arthur Miller: Three Plays, ed. by Christopher Bigsby (London: Penguin, 2000), pp. 1-66.

Key Considerations for Referencing Plays

• Consistency is Key: Whichever format you choose for in-text citations (page numbers or act/scene/line), be consistent throughout your work.
• Edition Matters: Always cite the specific edition of the play you have read and quoted from. Different editions can have different pagination, introductions, and editorial notes, which are important for scholarly accuracy.
• Original Publication vs. Modern Edition: Generally, you cite the modern edition you are using. However, if you are discussing the historical context of the play's first performance or publication, you might need to reference the original publication details as well, but the primary citation should be to the edition you consulted.
• Online Sources: If you are referencing a play accessed online (e.g., through a digital archive or e-book), ensure the platform provides stable references (like page numbers or equivalent locators). If no page numbers are available, use act, scene, and line numbers where applicable, or provide another clear locator. Always try to use a reputable, scholarly edition.
• Conventions: Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of your institution or publisher, as there might be minor variations or preferences within the broader MHRA framework.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure your references to plays are accurate, complete, and adhere to the standards of MHRA style, thereby strengthening the credibility and clarity of your academic work.