EmbeddingQuotations in aSentenceEmbeddingQuotations in aSentence
Each piece of quotedmaterial in a paragraphmust have a transitionthat gives the contextand background for thatquote.Each piece of quotedmaterial in a paragraphmust have a transitionthat gives the contextand background for thatquote.
Embedding quotationsusing transition helpsquoted material flownaturally and coherentlyinto your paragraph.Embedding quotationsusing transition helpsquoted material flownaturally and coherentlyinto your paragraph.
Whilst waiting for her suitorsto arrive, Portia feels “…awearyof this great world” (Act 1, Scene 2).Example (transition is inbold):Whilst waiting for her suitorsto arrive, Portia feels “…awearyof this great world” (Act 1, Scene 2).
When written properly,the reader should notbe able to hear wherethe quotation marksare when the sentenceis read aloud.When written properly,the reader should notbe able to hear wherethe quotation marksare when the sentenceis read aloud.
A properly embeddedquotation creates aseamless transitionfrom the backgroundinformation to thequoted material.A properly embeddedquotation creates aseamless transitionfrom the backgroundinformation to thequoted material.
When done poorly, thetransition is choppy,incomplete, andpredictable.When done poorly, thetransition is choppy,incomplete, andpredictable.
Poor example:This is shown by: “Insooth, I know not why I amso sad.” (Act 1, Scene 1.)Poor example:This is shown by: “Insooth, I know not why I amso sad.” (Act 1, Scene 1.)
The prior example does notmake sense when read aloud.Every sentence in a paragraphmust make sense, regardlessof whether or not it containsquoted material.The prior example does notmake sense when read aloud.Every sentence in a paragraphmust make sense, regardlessof whether or not it containsquoted material.
You may need to changewords within your quoteso that the sentence isgrammatically correctand is coherent.You may need to changewords within your quoteso that the sentence isgrammatically correctand is coherent.
When changing words ina sentence indicate thechange by placingbrackets [ ] around thechange in the word or thechanged word.When changing words ina sentence indicate thechange by placingbrackets [ ] around thechange in the word or thechanged word.
To omit words in themiddle of a long quote,use ellipses (…)To omit words in themiddle of a long quote,use ellipses (…)
Example:Portia goes on to tell usthat“[she] may neitherchoose…nor refuse…” herhusband. (Act 1, Scene2.)Example:Portia goes on to tell usthat“[she] may neitherchoose…nor refuse…” herhusband. (Act 1, Scene2.)
Notice, anytime you changeor add something in a quote,you must use a bracket toindicate your change.Notice, anytime you changeor add something in a quote,you must use a bracket toindicate your change.
How to create a goodtransition into aquotation:How to create a goodtransition into aquotation:
1) Give backgroundand context for allquoted material -what is happening;who is speaking.1) Give backgroundand context for allquoted material -what is happening;who is speaking.
2) Only use themost important partof the quote (ideallyless than 10 wordsfor an embeddedquotation).2) Only use themost important partof the quote (ideallyless than 10 wordsfor an embeddedquotation).
3) Read yoursentence aloud - canyou “hear” thequotation marks?You shouldn’t. 3) Read yoursentence aloud - canyou “hear” thequotation marks?You shouldn’t.
4) Change word tenseif necessary, and omitunnecessary wordsand phrases; useellipses and bracketsto indicate yourchanges.4) Change word tenseif necessary, and omitunnecessary wordsand phrases; useellipses and bracketsto indicate yourchanges.
Write a transition ofyour own using thefollowing quote fromAct 4, Scene 1 of theplay:Write a transition ofyour own using thefollowing quote fromAct 4, Scene 1 of theplay:
“I am sorry for thee; thou art cometo answer / A stony adversary, aninhuman wretch / Uncapable ofpity, void and empty / From anydram of mercy.”“I am sorry for thee; thou art cometo answer / A stony adversary, aninhuman wretch / Uncapable ofpity, void and empty / From anydram of mercy.”
UsingExtendedQuotations
Sometimes you might want to usea more lengthy quote to illustratea point.Sometimes you might want to usea more lengthy quote to illustratea point.
When this is the case it is set outquite differently on the page –without inverted commas and ina paragraph of its own.When this is the case it is set outquite differently on the page –without inverted commas and ina paragraph of its own.
For example:For example:
It is during Act 3, Scene 1 that Shylock delivers an importantspeech which is crucial in highlighting one of the play’scentral concerns – the subject of religious prejudice:It is during Act 3, Scene 1 that Shylock delivers an importantspeech which is crucial in highlighting one of the play’scentral concerns – the subject of religious prejudice:
I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jewhands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections,passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the sameweapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by thesame means, warmed and cooled by the same winterand summer as a Christian is?I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jewhands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections,passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the sameweapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by thesame means, warmed and cooled by the same winterand summer as a Christian is?
This highly emotive speech, made to Solanio and Salarino,conveys a real sense of Shylock’s intense frustration at histreatment by the Christians…This highly emotive speech, made to Solanio and Salarino,conveys a real sense of Shylock’s intense frustration at histreatment by the Christians…