1. Quoting Poetry the MLA-way With a [partial] Sample Essay
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2. Short Quotation
When using short (three—or fewer—than three typed lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in the verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line (a space should precede and follow the slash). The parenthetical citation at the end of the quotation demonstrates the reference of line numbers within the poem.
Cullen concludes, "Of all the things that happened there / That's all I remember" (11-12).

3. Long-Quotation Guidelines
For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark. When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

4. Long Quotation
When citing long sections (more than three lines) of poetry, keep formatting as close to the original as possible.
In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father. The following lines use details to create a vivid image of the dance:
The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (1-8)

5. Essay Content Introduction Body Paragraph(s) Conclusion
Title of Work(s)
Author(s)
Genre
Very Brief Statement of Summary
Thesis Statement
Subject
What is to be proven
How to be proven
Body Paragraph(s)
Topic Sentence
Quoted Evidence [Kept in Context]
Analysis
Conclusion
Reach a final thought about the content of the essay
What should the reader take from the piece?

6. Sample Introduction
The Romantic tradition in British Literature spans nearly fifty years and encompasses a variety of writers, thinkers, reformers, and artists. Among the writers, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth are just two poets able to inspire readers to journey beyond their mundane urban lifestyles and glory in the beauty and majesty of nature. Through Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” which is a gothic tale of loss and redemption, and Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey,” the author’s personal insights on the wonders and joys of nature, both writers are able to use symbolism to elevate different aspects of nature to sublime heights.

7. [Partial] Sample Body Paragraph
Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” utilizes enigmatic sea creatures to represent the social contract between man and nature. When the ship and crew are stranded at sea, the Mariner initially shows disgust at the sea snakes which keep company near them. Contemplating his stagnant and dire situation, the Mariner reflects, “The very deep did rot: O Christ! / That ever this should be! / Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs / Upon the slimy sea” ( ). His choice of such negative words as “rot,” and the repetition of “slimy” in relation to the elements of nature represented by the sea and the snakes—which the Mariner disdainfully calls “things,” not even giving them a specific identification– help to demonstrate his lack of respect for the world around him and the various beings that occupy it. This lack of respect is compounded by his reaction to the deaths of his crewmates ETC REPEAT UNTIL COMPLETE.

8. Sample Conclusion
While the Romantic poets use their adoration for nature to inspire, they are able to also use it as a teaching tool. When people allow themselves to be moved by the beauty and enduring power of nature, they can transfer this same respect to others.