Using Crucible Quotations Well
In the essay you will be expected to back up your points with references to the text of the play. Some of these will be general, for example:
Proctor's initial reluctance to go to Salem confirms for Elizabeth, and the audience, his ongoing attachment to Abigail.
References which serve to only reveal elements of the plot are suited to indirect quotes.
References which relate to the theme/idea of the question will be more direct, using words or lines from the play verbatim. These will either be introduced or integrated. References to the play can be introduced using these kinds of phrases:
Corey disagrees with Parris over his allowance, and criticises him when he states that Parris is "well instructed in arithmetic" (34). Corey declares in Act Three that he is "never put-upon" (86) demonstrating for audiences that he is a strong and independent character.
The Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophorus), Tiritiri ...
Air Quotes
Typographic quotation marks (top) versus straight ...Here is the same material, but fully integrated into the text. Note how the quotes are smoothly integrated into the sentences:
Corey's disagreement with Parris over his allowance, and criticism of the grasping Parris for being "well instructed in arithmetic" (34), demonstrates to audiences that he is "never put upon" (86).
Longer quotes (two lines or more) should be indented. However, such long quotes as the one below should not be included.
"A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud - God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!" (105)
Rather the quote should be edited to gain only the essential information you require to make your point:
At the climax of the drama, Proctor realizes that the worst offence a citizen can commit is to remain silent in the face of injustice: "for them that quail to bring men out of ignoranceâ¦God damns our kind especially" (105).
Practice:
Use a section of the above quote from Danforth on page 105 to support a statement relating to the theme of diabolism.
Mechanics
Page numbers go in parentheses ( ) after the quotation as shown above. No need for "p" or "pg" or "page".
Words omitted from a quote are replaced with an ellipsis (the real name for "â¦")
If you need to change/substitute a word to suit your sentence, use square brackets [ ] around the change/substitution (see exemplary examples in exemplar).
Warning: Do not use the word 'quotes' to mean 'says'. This is incorrect, as in this example:
In his authorial comments on Corey, Miller quotes that he is "a deeply innocent and brave man" (43).
Quoting means to use someone else's words. Miller is not quoting anybody, he is using his own words. Instead of this erroneous use of 'quotes', use appropriate alternatives like: says /states / tells/ declares/ argues/ reveals that.