William Golding's Lord of the Flies is a staple of high school and college literature courses, making proper citation crucial for academic integrity. This guide will walk you through citing Lord of the Flies in MLA format, covering various scenarios and offering helpful tips for flawless citations.
Basic MLA Citation for Lord of the Flies
The most common citation you'll need is for the novel itself. Here's how to cite the print version:
- Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Faber & Faber, 1954.
This provides the author's last name, first name, the title (italicized), the publisher, and the publication year. Note that if you are using a different edition (e.g., a specific anniversary edition, or one from a different publisher), you should include that information as well. For example:
- Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. 50th Anniversary Edition, Faber & Faber, 2004.
For ebook versions, you would add the platform where you accessed the ebook:
- Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Faber & Faber, 1954. [Platform], [Access Date]. (e.g., Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Faber & Faber, 1954. Kindle, October 26, 2023.)
Remember, the platform and access date information are only necessary for digital sources.
Citing Specific Passages from Lord of the Flies
When quoting or paraphrasing sections of the novel, you'll need to include a page number (or location in other formats like ebook).
Example of an In-Text Citation:
"The boys' descent into savagery is vividly depicted in the description of the 'painted faces and the sharpened sticks' (Golding 62)."
This shows the quoted phrase within quotation marks, followed by the author's last name and the page number in parentheses. Always ensure the quote is seamlessly integrated into your sentence. If you paraphrase, you will still need a page number reference in parentheses.
Example of a Paraphrase with In-Text Citation:
Golding illustrates the boys' increasing loss of innocence and societal norms through their escalating acts of violence and disregard for life (62).
Citing Different Editions of Lord of the Flies
If your edition differs from the original 1954 publication, make sure to include edition-specific information in your Works Cited entry, such as "Revised Edition," or "Anniversary Edition", after the title. For example:
- Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Revised Edition, Faber & Faber, 1962.
The accuracy of this information is vital for ensuring other researchers can locate the precise edition you consulted.
Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page is a separate page at the end of your paper that lists all the sources cited. Here's how the entry would appear:
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Faber & Faber, 1954.
Remember to alphabetize your Works Cited entries by author's last name.
Conclusion
Accurate citation is essential for academic writing. By following these guidelines, you can confidently cite Lord of the Flies in your papers and maintain academic integrity. Remember to always double-check your citations against the most up-to-date MLA Handbook.
