How To Cite The Great Gatsby In Mla

How to Cite The Great Gatsby in MLA: A Complete Guide

How to cite The Great Gatsby in MLA format is one of the most common questions students and researchers encounter when writing literary analysis papers. F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece is a staple in English literature courses, and proper citation is essential for academic integrity. This practical guide will walk you through every aspect of citing The Great Gatsby in MLA 9th edition, the most current version of the Modern Language Association citation style.

Understanding MLA Citation Basics

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is primarily used in humanities disciplines, particularly literature, language studies, and creative writing. MLA format emphasizes author-page citations in the text and a detailed Works Cited page at the end of your document. When you cite The Great Gatsby, you need to understand two main components: in-text citations and Works Cited entries.

MLA citations are designed to be concise while providing enough information for readers to locate your sources. The system assumes readers have access to the full text, which is why in-text citations only require the author's name and page number. Even so, your Works Cited page must contain complete publication details to help readers find the exact edition you used.

How to Cite The Great Gatsby in MLA: In-Text Citations

In-text citations in MLA appear within your paper whenever you quote, paraphrase, or refer to a specific idea from The Great Gatsby. These citations guide readers to the full reference in your Works Cited list.

Basic In-Text Citation Format

When citing The Great Gatsby in the body of your paper, use Fitzgerald's last name and the specific page number from which you drew your information. Place this information in parentheses at the end of your sentence, before the final punctuation.

Example:

Gatsby's transformation from James Gatz to Jay Symbol represents the American Dream's promise of reinvention (Fitzgerald 98).

When you mention Fitzgerald's name in your sentence, you only need to include the page number in parentheses.

Example:

F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates the hollowness of wealth through Gatsby's lavish parties (156).

Citing Direct Quotes

When quoting directly from The Great Gatsby, you have two options depending on how you integrate the quote into your writing. For a signal phrase (where you introduce the quote with the author's name), place the page number in parentheses after the closing quotation marks but before the period.

Example:

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (Fitzgerald 180).

For a block quote (quotations longer than four lines in prose), indent the entire quotation one inch from the left margin. In this case, place the period before your parenthetical citation.

Example:

The final lines of the novel encapsulate the novel's central theme:

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. (180)

How to Cite The Great Gatsby in MLA: Works Cited Entry

So, the Works Cited entry for The Great Gatsby requires specific information depending on the edition you used. MLA 9th edition has specific guidelines for citing books with multiple editions.

Standard Book Citation Format

For a standard print edition of The Great Gatsby, your Works Cited entry should follow this format:

Format:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.

Breakdown of elements:

• Author's name (last name, first name)
• Title in italics
• Publisher name
• Year of publication

Citing Different Editions

The Great Gatsby has been published in numerous editions, and you must indicate which one you used. Here are examples for common editions:

Scribner Classic Edition (1995):

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1995.

First Edition (1925):

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.

Penguin Classics Edition:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli, Penguin Classics, 2002.

Notice that when the book includes an editor (as many scholarly editions do), you include the editor's name after the title with the abbreviation "edited by" or simply "Ed."

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How to Cite The Great Gatsby in MLA: Electronic and Audio Sources

Modern research often involves digital versions and audiobooks. MLA provides specific guidelines for these formats.

E-Book Citation

When citing an e-book version of The Great Gatsby, include the platform or device name if relevant to your research.

Format:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004. Kindle.

Or for an online database:

Fitzgerald, F. On the flip side, scott. Here's the thing — The Great Gatsby. Because of that, scribner, 2004. That said, proQuest, ebookcentral. Consider this: proquest. com.

Audiobook Citation

Audiobooks require information about the narrator and the format.

Format:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, Simon & Schuster Audio, 2014.

If you're citing a specific chapter or section, include that information in your in-text citation.

How to Cite The Great Gatsby in MLA: Secondary Sources

Often, you'll need to cite scholarly articles, book chapters, or other sources that discuss The Great Gatsby. Here are common scenarios:

Citing a Scholarly Article

Telgoto, Miriam. "Fitzgerald's Critique of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby." Modern Language Studies, vol. Now, 25, no. 2, 1995, pp. 45-58.

Citing a Book Chapter

Berman, Jeffrey. "The Unreliable Narrator in The Great Gatsby." Critical Essays on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, edited by Henry Claridge, G.K. Hall, 1984, pp. 112-128.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Citing The Great Gatsby

Understanding common errors will help you produce accurate citations:

1. Forgetting to italicize the title – The title of the novel must always be italicized in your Works Cited entry
2. Incorrect punctuation – MLA requires specific punctuation: periods after author names, commas between publication elements
3. Missing publication information – Always include the publisher and year of publication
4. Inconsistent citation style – Use the same format throughout your entire paper
5. Forgetting to cite page numbers – In-text citations require page numbers for books

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to include the chapter number when citing The Great Gatsby?

No, The Great Gatsby is not divided into numbered chapters in the traditional sense. Use page numbers for all in-text citations, as the novel is typically referenced by page numbers in literary analysis.

How do I cite a specific quote from The Great Gatsby if I'm using different page numbers in my edition?

Always cite according to the edition you actually used. Different editions may have different pagination. Include the page number from your specific edition in your in-text citation.

What if I'm citing the 1925 first edition?

For the first edition, your Works Cited entry would be: Fitzgerald, F. Consider this: The Great Gatsby. On the flip side, scott. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.

Do I need to include Fitzgerald's first name in my citations?

In your Works Cited entry, include the author's full name as it appears: Fitzgerald, F. On top of that, scott. In in-text citations, use only the last name: (Fitzgerald 45).

How do I cite The Great Gatsby in MLA if I'm quoting the same source multiple times?

Each in-text citation should include the page number, even if you're citing the same source repeatedly. The author's name is only needed in the first citation if you mention it in your text.

Conclusion

Mastering how to cite The Great Gatsby in MLA format is an essential skill for any student or researcher working with this American literary classic. In real terms, remember that consistency is key—once you establish your citation format, maintain it throughout your entire paper. Always double-check your edition's publication information and ensure your in-text citations correspond to your Works Cited entries.

The principles outlined in this guide will serve you well not only for The Great Gatsby but for citing any literary work in MLA format. Proper citation demonstrates academic integrity, helps readers locate your sources, and contributes to the scholarly conversation surrounding Fitzgerald's enduring novel. Whether you're writing a research paper, literary analysis, or academic essay, accurate MLA citations will strengthen your work and establish your credibility as a careful and thorough researcher.