Embedding Quotations

Things to know about using quotations… A quotation cannot be a stand alone sentence when used in an essay. You should build the quotation into your own writing. A quotation does not argue for you. You need to explain why it’s there. Short, well explained quotes are much better than long ones.

Quotation: “All our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare V, v, 25-31)

Sample Paragraph Upon hearing the news of his wife’s death, Macbeth becomes depressed. “All our yesterdays have lighted fools/ The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!/Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more: it is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare V, v, 25-31). This quote shows that Macbeth now finds life meaningless.

Let’s Fix It!!

Upon hearing the news of his wife’s death, Macbeth becomes depressed Upon hearing the news of his wife’s death, Macbeth becomes depressed. “All our yesterdays have lighted fools/ The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!/Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more: it is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare V, v, 25-31). This quote shows that Macbeth now finds life meaningless. What’s wrong? *The quote is too long, not embedded and the speaker is not clearly identified. *The use of scaffolding language.

The quote is now shorter, embedded and the speaker is identified The quote is now shorter, embedded and the speaker is identified. Upon hearing the news of his wife’s death, Macbeth becomes depressed. He gives a brief speech that compares life to a shadow, a bad actor and “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound an fury, / Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare V, v, 29-31). This quote shows that Macbeth now finds life meaningless.

Quotation: Upon hearing the news of his wife’s death, Macbeth becomes depressed. He gives a brief speech that compares life to a shadow, a bad actor and “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound an fury, / Signifying nothing.” (Shakespeare V, v, 29-31). These comparisons show the scale of his mental deterioration. He believes life to be empty (a shadow), false (a bad actor) and, despite its tumultuous nature, a story with no meaning.