Citing a PlayCiting a Play(as in (as in A Doll HouseA Doll House))

Underline or italicize titles of Underline or italicize titles of plays (or any other long piece plays (or any other long piece of literature for that matter).of literature for that matter).

A Doll HouseA Doll Houseoror

A Doll HouseA Doll House

Always Identify Who Wrote the TextAlways Identify Who Wrote the Text

Henrik Ibsen, the author of Henrik Ibsen, the author of A Doll A Doll HouseHouse……

ICCEEICCEE

IIntroduce the quotationntroduce the quotation

CCite the quotationite the quotation

CClose the quotationlose the quotation

EExplain the contextxplain the context

EExpand your analysisxpand your analysis

What was that again?What was that again?

IIntroduce ntroduce (Always introduce the passage by (Always introduce the passage by identifying the narrator or the character identifying the narrator or the character speaking.)speaking.)

Nora explains, Nora explains, Nora retorts, Nora retorts, The narrator writes, (Well, The narrator writes, (Well,

there is no narrator in there is no narrator in A Doll A Doll HouseHouse, , but you could say but you could say this for a text this for a text like like SiddharthaSiddhartha.).)

CCite the text by using quotation marks ite the text by using quotation marks (Always put quotation marks in front of and (Always put quotation marks in front of and behind anything you take from the text.)behind anything you take from the text.)

Nora says, “I’ve been…”Nora says, “I’ve been…”

Torvald says, “You mustn’t worry Torvald says, “You mustn’t worry about anything, Nora…”about anything, Nora…”

CClose your citation of the text by putting lose your citation of the text by putting

parenthesis ( ) around the page number parenthesis ( ) around the page number where you found the passage. Place the where you found the passage. Place the period on the outside of the parenthesis.period on the outside of the parenthesis.

Nora says, “This is the first time that we Nora says, “This is the first time that we two – you and I, man and wife-have had a two – you and I, man and wife-have had a

serious talk together” serious talk together” (225).(225).

EExplainxplain the context (what was going on during the context (what was going on during

the selected passage) in one or two sentences.the selected passage) in one or two sentences.

Nora’s begging is a desperate attempt Nora’s begging is a desperate attempt to prevent Torvald from checking the to prevent Torvald from checking the mail before the costume party.mail before the costume party.

More on that Explaining thing…More on that Explaining thing…

You may explain the context before or You may explain the context before or after you cite the quotation.after you cite the quotation.Remember to keep the context brief. Remember to keep the context brief. Otherwise, you are in grave danger of Otherwise, you are in grave danger of lapsing into plot summary. Anyone can lapsing into plot summary. Anyone can retell the story, but you are smarter than retell the story, but you are smarter than that. Just grab your reader’s hand and that. Just grab your reader’s hand and show him exactly what scene you are show him exactly what scene you are focusing on in your essay. focusing on in your essay.

EExpand on your citation (This is your analysis, your thinking, the “So xpand on your citation (This is your analysis, your thinking, the “So

what?” that can’t be found in the text. This is where you tell your reader what?” that can’t be found in the text. This is where you tell your reader how the passage you are citing proves your claim, your topic sentence, how the passage you are citing proves your claim, your topic sentence,

or your thesis statement.)or your thesis statement.)

The following sample is discussing the significance of the mailbox.The following sample is discussing the significance of the mailbox.

Nora’s desperation when Torvald heads toward the mailbox highlights Nora’s desperation when Torvald heads toward the mailbox highlights the significance of the mailbox: Torvald’s control over Nora. the significance of the mailbox: Torvald’s control over Nora. Because Torvald is the only one with the key to the mailbox, Nora is Because Torvald is the only one with the key to the mailbox, Nora is locked away from the outside world and all it has to offer, a world locked away from the outside world and all it has to offer, a world that women aren’t allowed to enter. Nora knows that once Torvald that women aren’t allowed to enter. Nora knows that once Torvald unlocks the mailbox and learns about Nora’s deception, he will be unlocks the mailbox and learns about Nora’s deception, he will be figuratively opening up a new and frightening world for Nora, a world figuratively opening up a new and frightening world for Nora, a world where no man will control her thoughts and her development as a where no man will control her thoughts and her development as a human being. human being.

Sample ICCEE ParagraphSample ICCEE Paragraph

The motif of the mailbox in Ibsen’s play The motif of the mailbox in Ibsen’s play A Doll HouseA Doll House symbolizes the power and control Torvald has over Nora. When symbolizes the power and control Torvald has over Nora. When Torvald is about to head to the mailbox before the costume party, Torvald is about to head to the mailbox before the costume party, Nora pleads, “No, no! Don’t do that, Torvald!” (17). Nora’s Nora pleads, “No, no! Don’t do that, Torvald!” (17). Nora’s desperation manifests when Torvald almost checks the mail thus desperation manifests when Torvald almost checks the mail thus highlighting the power of this motif: Torvald’s control over Nora. highlighting the power of this motif: Torvald’s control over Nora. Because Torvald is the only one with the key to the mailbox, Nora is Because Torvald is the only one with the key to the mailbox, Nora is locked away from the outside world and all it has to offer, a world locked away from the outside world and all it has to offer, a world that women aren’t allowed to enter. Nora knows that once Torvald that women aren’t allowed to enter. Nora knows that once Torvald unlocks the mailbox and learns about Nora’s deception, he will be unlocks the mailbox and learns about Nora’s deception, he will be figuratively opening up a new and frightening world for Nora, a world figuratively opening up a new and frightening world for Nora, a world where no man will control her thoughts and her development as a where no man will control her thoughts and her development as a human being, a world where Nora will no longer be anyone’s doll-human being, a world where Nora will no longer be anyone’s doll-wife.wife.