Brave New World Citation Mla

Brave New World: A Comprehensive Guide to MLA Citation

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, a dystopian masterpiece published in 1932, continues to resonate with readers and scholars alike. Its exploration of societal control, technological advancement, and the human condition makes it a fertile ground for academic discussion. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to cite Brave New World using the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, covering various aspects of the text and different types of sources. We’ll delve into citing the novel itself, specific passages, different editions, and related critical works, ensuring you're equipped to create accurate and consistent MLA citations for your research papers.

I. Citing the Novel Itself

The fundamental citation for Brave New World in MLA style is relatively straightforward. However, variations exist depending on the edition you're using. Here's the basic format:

Author. Title of Work. Publisher, Year of Publication.

For the most common editions, the citation would look like this:

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. Penguin Books, 1998.

Important Considerations:

• Different Editions: Multiple publishers have released Brave New World, each with varying publication dates and possibly slight textual differences. Always include the specific publisher and year of your edition. For older editions, you might find variations in punctuation or capitalization in the title. Try to maintain the original title formatting as closely as possible.

• Multiple Authors: While Brave New World has a single author, if you are referencing a critical work or essay about Brave New World with multiple authors, remember to list all authors in the citation.

• Electronic Editions: If you accessed the text electronically (e.g., through an ebook reader, online database, or project Gutenberg), you need to add retrieval information. This typically involves including the name of the database or website and the URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier). For example:

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2007. Project Gutenberg, www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/780. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

II. Citing Specific Passages

When quoting directly from Brave New World, you must provide a page number (or equivalent location information for electronic texts) in your in-text citation. Your in-text citation will appear in parentheses after the quotation, like this:

"The world state provides its citizens with endless entertainment and trivial distractions to maintain control" (Huxley 125).

This method requires you to have identified a page number in the edition of the text you used. If you used an ebook without page numbers, utilize the equivalent location information such as chapter, paragraph, or section number. The format will depend on how the ebook is paginated. It is often formatted like this:

"The world state provides its citizens with endless entertainment and trivial distractions to maintain control" (Huxley, chap. 6, para. 2).

III. Citing Critical Works about Brave New World

Your research paper will likely involve referencing critical analyses and interpretations of Brave New World. Citing these sources follows the same basic MLA format, but with additional information relevant to the specific source type (book, journal article, etc.).

Example 1: Book about Brave New World

Kellman, Steven G. Aldous Huxley: A Biography. Wiley, 2004.

Example 2: Journal Article about Brave New World

Smith, Jane. "Technology and Control in Huxley's Brave New World." Journal of Science Fiction Studies, vol. 45, no. 2, 2018, pp. 255-278.

Example 3: Website or Online Source:

Always be cautious when using online sources and check their credibility. Be sure to use only sources from reputable publishers, institutions, or scholars.

Jones, David. "A Re-evaluation of the World State's Social Engineering." Literary Criticism Today, 12 May 2023, www.literarycriticisms.com/huxley. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

IV. Works Cited Page: Organizing Your Citations

All sources cited within your paper must be listed alphabetically on a separate "Works Cited" page at the end. This page should follow the same formatting guidelines as the rest of your paper (font, spacing, margins, etc.). Ensure consistency in formatting, including punctuation and capitalization.

V. Advanced Citation Techniques

• Quoting within a quotation: If you’re quoting a passage that contains another quotation, use single quotation marks for the inner quotation and double quotation marks for the main quotation. Remember to cite the source appropriately.

• Ellipses: Use ellipses (…) to indicate omitted words or sections within a quotation. However, avoid using ellipses at the beginning or end of a quotation unless it's necessary to maintain clarity.

• Brackets [ ]: Use square brackets to add clarifying words or information to a quotation without altering its original meaning.

VI. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incorrect Punctuation: Pay close attention to punctuation, especially commas and periods in relation to quotation marks.

• Inconsistent Formatting: Maintain consistent formatting throughout your citations, from capitalization to italics.

• Missing Information: Ensure all required information (author, title, publisher, date, etc.) is included in your citations.

• Keyword Stuffing: Avoid overloading your paper with direct quotations. Use quotations strategically to support your arguments.

• Plagiarism: Properly citing your sources is crucial to avoid plagiarism. Always paraphrase and summarize when appropriate, and always cite your sources accurately.

VII. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What if I'm using a translated edition of Brave New World?

A: Include the translator's name after the title, preceded by "Trans." For example:

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. Translated by [Translator's Name]. Publisher, Year.

Q: How do I cite a specific chapter or section of Brave New World?

A: You can mention the chapter or section in your in-text citation, but the primary citation should still refer to the entire work. For example:

"In Chapter 3, Huxley introduces the concept of the World State's conditioning process" (Huxley, chap. 3).

Q: What if I can't find the publication date?

A: If you can't find the publication date, use "n.d." (no date) in place of the year. However, try to locate the publication date through alternative means, such as online databases or library catalogs.

Q: My edition has a foreword or introduction; do I need to cite that separately?

A: While not strictly required for citing the novel itself, if you directly quote from the foreword or introduction, you should cite it separately, providing the author's name and the title of the introduction/foreword in your citation.

VIII. Conclusion

Mastering MLA citation for Brave New World, and academic writing in general, is essential for producing credible and reliable research. By understanding the fundamental principles of MLA style and following the guidelines outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your citations are accurate, consistent, and effectively support your arguments. Remember to always consult the most up-to-date MLA Handbook for the latest guidelines and further clarification. Careful attention to detail and thoroughness will contribute to the overall quality and integrity of your academic work. By carefully following these guidelines, you can confidently integrate Brave New World and relevant scholarly sources into your research, presenting a well-supported and academically rigorous analysis.