INTEGRATING
QUOTES INTO YOUR
WRITING
Misquotations
are the only
quotations that
are never
misquoted
INTRODUCE YOUR QUOTES


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Direct quotations cannot stand alone
Cannot be sentences without your own words
cushioning them
Quotations without lead-ins are like fish out of water

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Incorrect Example:
 Throughout the poem the speaker gives a vivid description of all
that he experiences as an Anglo-Saxon seafarer. “…My feet
were cast / In icy bands, bound with frost, / With frozen
chains…” (8-10).
Correct Example:
 Throughout the poem the speaker gives a vivid description of all
that he experiences as an Anglo-Saxon seafarer. For example, he
details the brutal hardships of the sea when he says, “…My feet
were cast / In icy bands, bound with frost, / With frozen
chains…” (8-10).

Here is
your
lead-in!
DO NOT JUST REPEAT OR PARAPHRASE A QUOTE

Do not paraphrase or repeat the quote BEFORE you
insert it into your paragraph
Incorrect Example:
 The speaker admits that people in the Anglo-Saxon society were
very fearful of God. He says, “We all fear God. He turns the earth,
/ He set it swinging firmly in space…” (103-104).
 Correct Example:
 According to the speaker, all of humanity is to some degree afraid
of the all-powerful God. For example he says, “We all fear God. He
turns the earth, / He set it swinging firmly in space…” (103-104).
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IN-TEXT CITATIONS

For a poem (like Beowulf) it will look like this:
(line numbers).
(101-105).

For a play it will look like this:
(Act.Scene.Line.).
(II. iv. 46).

PERIOD
goes on the
OUTSIDE
of
parenthesis!
For a book or short story it will look like this:
(author page number).
(Golding 42).
USE SHORT PIECES OF QUOTES TO BLEND IN
WITH YOUR OWN THOUGHTS
Quotations do not always have to be elaborate,
long, or the center of attention all the time
 You can make them a part of your own words
by inserting them if they fit perfectly with what
you want to say
 Your quotes should NOT be longer than three
lines for this short, three page essay!

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Nice Examples:
 The sea-farer still finds excitement and thrill on the
waves and “…[his] soul roams with the sea” (59).

The wanderer finds no peace on the sea and admits that
“…[his] mind is set on melancholy…” (57).
PLEASE NOTE…

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If you ever want to use quotes in this way, but the original
quote doesn’t sound right in your sentences (different verb
tense, first-person instead of third-person, etc.), you can
make changes!
You have the freedom to make necessary changes using
brackets [ ]
and
ellipses …

For example:
 Original quote from Beowulf: “He was spawned in that slime, /
Conceived by a pair of those monsters born /Of Cain, murderous
creatures banished / By God, punished forever for the crime / Of
Abel’s death” (19-23).
 Possible changes: The speaker in the poem uses Christian,
biblical references when the creature is described as “he
[Grendel] was spawned in that slime, / Conceived by a pair
of those monsters born /Of Cain...” (19-21).
This will help you
manipulate the quotes
so that they support
your points!
FINAL DOS AND DON’TS
DO use variety with structure and wording!
 Words to use instead of “says” include:

States
 Claims
 Shows
 Demonstrates
 Argues
 Proclaims
 Replies
 Suggests
 Proves

DON’T use quotations back to back!
 DON’T use quotations in the first sentence of a
paragraph!!!!
 DON’T use quotations as the last sentence of a
paragraph!!!!
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Now that you are wellinformed on how to
properly use quotations,
let’s practice!!!
CORRECT THE FOLLOWING QUOTES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The speaker in the poem, Beowulf describes Grendel
and his lair when he says, “A powerful monster, living
down / In the darkness, growled in pain, impatient / As
day after day the music rang…” (1-3).
Grendel is a vicious monster, however, King
Hrothgar is protected from him. This is evident
when the speaker describes, “Though he lived / In
Herot, when the night hid him, he never / Dared touch
king Hrothgar’s glorious / Throne…” (81-84).
Beowulf demonstrates he possesses “larger than life”
qualities. He says,“ ‘I drove / Five great giants into
chains…’ ” (153-154).
Beowulf’s faith in faith is strong as he proclaims,
“Fate will unwind as it must!” (189).
CORRECT THE FOLLOWING QUOTES:
5. Beowulf uses great strength to keep a hold on Grendel while “the infamous killer fought
/ For his freedom, wanting no flesh but retreat…” (285-286).
Grendel cravenly fears Beowulf and this is evident when the speaker says, “The
infamous killer fought / For his freedom, wanting no flesh but retreat…” (285-286).
6. Create a lead-in and break this quote down, “Beowulf, a Prince of the Gaets, had killed Grendel
/ Ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering /Forced on Hrothgar’s helpless people by a
bloodthirsty fiend” (351-355).
After a long brutal battle, Beowulf, “…had killed Grendel /Ended the grief, the sorrow, the
suffering /Forced on Hrothgar’s helpless people by a bloodthirsty fiend” (351-355).
7. Beowulf proves his readiness for more glory when he announces, “ ‘ I’ve never known
fear, as a youth I fought / In endless battles. I am old, now, / But I will fight again, seek
fame still…” (607-609).
8. The new king, Wiglaf, makes sure Beowulf’s legacy will forever
live on by “…seal[ing] his ashes in walls…” of a lighthouse to
lead all sea-farers home (871-877).
BEOWULF QUOTES ACTIVITY

With a partner, locate SIX strong quotes for each of the
SIX characteristics of an Epic Hero (6 quotes total)

Complete on loose-leaf paper and staple to test
Use the Epic Hero Chart from your Beowulf Test
 You will later use these strong quotes for your Epic
Hero Take-Home essay
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