Understanding how to properly cite William Faulkner’s iconic short story A Rose for Emily in MLA format is essential for students and scholars navigating literary analysis. Because this work appears in numerous anthologies, textbooks, and standalone editions, the citation structure shifts depending on the specific container holding the text. Mastering the nuances of the Modern Language Association’s ninth edition guidelines ensures academic integrity and allows readers to locate your exact source material efficiently.
Understanding the Core Components of MLA 9
Before diving into specific examples for Faulkner’s story, it is vital to grasp the "container" concept introduced in MLA 8 and refined in MLA 9. Consider this: the citation is built on a template of core elements: Author, Title of Source, Title of Container, Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, and Location. Not every element applies to every source, but the logic remains consistent: you cite the specific version of the work you held in your hand or accessed on your screen.
For A Rose for Emily, the "Title of Source" is always the short story title, styled in quotation marks. Even so, the "Title of Container" is the book, anthology, website, or database where the story is reprinted. This distinction is the single most common point of confusion for writers citing short fiction Most people skip this — try not to..
Citing the Story from a Print Anthology or Textbook
The most frequent scenario in undergraduate literature courses involves citing the story from a course anthology, such as The Norton Introduction to Literature or Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. In this instance, the anthology is the container.
Standard Formula:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Short Story." Title of Anthology, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Edition, Publisher, Year, pp. Page Range.
Practical Example:
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly J. Mays, 13th ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2019, pp. 308–17.
Key Details to Note:
- Editor Role: Most literature anthologies have editors rather than a single author. Use "edited by" before the editor’s name.
- Edition: Always include the edition number (e.g., 13th ed.) if it appears on the title page, as pagination changes between editions.
- Page Range: Use "pp." for a range of pages. If the story spans non-consecutive pages (rare in modern anthologies but possible), use a plus sign (e.g., pp. 308+).
Citing a Standalone Print Edition
Occasionally, A Rose for Emily is published as a standalone chapbook or a critical edition containing the story plus essays. In this case, the book is the source, not a container for a smaller work, though MLA 9 still treats the book title as the container title for consistency Worth knowing..
Formula:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year Simple, but easy to overlook. Surprisingly effective..
Example:
Faulkner, William. A Rose for Emily. Harcourt Brace, 1995.
Note: If the standalone volume includes an introduction or critical essays by a scholar, you would cite the scholar as an "Other Contributor" (e.g., A Rose for Emily, introduced by Cleanth Brooks...).
Citing from an Online Source or Database
Digital access introduces variability. You might find the story on a public domain website, a university server, or a subscription database like JSTOR, ProQuest, or Gale Literature. The MLA 9 handbook prioritizes the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) over a URL. If a DOI is absent, use a stable permalink or the standard URL.
Scenario A: A Website (Open Access)
If you read the story on a site like Project Gutenberg, American Literature.com, or a university faculty page:
Formula:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Story." Title of Website, Publisher/Sponsor of Site (if different from title), Publication Date or Last Updated Date, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Example:
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." American Literature, American Literature.com, 2023, americanliterature.com/author/william-faulkner/short-story/a-rose-for-emily. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023 Most people skip this — try not to. That alone is useful..
- Access Date: MLA 9 recommends including an access date for online sources without a clear publication date or for sources likely to change.
- Publisher: If the website title is essentially the same as the publisher (e.g., The New York Times), omit the publisher element to avoid redundancy.
Scenario B: A Library Database (JSTOR, Gale, EBSCO)
This is the gold standard for academic research. The database is the second container Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
Formula:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Story." Title of Original Journal/Anthology, Volume, Issue, Year, pp. Page Range. Title of Database, DOI or Permalink.
Example:
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." The Forum, vol. 83, no. 4, 1930, pp. 505–10. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4358921.
- Original Publication: Citing the original magazine (The Forum, 1930) provides crucial historical context.
- DOI: If the database record provides a DOI (e.g.,
doi:10.2307/4358921), format it as a link:https://doi.org/10.2307/4358921. This is preferred over the long, session-specific URL from the browser bar.
Formatting the In-Text Citation
The Works Cited entry is only half the battle; the in-text citation must point the reader to the correct entry smoothly. MLA uses the Author-Page style.
Standard Narrative Citation
Faulkner establishes the town’s complicity early, describing Miss Emily as "a tradition, a duty, and a care" (308).
Parenthetical Citation
The nonlinear narrative structure mirrors the fragmented memory of the townspeople (Faulkner 310).
No Page Numbers (Common for HTML Websites)
If the online source lacks stable page numbers (common with HTML full-text views), omit the number entirely. Do not invent page numbers or use paragraph numbers unless the source explicitly numbers paragraphs.
The description of the house as "an eyesore among eyesores" sets a tone of decay (Faulkner).
Citing a Specific Edition in Text
If your paper compares the original 1930 magazine version to a modern anthology version, you must distinguish them in the parenthetical citation using a shortened title.
The original publication lacked the section breaks found in later editions (Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily" 505).
Constructing the Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page is a separate page at the end of your document. Adherence to formatting rules signals attention to detail.
- Title: Center the words Works Cited (no bold, italics, or quotation marks) at the top of the page.
- Spacing: Double-space the entire page. Do not add extra spaces between entries.
- Hanging Indent: The first line of each entry is flush left; subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches. In Google Docs or Word, use Format > Align & Indent > Indentation Options > Special > Hanging. 4
Of course. Here is the continuation of the article, smoothly transitioning to the next set of rules and concluding the guide Simple, but easy to overlook..
Citing an Article from an Online Magazine or Newspaper
Every time you cite a piece from an online periodical, the logic remains the same, but the details shift. The website itself is the second container, and you typically omit the medium of publication ("Web") in the final element, as it is implied by the URL And that's really what it comes down to. Turns out it matters..
Formula:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Periodical, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
Klein, Ezra. "The Future of Health Care." Vox, 15 May 2023, www.vox.com/policy/2023/5/15/23720100/health-care-future-biden That's the part that actually makes a difference. Surprisingly effective..
- Original Publication: The periodical (Vox) and the date provide the essential context.
- URL: Always provide the direct, stable link to the article. Avoid using the generic homepage URL.
Citing a Chapter or Essay from an Edited Book
For a work contained within a larger book, the container is the book itself. This is a common scenario in literary criticism and academic anthologies.
Formula:
Author of Chapter, First Name. "Title of Chapter." Title of Book, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. Page Range.
Example:
Bloom, Harold. "The American Sublime." American Literary Criticism, edited by Robert DiYanni, 2nd ed., Pearson, 2004, pp. 125-45 Practical, not theoretical..
- Editor(s): The editor(s) of the book are credited, not the author of the entire volume.
- Edition: If it's not the first edition, specify the edition number after the editor's name.
- Publisher and Page Range: These are crucial for locating the specific chapter within the book.
The Golden Rule of Containers
The entire MLA system is built on the concept of containers. A short story in a magazine is contained by the magazine. Plus, a chapter in an edited book is contained by the book. An article on a website is contained by the website. If a source is housed within another, the larger entity is the container. This hierarchical thinking ensures your citations are logical, consistent, and provide a clear path for your reader to find the source.
Conclusion
Mastering MLA format is less about memorizing every rule and more about understanding the underlying structure: the core elements of author, title, publication, and date, organized logically and placed within the appropriate containers. Now, by consistently applying these principles, you create a Works Cited page that is not just a list of sources, but a reliable map guiding your readers through the landscape of your research. This precision in citation is a fundamental act of academic integrity, giving credit where it is due and solidifying your own authority as a scholar.
