A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, 7th edition - Kate L. Turabian 2007

Additional types of published sources - Classical, medieval, and early english literary works
Parenthetical citations–reference list style: citing specific types of sources
Part II. Source Citation

There are several additional types of published material that have special requirements for citations.

19.5.1 Classical, medieval, and early english literary works

Literary works produced in classical Greece and Rome, medieval Europe, and Renaissance England are cited differently from modern literary works. These sources are often organized into numbered sections (books, lines, stanzas, and so forth) that are generally cited in place of page numbers. Because such works have been published in so many versions and translations over the centuries, the date and other facts of publication for modern editions are generally less important than in other types of citations.

For this reason, classical, medieval, and early English literary works should usually be cited only in parenthetical citations. If the author's name and the title are not already mentioned in the surrounding text, include them along with the section number upon first reference. If subsequent citations clearly refer to the same work, list only the section number. See below regarding differences in punctuation, abbreviations, and numbers among different types of works.

The eighty days of inactivity for the Peloponnesian fleet at Rhodes (Thucydides The history of the Peloponnesian War 8.44.4), terminating before the end of winter (8.60.2—3), suggests . . .

or

The eighty days of inactivity reported by Thucydides for the Peloponnesian fleet at Rhodes (The history of the Peloponnesian War 8.44.4), terminating before the end of winter (8.60.2—3), suggests . . .

If your paper is in literary studies or another field concerned with close analysis of texts, or if differences in translations are relevant, include such works in your reference list. Follow the rules for other translated and edited books in 19.1.1.

R: Propertius. 1990. Elegies. Ed. and trans. G. P. Goold. Loeb Classical Library 18. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Aristotle. 1983. Complete works of Aristotle: The revised Oxford translation. Ed. J. Barnes. 2 vols. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

CLASSICAL WORKS. In addition to the general principles listed above, the following rules apply to citations of classical works.

Use no punctuation between author and title of work, or between title and section number. Numerical divisions are separated by periods without spaces. Use arabic numerals (and lowercase letters, if needed) for section numbers. Put commas between two or more citations of the same source and semicolons between citations of different sources.

P: (Aristophanes Frogs 1019—30)

(Cicero Verr. 1.3.21, 2.3.120; Tacitus Germ. 10.2—3)

(Aristotle Metaphysics 3.2.996b5—8; Plato Republic 360e—361b)

You can also abbreviate the names of authors, works, collections, and so forth. The most widely accepted abbreviations appear in the Oxford Classical Dictionary. Use these abbreviations rather than ibid. in succeeding references to the same work.

P: (Thuc. 2.40.2—3)

(Pindar Isthm. 7.43—45)

MEDIEVAL WORKS. The form for classical references works equally well for medieval works written in languages other than English. If the section number is preceded by a descriptive term, separate it from the title of the work with a comma for clarity.

P: (Augustine De civitate Dei 20.2)

(Abelard Epistle 17 to Heloïse, Migne PL 180.375c—378a)

EARLY ENGLISH WORKS. In addition to the general principles listed above, the following rules apply to citations of early English literary works.

Cite poems and plays by book, canto, and stanza; stanza and line; act, scene, and line; or similar divisions. Separate the elements with commas for clarity.

P: (Chaucer, Wife of Bath's prologue, Canterbury tales, lines 105—14)

(Milton, Paradise lost, book 1, lines 83—86)

You may shorten numbered divisions by omitting act, line, and such and using a system similar to that in classical references (see above). Be sure to explain your system in a footnote.

P: (Milton, Paradise lost, 1.83—86)

If editions differ in wording, line numbering, and even scene division—especially works of Shakespeare—include the work in your reference list, with edition specified.

R: Shakespeare, William. 1982. Hamlet. Arden edition. Ed. Harold Jenkins. London: Methuen.