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In a novel, I have a well-educated 19th century main character who uses snippets of memorized poetry in conversation. What's the best way to format and punctuation the dialog?
Tried to search for previous discussions and found this thread, where the general consensus was that there are various options in manuscript form. So I'm trying to figure out the best option in my particular case.
Here's an example, where the slightly drunken MC, a doctor, is coping with the death of his patient and rejection from his girlfriend. It's out of context of course, but picture a self-deprecating, mock-heroic tone.
All those quotes and apostrophes and weird punctuation, mixed with the unspoken thoughts--yuck. How do you format/punctuate it? Maybe indenting the real poem in italics:
It's still not real clear that there are two sentences of unspoken thoughts in the middle. And in this format, should the last sentence of mock poetry be indented and italicized too?
Is there a better way?
Aargh! And the stupid MC does this more than once. Why'd I ever make him good at memorizing?
Tried to search for previous discussions and found this thread, where the general consensus was that there are various options in manuscript form. So I'm trying to figure out the best option in my particular case.
Here's an example, where the slightly drunken MC, a doctor, is coping with the death of his patient and rejection from his girlfriend. It's out of context of course, but picture a self-deprecating, mock-heroic tone.
"What else can you do? Life is brief, love is briefer. 'I hold it true whate'er befall--I feel it when I sorrow most: 'Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.'" That didn't work. I was trying to make a point about medicine. "'Tis better to have tried to heal and failed, than never tried at all."
All those quotes and apostrophes and weird punctuation, mixed with the unspoken thoughts--yuck. How do you format/punctuate it? Maybe indenting the real poem in italics:
"What else can you do? Life is brief, love is briefer.I hold it true whate'er befall--That didn't work. I was trying to make a point about medicine. "'Tis better to have tried to heal and failed, than never tried at all."
I feel it when I sorrow most:
'Tis better to have loved and lost,
Than never to have loved at all."
It's still not real clear that there are two sentences of unspoken thoughts in the middle. And in this format, should the last sentence of mock poetry be indented and italicized too?
Is there a better way?
Aargh! And the stupid MC does this more than once. Why'd I ever make him good at memorizing?
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