As a language and literature expert, I've had the pleasure of studying the nuances of how we present various forms of written works. When it comes to the presentation of a poem's title in written text, the rules can vary slightly depending on the style guide one adheres to. However, there are some general conventions that are widely accepted in the academic and literary communities.

In the English language, the titles of longer works such as books, plays, and full-length collections of poetry are typically italicized to distinguish them from the surrounding text. This is done to indicate that the title is the name of a complete work. For instance, if you were to cite the title of a novel, you would write it in italics: *The Great Gatsby*.

On the other hand, shorter works, which include poems, articles, short stories, and chapter titles, are often enclosed in quotation marks. This practice helps to set these titles apart from the titles of longer works and to indicate that they are parts of a larger whole. For example, if you are referring to a specific poem within a collection, you might write: "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold.

The mention of "Athena's Birth" in quotation marks suggests that it is the title of a shorter work, likely a poem, given the context provided. It is important to note that while italics and quotation marks are the most common methods of indicating titles, some style guides may recommend different practices. For example, the use of underlining for titles is less common in digital documents due to the ease of applying italics and the fact that underlining is often associated with text that is meant to be emphasized rather than to denote a title.

When deciding how to present the title of a poem in your writing, it is essential to consider the following:


1. Consistency: Whichever method you choose, ensure that it is applied consistently throughout your document.

2. Context: Consider the context in which the poem is being referenced. If it is part of a larger work, it may be more appropriate to use quotation marks.

3. Style Guide: Always refer to the specific style guide required for your work, as different publications and institutions may have their own preferences.

In summary, while there is some flexibility in how to present the title of a poem, the most common and widely accepted practices are to use quotation marks for shorter works like poems. Italics are reserved for longer works, and underlining is generally not used for this purpose in modern writing.

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In general, titles of long, full-length works should be italicized, although some style guides recommend putting them in quotation marks. ... Shorter works (poems, articles, short stories, chapter titles) are typically put in quotation marks. Shorter Works: The first poem in the book is called --Athena's Birth.--read more >>