Act 1 of Henry VIII runs 732 lines across 4 scenes, carrying about 22.6% of the play’s total dialogue with 16 named speakers. It’s longer than the play’s average act (647 lines).
Act opens (Scene 1, Buckingham): “Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done”
Act closes (Scene 4, King Henry Viii): “Who's best in favour. Let the music knock it.”
The 4 scenes of Act 1
| Scene | Lines | Speakers | Share of act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scene 1 | 267 | 7 | 36.5% |
| Scene 2 | 245 | 5 | 33.5% |
| Scene 3 | 83 | 3 | 11.3% |
| Scene 4 | 137 | 8 | 18.7% |
Who speaks in Act 1
The leading voice is Buckingham with 16% of Act 1’s dialogue (118 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Buckingham ♂ | 118 | 16.1% |
| Norfolk ♂ | 114 | 15.6% |
| King Henry Viii ♂ | 98 | 13.4% |
| Cardinal Wolsey ♂ | 89 | 12.2% |
| Chamberlain ♂ | 63 | 8.6% |
| Surveyor ♂ | 61 | 8.3% |
| Queen Katharine ♀ | 54 | 7.4% |
How Act 1 of Henry VIII compares to other historys
| Play | Act 1 lines | Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Richard III | 1,080 | 4 |
| Henry VIII (this act) | 732 | 4 |
| Henry VI, part 2 | 670 | 4 |
| Richard II | 656 | 4 |
| Henry IV, part 1 | 627 | 3 |
| Henry VI, part 1 | 611 | 6 |
| Henry IV, part 2 | 586 | 3 |
| Henry VI, part 3 | 585 | 4 |
| Henry V | 451 | 3 |
| King John | 278 | 1 |
About Act 1 of Henry VIII
How many lines are in Act 1 of Henry VIII?
732 lines spread across 4 scenes.
Who dominates Act 1?
Buckingham delivers 16% of the act’s dialogue (118 lines).