How many lines does Dogberry have in Much Ado About Nothing?
The size of the part, every scene it speaks in, its longest speeches, and how long it takes to learn.
The Offbook team
Oct 8, 2026
Dogberry has about 174 lines in Much Ado About Nothing: 1,525 words in 52 speeches, 7.4% of the play, and the 6th-largest part. The role speaks in 4 of the 17 scenes.
Dogberry has no lines until Act 3, Scene 3, then carries four scenes, all in prose. The part lives on malapropisms, the wrong word used in place of the right one, which makes it harder to learn than it looks: the mistakes must be exact. His longest speech, in Act 4, Scene 2, is the “write me down an ass” outburst.
- Lines
- 174
- Words
- 1,525
- Share of play
- 7.4%
- Speech time
- 11 min
0% of the words are verse. 52 speeches means about 52 cues to learn.
Scene by scene
| Scene | Words | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Act 3, Scene 3 | 568 | 4.1 |
| Act 3, Scene 5 | 315 | 2.3 |
| Act 4, Scene 2 | 376 | 2.7 |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | 266 | 1.9 |
The longest speeches
| Speech | Scene | Words |
|---|---|---|
| “Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not susp…” | Act 4, Scene 2 | 138 |
| “Moreover, sir, which indeed is not under white and…” | Act 5, Scene 1 | 89 |
| “You have: I knew it would be your answer. Well, fo…” | Act 3, Scene 3 | 85 |
| “A good old man, sir; he will be talking: as they s…” | Act 3, Scene 5 | 81 |
| “I leave an arrant knave with your worship; which I…” | Act 5, Scene 1 | 55 |
| “Write down, that they hope they serve God: and wri…” | Act 4, Scene 2 | 50 |
| “Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet watc…” | Act 3, Scene 3 | 47 |
| “Five shillings to one on’t, with any man that know…” | Act 3, Scene 3 | 44 |
How many lines a day to learn
New lines a day to be off book in time, learning five days a week. Review what you already know on the other days.
| Time until off book | New lines a day |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | 18 |
| 3 weeks | 12 |
| 4 weeks | 9 |
| 6 weeks | 6 |
More from Much Ado About Nothing
- How many lines does Benedick have?
- How many lines does Beatrice have?
- How many lines does Leonato have?
- How many lines does Don Pedro have?
- Every role in Much Ado About Nothing, by size
Questions actors ask
How many lines does Dogberry have in Much Ado About Nothing?
About 174 lines: 0 lines of verse and 1,525 words of prose. That is 1,525 words in 52 speeches, 7.4% of the play and the 6th-largest part.
How long is Dogberry’s longest speech?
138 words, in Act 4, Scene 2, beginning “Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not suspect my years? O that he were here to write me down an ass! But, masters, remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass. No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness. I am a wise fellow, and, which is more, an officer, and, which is more, a householder, and, which is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any in Messina, and one that knows the law, go to; and a rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath had losses, and one that hath two gowns and everything handsome about him. Bring him away. O that I had been writ down an ass!” At 140 words a minute it runs about 59 seconds.
How long does it take to learn Dogberry?
To be off book in three weeks, learning five days a week, plan on about 12 new lines a day, plus time to review what you already know. Start with your longest speeches and the scenes with the most cues.
Keep reading
- Much Ado About Nothing: every role by lines, words, and stage timeWilliam Shakespeare. Line counts, scenes, and the longest speeches.
- How many lines does Benedick have in Much Ado About Nothing?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- How to Audition for a Co-Star Role on TVWhat a co-star role is, why three lines are harder to cast than they look, and how to make one specific choice that serves the scene without pulling focus from the lead.
- Can ChatGPT Be Your Scene Partner? What a Chatbot Can and Can’t Do for Running LinesA chatbot can quiz you, explain a scene, and check your paraphrase. Running lines out loud is harder: cue timing, one voice for every role, and exact words. Here is how to use it well.