How many lines does Caliban have in The Tempest?

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

Caliban has about 177 lines in The Tempest: 1,346 words in 50 speeches, 8.5% of the play, and the second-largest part. The role speaks in 5 of the 10 scenes.

Caliban is a compact part, about one word in twelve, yet only Prospero has more. Unlike the clowns he shares his comic scenes with, he speaks mostly in verse. His key speeches are “This island’s mine” in Act 1, Scene 2, the curse that opens Act 2, Scene 2, and “the isle is full of noises” in Act 3, Scene 2, his biggest scene.

Lines: 177
Words: 1,346
Share of play: 8.5%
Speech time: 10 min

86% of the words are verse. 50 speeches means about 50 cues to learn.

Scene by scene

Scene	Words	Minutes
Act 1, Scene 2	230	1.6
Act 2, Scene 2	416	3.0
Act 3, Scene 2	484	3.5
Act 4, Scene 1	160	1.1
Act 5, Scene 1	56	0.4

The longest speeches

Speech	Scene	Words
“All the infections that the sun sucks up”	Act 2, Scene 2	144
“Why, as I told thee, ’tis a custom with him,”	Act 3, Scene 2	139
“I must eat my dinner.”	Act 1, Scene 2	129
“Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,”	Act 3, Scene 2	72
“I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;”	Act 2, Scene 2	54
“What a pied ninny’s this! Thou scurvy patch!”	Act 3, Scene 2	41
“Prithee, my king, be quiet. Seest thou here,”	Act 4, Scene 1	40
“I’ll show thee the best springs; I’ll pluck thee b…”	Act 2, Scene 2	39

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

Questions actors ask