Click on any scene below for a side-by-side translation from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Prologue
Someone steps out on the stage and delivers a speech. Who is this mysterious figure? The truth is: we're not sure. Some scholars call him the "Chorus," while others stick with the super origina...
Act 1, Scene 1
Norfolk, Buckingham, and Abergavenny all greet one another. Buckingham asks Norfolk how he's been since they last saw each other in France.Last time they hung out, Buckingham had a fever and had to...
Act 1, Scene 2
King Henry, Wolsey, and Sir Thomas Lovell enter. Henry thanks Wolsey for doing such a good job catching the bad guys, and he asks to speak to Buckingham's estate manager to get the inside scoop abo...
Act 1, Scene 3
Lord Chamberlain and Lord Sands talk about—what else?—what happened on the nobles' trip to France, and about what's taken place since.Chamberlain thinks it's ridiculous how men are suddenly wea...
Act 1, Scene 4
Over in the dinner hall at Wolsey's pad, Guildford welcomes everyone.
Act 2, Scene 1
Two guys meet on a street, rushing. Why so fast? Guy #2 is on his way to Buckingham's trial, but Guy #1 has just come from there and says it's finished already.
Well, that was fast.
Act 2, Scene 2
Mail call: Lord Chamberlain reads a letter about his horses. It turns out Wolsey took a bunch of them, claiming they were for the king. Chamberlain might have wanted them and all, but he doesn't ha...
Act 2, Scene 3
Anne and an Old Lady dish about the king leaving his wife. Anne thinks the whole thing is really sad; she points out that Katherine has lived a good life and has always been above reproach, but it...
Act 2, Scene 4
Over at Blackfriars, it's a formal affair with a bunch of pomp and circumstance. Everyone's gathered to hear the report from the Pope's rep (Campeius) read. Wolsey shuts everyone up so they can hea...
Act 3, Scene 1
Katherine is in her room listening to music when Wolsey arrives with Campeius and asks to speak with her in private.
Act 3, Scene 2
Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, and Lord Chamberlain have a little meeting about Wolsey: he's become a problem, and they know it. They're just not sure what to do about it.Norfolk wants to present a unit...
Act 4, Scene 1
Out on the streets, the two gents meet again. This time, they're waiting to see Anne pass by. It's her coronation day (the day she gets crowned), and they can't wait to see their new queen.This is...
Act 4, Scene 2
Over at Katherine's pad, her usher Griffith tells her about the death of
Cardinal Wolsey. Once he was arrested, he got sick and died.
Act 5, Scene 1
Gardiner runs into Lovell, who's running around like a chicken with its
head cut off. Why the rush? Lovell is on his way to help, because Anne
is in labor.
Act 5, Scene 2
Rushing to the council meeting, Cranmer hopes he's not too late. He's
about to go into the Council Chamber when a keeper stops him.
Act 5, Scene 3
(Note: In the Folger's edition of the play that we're using, this is still Act 5, Scene 2.)In the Council meeting, the lords finally let Cranmer in—after they've discussed why they're meeting.
Act 5, Scene 4
(Note: In the Folger's edition of the play that we're using, this is Act 5, Scene 3.)
In the palace yard, a group gathers for the baby's christening. A Porter is trying to stop people from shouting...
Act 5, Scene 5
(Note: in the Folger's edition of the play we're using, this is Act 5, Scene 4)All kinds of important peeps enter. The Mayor, Garter, Alderman, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cranmer, and of course the royals t...
Epilogue
We're back where we started, with one figure coming out on stage, talking to us. Let's call this one the Epilogue. The character tells us that the play probably didn't please everyone. A cou...