Hedda Gabler: Pace
16 lenses on pace for Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16
D1. Chapter length in words, as a chart. Count
4 chapters, median 7,773 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D2. Mean sentence length per chapter. Count
Mean 5.7 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D3. Paragraph length per chapter. Count
Paragraphs average 8 words.
Mean paragraph words, chapter by chapter
D4. Scene against summary: how much is shown live? AI
Nearly all is shown live in scene across all four acts. The play is structured as continuous dramatic action with minimal summary, relying on dialogue and stage directions to reveal events.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3, Scene 4
D5. Action against reflection, per chapter. AI
Act 1 balances action and reflection through social visits. Acts 2 and 3 intensify action with manipulation and manuscript burning. Act 4 combines reflection on consequences with Hedda's final act.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3, Scene 4
I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny. (Ch 2, para 1005)
Eilert Lovborg--listen to me.--Will you not try to--to do it beautifully? (Ch 3, para 651)
D6. Tension score per chapter (1 to 5) as a curve. AI
Peak 5 of 5, mean 4.2. See the full lens on the book page.
D7. Emotional arc of the whole book, matched to the six shapes. Count
Riches to rags (fall). See the full lens on the book page.
D8. Chapter endings: cliffhanger, question, reveal or quiet close. AI
4 of 4 chapters end on a hook. See the full lens on the book page.
D9. Chapter openings: in scene, in summary, or after a time jump. AI
All four acts open in scene. Act 1 begins with the drawing room already occupied. Acts 2, 3, and 4 continue from previous moments with characters already present or arriving.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3, Scene 4
D10. Do chapters and sentences get shorter near the climax? Count
In the last fifth, chapters run at 0.67 times the length of earlier ones, and sentences at 0.92 times. So things speed up near the end.
D11. Dialogue density against pace. Count
Link between dialogue share and chapter length: -0.77 (1 is a perfect match, 0 none). Between dialogue share and tension: 0.7.
Dialogue % per chapter, chapter by chapter
D12. Time jumps and how they are signalled. Both
0 time jump phrases in the narration, such as 'next morning' or 'years later'.
Time jumps occur between acts, signalled by act breaks and changed circumstances. Act 2 to 3 jumps overnight after Brack's party. Act 3 to 4 jumps to the next day after Lovborg's death.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 2, Scene 3, Scene 4
D13. Info dump spots: long runs with no action or speech. Both
5 stretches of 900 words or more with no speech at all. These are where description, summary or backstory pile up.
| Starts at | Words | Paragraphs |
|---|---|---|
| c2p585 | 7875 | 1076 |
| c1p413 | 5660 | 721 |
| c3p638 | 5160 | 661 |
| c1p1 | 4036 | 386 |
| c2p103 | 2346 | 294 |
No long info dumps exist. The play maintains constant dialogue and action. Exposition emerges through character conversation rather than narrative summary.
D14. Reading time per chapter. Count
About 1.8 hours to read at 250 words a minute. The longest chapter takes 36.3 minutes.
Minutes per chapter, chapter by chapter
D15. Micro tension in quiet scenes. AI
Quiet scenes carry tension through subtext and power dynamics. Hedda's conversations with Brack in acts 1 and 3 simmer with unspoken threat. Her exchanges with Lovborg in act 2 pulse with psychological manipulation.
Scenes (numbered through the play): Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3
I want for once in my life to have power to mould a human destiny. (Ch 2, para 1005)
Eilert Lovborg--listen to me.--Will you not try to--to do it beautifully? (Ch 3, para 651)
D16. Section breaks per chapter. Count
0 section breaks marked in the text, in 0 of 4 chapters.
Ask Hedda Gabler a question about its craft (free beta)
Answers cite chapter and paragraph, and every quote is checked against the text. (3 free questions a day).
Weekly email: coming soon
One short email a week on new AI tools for authors. Sign up opens soon.