1984
by George Orwell
- Lexile
- 1090L
- Grade range
- Grades 9–12
- Age range
- Ages 14–18
- Pages
- 328
- First published
- 1949
- Genre
- Dystopian Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780451524935
About this book
Winston Smith, a low-level bureaucrat in a totalitarian super-state called Oceania, secretly resents the regime of Big Brother and begins a forbidden love affair. Orwell's novel introduces doublethink, Newspeak, and the surveillance language that shapes how Western readers talk about authoritarianism. Widely assigned in AP Literature, AP Government, and high school English.
Themes
- totalitarianism
- surveillance
- language and thought
- propaganda
- rebellion
- individual vs state
Content notes
- torture
- sexual content
- political violence
- psychological abuse
Common Sense Media recommends age 14+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- required· 12th gradesource: AP Lit — frequently cited in free-response questions
AP US Government & Politics
- supplementary· 12th gradesource: AP US Government — supplementary reading on authoritarianism
Cambridge AS & A-Level English Literature (9695)
- required· 12th gradesource: Cambridge AS/A-Level Literature set text (current cycle)
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 11th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR exemplar
- recommended· 11th grade · Marylandsource: MCPS grade 11 ELA core text
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is 1984?
- 1984 is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 1090L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of 1984?
- 1984 has a Lexile measure of 1090L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign 1984?
- 1984 appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, AP US Government & Politics, Cambridge AS & A-Level English Literature (9695), and 1 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is 1984 banned in schools?
- 1984 has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 3 states (TX, MO, FL) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does 1984 explore?
- Central themes in 1984 include totalitarianism, surveillance, language and thought, propaganda, rebellion. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.