What grade level is Death and the King's Horseman?

Death and the King's Horseman is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 11–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Death and the King's Horseman?

It takes about 1h 25m to read Death and the King's Horseman (77 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 85 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Death and the King's Horseman?

Death and the King's Horseman appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Death and the King's Horseman banned in schools?

Death and the King's Horseman does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does Death and the King's Horseman explore?

Central themes in Death and the King's Horseman include drama, yoruba (african people), suicide, prevention. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Death and the King's Horseman

Name: Death and the King's Horseman
Availability: InStock
Author: Wole Soyinka
ISBN: 9780393322996

by Wole Soyinka

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Assigned across 1 curriculum list

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

Death and the King's Horseman by Wole Soyinka is assigned in US schools at grades 11–12. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Death and the King's Horseman is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Grade range: Grades 11–12
Age range: Ages 16–17
Pages: 77
Reading time: about 1h 25m (est.)
First published: 1975
Genre: Historical Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780393322996

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More formats & details

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About this book

Based on events that took place in 1946 in the ancient Yoruban city of Oyo, Soyinka's acclaimed and powerful play addresses classic issues of cultural conflict, tragic decision-making, and the psychological mindsets of individuals and groups. The text of the play is accompanied by an introduction and explanatory annotations for the many allusions to traditional Nigerian myth and culture [from Amazon].

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Death and the King's Horseman→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Historical Fiction title, typically at grades 11–12. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on drama and yoruba (african people); cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

drama · yoruba (african people) · suicide · prevention

Where this book is assigned

Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended·11th grade source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR drama exemplar
- recommended·12th grade source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR drama exemplar

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Common questions

What grade level is Death and the King's Horseman?: Death and the King's Horseman is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 11–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read Death and the King's Horseman?: It takes about 1h 25m to read Death and the King's Horseman (77 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 85 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Death and the King's Horseman?: Death and the King's Horseman appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Death and the King's Horseman banned in schools?: Death and the King's Horseman does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
What themes does Death and the King's Horseman explore?: Central themes in Death and the King's Horseman include drama, yoruba (african people), suicide, prevention. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure: Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band: Grades 11–12 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.