Lord of the Flies
by William Golding
- Lexile
- 770L
- Grade range
- Grades 9–12
- Age range
- Ages 14–18
- Pages
- 224
- First published
- 1954
- Genre
- Allegorical Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780399501487
About this book
A group of British schoolboys is stranded on a deserted island with no surviving adults. What begins as an attempt at cooperative order collapses as factions form around the bookish Ralph and the charismatic Jack. Golding's allegory of civilization, savagery, and the fragility of social rules is a staple of 9th- and 10th-grade English curricula worldwide.
Themes
- civilization vs savagery
- human nature
- loss of innocence
- group psychology
- power and leadership
- fear
Content notes
- violence
- killing of children by children
- animal cruelty
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- recommended· 11th gradesource: AP Lit representative text list
Cambridge IGCSE English Literature (0475)
- required· 10th gradesource: Cambridge IGCSE Literature set text (current cycle)
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 9th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 exemplar
- recommended· 9th grade · Texassource: TEKS English I frequently taught text
- recommended· 9th grade · Virginiasource: FCPS English 9 core text adoption
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Lord of the Flies?
- Lord of the Flies is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 770L. 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 Lord of the Flies?
- Lord of the Flies has a Lexile measure of 770L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Lord of the Flies?
- Lord of the Flies appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature (0475), Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Lord of the Flies banned in schools?
- Lord of the Flies 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 Lord of the Flies explore?
- Central themes in Lord of the Flies include civilization vs savagery, human nature, loss of innocence, group psychology, power and leadership. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.