Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
by Frederick Douglass
- Lexile
- 1080L
- Grade range
- Grades 8–12
- Age range
- Ages 13–18
- Pages
- 128
- First published
- 1845
- Genre
- Slave Narrative / Autobiography
- ISBN-13
- 9780486284996
About this book
Frederick Douglass's firsthand account of his enslavement, his self-taught literacy, and his escape to freedom in the North. The narrative is among the most-assigned primary-source texts in Common Core ELA Appendix B, APUSH, AP Language, and state American Literature frameworks.
Themes
- slavery
- literacy as freedom
- abolition
- identity
- resistance
Content notes
- graphic violence
- slavery depictions
- racial slurs (historical)
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Language & Composition
- recommended· 11th gradesource: AP Lang rhetorical-analysis representative text
AP United States History (APUSH)
- required· 11th gradesource: APUSH primary source — Period 5 (1844-1877)
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- required· 11th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR nonfiction exemplar
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave?
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 8–12, with a Lexile measure of 1080L. 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 Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave?
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave has a Lexile measure of 1080L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave?
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave appears on reading lists for AP English Language & Composition, AP United States History (APUSH), Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave banned in schools?
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave 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 Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave explore?
- Central themes in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave include slavery, literacy as freedom, abolition, identity, resistance. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.