The Odyssey
by Homer
Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 1 state
The Odyssey by Homer is assigned in US schools at grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 1130L. It appears across 2 curriculum references and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where The Odyssey is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
Audible trial: new members only. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.
- Lexile
- 1130L
- Grade range
- Grades 9–12
- Difficulty for grade
- Within the grade 9–10 band (1050–1335L)
- Age range
- Ages 14–18
- Pages
- 541
- Reading time
- about 9h 55m (est.)
- First published
- -700
- Genre
- Epic Poetry
- ISBN-13
- 9780140268867
Reading difficulty: At 1130L, The Odyssey falls within the typical 1050–1335L text-complexity range for 9th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge.
Reading below grade level? Kids who struggle with the print version often finish the assigned book by listening — try the audiobook free with a 30-day Audible trial. Affiliate link · trial for new members.
New to these terms? What is a Lexile level? · Reading levels by grade
More formats & details
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.
About this book
Homer's epic follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, during his decade-long return from the Trojan War as he faces monsters, gods, and his own patience. Teachers typically assign a modern translation (Fagles, Wilson, Fitzgerald) in 9th- or 10th-grade World Literature. A standard Common Core grade 9-10 exemplar.
Assigned in homeschool curricula
Similar grade-level books
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
Of Mice and MenJohn Steinbeck · 630L
Lord of the FliesWilliam Golding · 770L
See all books like The Odyssey→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why widely assigned
This Epic Poetry title, reads at high-school literary complexity, typically at grades 9–12. Written in the -700s; pairs with curriculum units on heroism and homecoming; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.
Themes
heroism · homecoming · hospitality and xenia · cunning vs force · loyalty · divine intervention
Content notes
battle violence · graphic killing · sexual content (mild)
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
Was this page helpful?
Common questions
- What grade level is The Odyssey?
- The Odyssey is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12, with a Lexile measure of 1130L. 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 The Odyssey?
- The Odyssey has a Lexile measure of 1130L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read The Odyssey?
- It takes about 9h 55m to read The Odyssey (541 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 595 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is The Odyssey hard to read for 9th grade?
- At 1130L, The Odyssey falls within the typical 1050–1335L text-complexity range for 9th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- What curricula assign The Odyssey?
- The Odyssey appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA), IB Diploma Programme — English A: Literature. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Why this book is on this list
How we classifyHide
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 1130L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 9–12 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.