The Scarlet Letter
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Lexile
- 1420L
- Grade range
- Grades 10–12
- Age range
- Ages 15–18
- Pages
- 238
- First published
- 1850
- Genre
- American Classic
- ISBN-13
- 9780142437261
About this book
In 17th-century Puritan Boston, Hester Prynne is forced to wear a scarlet A for adultery while her lover, the town's minister, suffers in silence. Hawthorne's novel is a fixture of 11th grade American Literature and appears on AP Literature reading lists.
Themes
- sin
- guilt
- Puritan society
- gender
- hypocrisy
Content notes
- adultery (themes)
Common Sense Media recommends age 14+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- recommended· 11th gradesource: AP Lit representative text
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 11th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR exemplar
- required· 11th grade · Massachusettssource: MA ELA Framework — paired with Puritan New England history
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is The Scarlet Letter?
- The Scarlet Letter is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 10–12, with a Lexile measure of 1420L. 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 Scarlet Letter?
- The Scarlet Letter has a Lexile measure of 1420L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign The Scarlet Letter?
- The Scarlet Letter appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Scarlet Letter banned in schools?
- The Scarlet Letter 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 The Scarlet Letter explore?
- Central themes in The Scarlet Letter include sin, guilt, Puritan society, gender, hypocrisy. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.