Lord of the flies

William Golding

Cover of Lord of the flies

Lord of the flies

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

a novel

by William Golding

Reading Level 5 Intense (Lvl 4) Ages 13+ Heads Up

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

Stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, a group of boys tries to create order and rules to survive. As fear and power struggles grow, their civilized behavior unravels, revealing the darker side of human nature. The story explores how quickly society can break down when faced with isolation and danger.

Themes

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include fear & anxiety, physical danger, social conflict. Written for readers ages 13+.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 4 — Intense
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

Heavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.

Content Flags

Fear & Anxiety Physical Danger Social Conflict Violence
Data confidence: high

Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

3/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
8
Narrative Pace
3
Theme Richness
9
World Scope
10
Data Confidence
6

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Details

Book Length

208 pages
59,900 words
6h 39m read-aloud
ISBN
0399501487
Pages
208
Publisher
Penguin
Published
1954
Type
Fiction
Word Count
59,900
Lexile
770L
Read-Aloud
~6h 39m
Text Density
Dense

Subjects

Survival After Airplane Accidents, Shipwrecks, EtcMoral ConditionsEthicsRelationshipsAdventureMoralitySurvivalChildhoodChildrenBoysCastawayShipwreckRegressionBritish and Irish FictionLiterature and FictionEnglish LiteratureDeathThrillerInterpersonal RelationsIslandsCastawaysGood and EvilSurvival After Airplane Accidents, ShipwrecksLeadershipInterpersonal Relations in ChildrenZhang Pian Xiao ShuoGolding, William, 1911-1993English Literature, Outlines, Syllabi, EtcHistory and CriticismAirplane Crash SurvivalAllegoriesPsychological FictionShipwreck SurvivalAdventure StoriesHuman RelationsAdventure and AdventurersPsychological AspectsClassicsPsychologicalAction & Adventure

People

William Golding (1911-1993)a group of young boys

Places

Pacific OceanOn an inhabited islandIslandEnglandThe CountryYing guo