Lord of the Flies

by William Golding | Grades 7-10 | Lexile 770

William Golding's classic novel of primitive savagery and survival is one of the most vividly realized and riveting works in modern fiction.Published in 1954, it has gained a unique status in the pantheon of 20th Century literature. A cult favorite among both students and literary critics, the novel has been called a parable, an allegory, a myth, even a vision of the apocalypse.

The tale begins after a plane wreck deposits a group of English school boys, aged six to twelve on an isolated tropical island. Their struggle to survive and impose order quickly evolves from a battle against nature into a battle against their own primitive instincts. Golding's portrayal of the collapse of social order into chaos draws the fine line between innocence and savagery.