what genre is lord of the flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel that exhibits key characteristics of several different literary genres. The novel is an allegory that uses characters, objects, and the setting to represent human nature and the world at large. It is also a dystopian novel that presents a view of humanity as flawed and inherently savage. In addition, Lord of the Flies can be considered a Bildungsroman or coming of age tale because the boys stranded on the island experience various mental and emotional changes that mark their transition into adulthood. Finally, the novel can be classified as literary fiction, a genre preoccupied more with characterization and symbolism than with plot or straight-out explanation. While the novel has elements of adventure and survival, it is not primarily an adventure story.