92 pages • 3-hour read
Scythe
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Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Book Club Questions
Quiz
Tools
Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death and graphic violence.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. What was your initial reaction to the world Neal Shusterman created, where death has been conquered but population control requires professional “gleaners”? Did your response change as the novel progressed? How does Shusterman’s world compare to other dystopias—e.g., in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games?
2. Shusterman explores the concept of immortality and its consequences in Scythe, similar to how he examines body harvesting in Unwind. If you have read both novels, how do they compare in their exploration of life, death, and ethical dilemmas? If this was your first experience with Shusterman, are you interested in reading more?
3. Which philosophical question raised by the gleaning journals resonated with you most? Consider how these journal entries shaped your understanding of different scythes.
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Describe a situation in your life where compassion became both a strength and a challenge, similar to what Citra and Rowan experience as apprentices.
2. At what age would you choose to permanently remain if the novel’s technology existed in our world? Why?
3. What part of your identity would be most difficult to surrender if you were selected to become a scythe?
4. In what ways has your awareness of mortality shaped your perspective on what gives life meaning?
5. Which character’s moral struggle in the novel resonated with you most personally? Why?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. What parallels do you see between the overpopulation issues in Scythe and current societal concerns? What other approaches to this concern might exist beyond those outlined in the novel?
2. What does the stagnation of art and culture in the world of Scythe suggest about the relationship between mortality and human creativity?
3. What connections exist between the Thunderhead’s governance and current technological developments in our world? Consider both benefits and potential dangers.
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. What contrasts between Faraday/Curie and Goddard develop the novel’s themes about compassion and power?
2. Why might Citra have chosen the name “Anastasia” when she becomes a scythe? Think about both the historical context and her character arc.
3. What purpose do the gleaning journals serve in developing the novel’s themes?
4. Compare Rowan’s and Citra’s different responses to their training and what these reveal about their characters.
5. Which symbol among the scythes’ rings, robes, and gleaning journals most effectively develops the novel’s themes?
6. The Thunderhead cannot intervene in scythe affairs despite having perfect knowledge. What does this suggest about the limitations of artificial intelligence?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. What color and style would you choose for your own scythe robe? What would your name be? Explain the symbolism behind your choices.
2. Write or outline the first paragraph of your own gleaning journal as a newly ordained scythe.
3. What changes would you make if you could rewrite the ending of Scythe?
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