Copy of 9th Grade - English - OL Final Exam 2026 Study Guide

Thunderhead

AI that controls the utopia in Neal Shusterman's 'Scythe'.

Dystopia

An imagined society that is dehumanizing and unpleasant, often characterized by totalitarian rule.

Utopia

An imagined perfect society with ideal conditions in social, legal, and political aspects.

Old Guard vs. New Guard

Old Guard scythes were humane in killing; New Guard scythes employ brutal methods.

Scythe Nanites

Microscopic robots that flow through the bloodstream of every human.

Scythe Faraday

A character in 'Scythe' known for being helpful and kind.

Scythe Goddard

A character in 'Scythe' known for his cruel personality.

Citra Personality

A character in 'Scythe' who is determined and hardworking.

Rowan Personality

A character in 'Scythe' known for various attributes that contribute to the storyline.

MLA Format Basics

Guidelines for formatting academic papers in Modern Language Association style.

Primary Source

An original document or evidence created during the time period being studied.

Secondary Source

A source that interprets or analyzes primary sources, often created by someone who did not experience the events firsthand.

Quote Integration

The technique of embedding quotes from sources into your writing in a seamless manner.

Literary Terms

Specific vocabulary used in literary analysis, including terms for devices, techniques, and genres.

Scythe Philosophy\n\n

The moral and ethical considerations surrounding the practice of gleaning in 'Scythe'.\n\n

Gleaning\n\n

The act of killing individuals to maintain population control as practiced by scythes.\n\n

Scythe Ceremony\n\n

A formal event where new scythes are inducted and old ones are honored.\n\n

The Thunderhead\n\n

An AI system that governs the world and ensures peace and prosperity but does not interfere with scythe activities.\n\n

Mortal vs. Immortal\n\n

The distinction between humans who can die and scythes who are functionally immortal due to their gleaning rights.\n\n

Clouds of Gleaning\n\n

The phenomenon where the act of gleaning causes widespread emotional distress in society.\n\n

Scythe Training\n\n

The rigorous training process scythes undergo to prepare them for the responsibilities of gleaning.\n\n

Citra and Rowan\n\n

The two main characters in 'Scythe' who are trained as scythes and navigate moral dilemmas.\n\n

The Culling\n\n

A practice wherein scythes must find and eliminate a certain number of individuals to maintain balance in society.\n\n

Hae Min Lee\n\n

A high school student whose murder in 1999 was the central case in the podcast 'Serial'.\n\n

Adnan Syed\n\n

The individual convicted of murdering Hae Min Lee, who maintains his innocence and whose case is featured in 'Serial'.\n\n

Jay Wilds\n\n

A key witness in the murder trial of Adnan Syed, whose testimony played a significant role in the case's developments.\n\n

Tragic Flaw\n\n

A weakness or character defect in a tragic hero that ultimately leads to their downfall, common in 'Romeo and Juliet'.\n\n

Star-Crossed Lovers\n\n

 A term used to describe Romeo and Juliet, indicating that their love is doomed by fate.\n\n

Fate vs. Free Will\n\n

The theme in 'Romeo and Juliet' exploring whether the characters' destinies are predetermined or shaped by their own choices.\n\n

Literary Terms\n\n

Specific vocabulary used in literary analysis, including terms for devices, techniques, and genres, such as metaphor and imagery.\n\n

Metaphor\n\n

A figure of speech that describes an object or action as something else to highlight similarities, often used to create vivid imagery.\n\n

Simile\n\n

A comparison between two different things using 'like' or 'as', used to make descriptions more emphatic or vivid.\n\n

Allusion\n\n

An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work that relies on the reader's familiarity with what is mentioned.\n\n