Scythe

by Neal Shusterman

Scythe: Dialect 1 key example

Chapter 6
Explanation and Analysis—Thou Shalt Kill:

After Rowan and Citra experience their first gleaning as apprentices in Chapter 6, the narrative includes another journal entry from Scythe Curie, which describes the ten Scythe Commandments. These allude to the Ten Commandments from the Judeo-Christian tradition. They also use similar words and structures to the 17th-century dialect of English used in the King James Bible:

1) Thou shalt kill.

2) Thou shalt kill with no bias, bigotry, or malice aforethought.

3) Thou shalt grant an annum of immunity to the beloved of those who accept your coming, and to anyone else you deem worthy. [...]