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The Maze Runner Essays

Connections between The Maze Runner and Lost Memories Both my book, The Maze Runner, and the poem, Lost Memories, have something to do with lost memories. The main character Thomas awoke in a lift. He does not remember anything. The poems said "My mind went blank. " This is similar to what Thomas...

Thomas, an Incidental Hero A hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability, who sacrifices himself for other people, and leads people through difficult situations. In the book, The Maze Runner, there were many heroes but Thomas was the most heroic character. Even though Thomas was a new...

Maze Runner is a science fiction book by James Dashner. It takes place in a testing facility that is a giant maze in a post apocalyptic world. The main character Thomas' greatest fear is being stung by a griever. Grievers are large half mechanic half slug monster with mechanical arms and if it...

Maze runner Essay By: Brandon Stewart In the maze runner the world was hit by a massive solar flare which ruined a lot of the land on Earth. Because of this there was not enough food and supplies for everyone to have enough to eat and survive so the government created a disease called the “flare”...

?The Maze Runner Character Changes Summary: “When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse...

? Fabian Foerst January 10, 2014 6 set Three by Three THE MAZE RUNNER I read the maze runner by James Dashner for my second quarter independent reading book. This is the first of four books and each book has the same main character. I really enjoyed reading the book and I would give it a rating of...

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October 11, 2013 Period 1 Maze Runner Book Report Thomas is the narrator and protagonist of the story. He arrives in the maze with no knowledge of who he is or was. He only remembers his name and nothing else about his life. Thomas proves to be brave and clever even though he only has a very...

Next comes the events in the rising action. Chuck starts to tell Thomas information about the Glade. He says once a month, another boy is pulled up to the Glade in the Box (elevator). Every boy is assigned a job and has certain tasks to perform so they survive. He accidentally slips out how the...

The Maze Runner by James Dashner, this book is about a boy named Thomas being brought to a completely different place with no recollection of his past, his family, but only his first name. Trapped behind walls (the Glade), they (Gladers) would need to somehow solve an unsolvable maze to escape...

Thomas is brought into a place known as the Glade, with no memories except of his name. He and other teenage boys call themselves Gladers, and have made a community in which each is assigned to a task belonging to different departments headed by a Keeper. The Glade is surrounded by a gigantic Maze...

Maria Leal October 16, 2014 5th period Book report #1 The mace runner / James dasher Publisher: Delacorte Press year: 2009 pages: 376 Genre: Young-adult, science fiction, post-apocalyptic Protagonist Thomas is brought into a place known as the Glade, with no memories of his past life except of his...

“If you ain’t scared… you ain’t human.” — James Dashner, The Maze Runner “You are the shuckiest shuck faced shuck in the world!” — James Dashner, The Maze Runner “Shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?" Minho asked, pulling Thomas's attention away from Alby. "Go ahead," Newt replied...

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“The Maze Runner” is the first book of a trilogy written by American author, James Dashner. Set in the dystopian, post-apocalyptic future, sixteen year old Thomas wakes up remembering nothing about himself except his name. His memory has been completely wiped, only retaining basic memories, as...

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The Maze Runner is considered to be one of the most popular stories with teenagers and young people in general. Both a book and a film are imbued with a certain number of issues that the author tried to bring up. The following themes are ones that are present throughout all of the time...

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“If you ain't scared… you ain't human.” — Page 45 — “You are the hucksterism shuck faced shuck in the world!” — — “Shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?" Minho asked, pulling Thomas's attention away from Alby."Go ahead," Newt replied.Minho nodded and faced the crowd. "Be careful," he...

The Maze Runner is a young adult novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. The story begins in a dark metal elevator, where a teenage boy awakens with no real memories other than the fact that his name is Thomas. When the elevator stops and the doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by teenage...

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A boy finds himself in a dark metal elevator with the sounds of chains and pulleys around him. The smell of burnt oil, combined with the motion of the elevator, nauseates him. He has no recollection of how he came to be in the elevator, but knows that his name is Thomas. In fact, his name is the...

Still confused, and with the large group of boys staring at him, Thomas assesses his surroundings. He notes that “they stood in a vast courtyard several times the size of a football field, surrounding by four large walls made of gray stone and covered in spots with thick ivy” (5). He also notes...

The Maze Runner

By james dashner, the maze runner essay questions.

Examine the slang used by the Gladers. Why do you think Dashner invented such terminology for them to use? How does it affect the manner in which the story is told?

Dashner's own comments on the particular lexicon of the Gladers reveals that the author had two intentions when creating it. As posted by the author on his blog, jamesdashner.blogspot.com, the Glader slang allows the reader to understand that the story takes place in a time very different from our own. Post apocalyptic dystopian novels and films tend to take place in the near or distant future as a sort of warning of what may befall humanity if we maintain the course we are on.

Second, the author notes that the slang allowed the book to be read by young adults and teens without being banned by schools for offensive language. The slang matches the harshness of the world the Gladers inhabit. By allowing the Gladers to employ "adult" language without themselves being adults or risking censorship, Dashner is able to place these teenagers in perilous situations for which they are otherwise ill-prepared. It adds to the horror of their situation: these children never got a chance to be children.

At numerous times in the novel, the importance of order in the Glade is spoken of. At various times, Thomas becomes tired of hearing about it. Why is order so important for the Glader community? When the true nature of WICKED and the Glade are revealed at the end, what does it say about the children who were chosen for the Maze?

Order comes to symbolize hope, but also allows the Gladers to overlay a sense of normalcy in their otherwise abnormal lives. Without order and organization they would be more likely to compete with each other instead of cooperate. The Creators have chosen them with the express intention that these children are smart enough to understand the need for cooperation to ensure their mutual survival.

The Glade comes to be place of order, while the Maze is pure chaos. It gives this community a place of respite. If they are allowed to succumb to their fears and paranoia, the Glade would not survive and the test of the Maze would be largely wasted. Order allows the Gladers to retain a sense of purpose.

Examine the link between Thomas and Teresa. Besides sharing a literal telepathic link, what other similarities can we discern? Is Teresa the only person who can really understand Thomas's situation?

Dashner appears to want the reader to draw an association between these two characters. He even gives the alliterative names, beginning with the same letter. As it is revealed that the two characters were involved in the creation of the Maze we begin to see that Thomas emerges as a leader within the community, though he is largely driven by guilt and concern over the well-being of his new friends.

By allowing he and Teresa to share a telepathic link, Dashner implies that the two characters are able to know more about each other than would be possible for other characters to do. This link makes it difficult for them to hide things from each other. As such, Teresa is privy to both information the others do not know, as well as Thomas's emotional state. They become confidants for each other, helping each other through a difficult time. Because of this, Teresa has a much greater understanding of the responsibility Thomas feels to the others as well as the emotional weight of the promise he made to Chuck.

Chuck and Alby both sacrifice themselves in the novel, though for differing reasons. Compare these two characters and why they sacrifice themselves.

Alby is portrayed as the leader of the Gladers, though as the story progresses we can see that Alby's leadership skills erode, particularly following the Changing. As he remembers more about the world as it is he is less enthusiastic about leaving the Glade. The Glade has become his home and his sense of a normal life. In the Glade life is hard but simple. He has a clear role and clear responsibilities that come with his title. Leaving the Glade is difficult because he does not believe the real world is a pleasant place to inhabit. There, he has no power or authority. Alby is very much like a prisoner who has been incarcerated for a long time only to learn that he will soon be released. The world outside is unfamiliar and foreign. He would much prefer to stay where he is. He deliberately throws himself onto the Grievers to end his life.

Chuck is something of a social outcast, making him similar to the character of Piggy in William Golding's "The Lord of The Flies", a book Dashner credits as an inspiration in creating the The Maze Runner Trilogy. Like Piggy, Chuck's death is senseless. While Piggy's was a case of murder, Chuck's is a sacrifice to save Thomas, for what he believes is the greater good. Thomas has always been kind to him and promised to do all he can to return Thomas to his loving family. Chuck is naive and portrayed as less worldly or younger than the other Gladers. He is innocence incarnate. In Thomas he sees a savior, someone who can change the world for the better. Though it remains to be seen how this affects Thomas in the other books in the series, Chuck appears to be a sacrificial lamb, a character whose death inspires the main character to take up a cause.

A number of Young Adult novels exist now (The Hunger Games, Maximum Ride, as well as the Maze Runner) which present a dystopian worldview. These books have become increasingly popular with Young Adults as well as other demographics. Why do you think that is? Are they purely escapism or is there more to it than that?

These novels tend to share a characteristic: there are no adult characters in them to guide the children. The children or teenagers have to fend for themselves and establish their own order. This can be seen as partially fulfilling a young adult's need for independence and autonomy. They wish to be able to make decisions for themselves and not to be seen as children. There is a fine line to this, as at times in the novel, Thomas and Chuck both dream of living as ordinary children instead of being constantly afraid of monsters.

Some scholars also believe that young adults relate to the themes in these novels because it mirrors the world they are entering. With issues such as a stagnant economy, environmental destruction, and political instability and war inhabiting their everyday lives they are concerned for their own future. A story that presented a more utopian setting would simply not ring true for them.

Some scholars feel that the high school experience can feel like an unending series of tests with a great deal of attention placed on each thing a student does. In this sense, the books simply reflect the growing market of young adult readers. When compared with other young adult novels such as "1984", "A Clockwork Orange", and "A Catcher In The Rye", they reflect the adolescent mindset rather than an actual dystopian world.

These stories also feature an antagonist that is sometimes not a single character, but an entire system, usually headed by adults. This system is therefore older, even antiquated, and must be replaced. It is up to these young adults to fight this system and install one that is fresher, fairer, and more progressive in its place.

Examine Thomas's transformation from frustrated newcomer to a leadership position and eventual savior. How does Dashner use this character arc to invest the reader in Thomas's story?

Dashner allows Thomas to be our guide through the story. As we enter the Glade with Thomas, we know as little as he does about his situation or the setting. As the reader learns more through Thomas's experiences, we become invested in his desire to become a Runner. We come to believe that he can lead the others out of the Maze successfully.

Dashner relies on time-tested methods of storytelling to reveal Thomas's true character. By placing Thomas in situations of conflict we as the reader are able to see how he will react. Will he face his fear or run away from it? Because Thomas sometimes does both, we can see his vulnerability and thus, his humanity. This allows the reader to relate to Thomas and begin to champion his side.

This is reflected in the fact that the other characters around Thomas slowly begin to see that he is different. While they are suspicious at first, he begins to win them over. They come to believe that perhaps he can help them. This additional responsibility upon Thomas also separates him from the others. He becomes a hero and savior, a lonely position in which he alone feels he must shoulder the burden. This burden is not expressed anywhere as strongly as it is when Chuck sacrifices himself for Thomas.

Discuss the character of Ben. Specifically, what does the Banishment scene tell us about the nature of the Glade and the boys who live there?

Ben's character is tragic and, for Thomas, haunting. He feels terrible about the fate that befalls Ben, even though Ben tried to murder him. The lasting image of Ben being removed from the Glade with the collar and the scream he emits as the walls close stay with Thomas for a long time.

Thomas is dismayed by the extremity of the law in the Glade. Clearly, he feels, Ben needs help, not punishment. The Keepers decide that Ben's banishment is a necessity to maintaining the natural order. There is no period of leniency. Ben is not imprisoned to see if he improves.

It is the cold brutality of the punishment that also leaves an impression on Thomas. These are, after all, teenagers sentencing other teenagers to certain death. While the Glade operates on the condition of maintaining order it does not do so with an eye toward civility. The conditions the Gladers have lived under for two years have made them more savage and less tolerant. The collar itself adds another layer of brutality and dehumanizing to Ben's predicament. It is inherently linked with savagery and historical occurrences such as the Slave Trade. As a result, we sympathize with Ben's situation just as Thomas does.

Why do you think the Glade was only populated by boys until Teresa was introduced? What was the purpose of this?

Although this topic is not explicitly discussed in the book, Teresa's appearance in the Glade is a catalyst for change. Everything about her is different: She is the first female to come to the Glade, she arrives unannounced and off-schedule, and she is comatose when she arrives after delivering a cryptic but frightening message. She upsets the natural order of the Glade. Her introduction was meant to trigger the Ending, something the Creators explicitly planned. As part of the larger experimental nature of the Glade, it may have also been to see how the Glader population would react to her.

The male-only makeup of the Glade resembles a prison. In prisons men and women are generally kept separate to ensure order for the same reason. This also prevents any type of sexual contact between the men and women and ensures there are no unplanned pregnancies or assaults. However, Teresa's femininity is not a major plot point in the novel. Although Dashner makes reference to the potential dangers when some of the boys call "first dibs" on Teresa, her safety is not a major issue. This may have been a decision by Dashner to avoid the topic in a young adult novel.

Why do you believe the Runners were unable to decipher the Maze even after spending two years running and mapping it? What does this say about their attitude toward it?

When Thomas first learns that the Runners have been attempting to find their way out of the Maze for two years he is disheartened. If they haven't been successful for all this time, how could he possibly be? However, when Thomas first suggests that the Runners have been going about solving the Maze in the wrong way, that they have been comparing each section only to itself over time, does the first clue reveal itself.

Minho's defense of their strategy demonstrates the ongoing need for the Gladers to stick to their routine to retain order. The downside of this is that routines become rote and static instead of flexible and adaptive. Only when the order is disturbed by the introduction of Thomas and Teresa do other possibilities begin to emerge. The Runners know that mapping the Maze daily is important, but they have forgotten why. For them the importance is not so much in escaping but in having something to do each day so that they do not lose hope. As is explained to Thomas, working keeps their minds engaged instead of thinking about the dire situation they find themselves in.

How is the novel a coming-of-age tale? What elements in the story can be seen to support such an interpretation?

The novel features characters in their teens dealing with the awkward years between childhood and adulthood. While their situation is far more dire and dangerous than the average teenager's, many of their struggles mirror the everyday struggles that teens face everywhere. The Maze itself can be seen as a metaphor for the confusion young adults face as they begin to navigate their own lives and the real worlds. The Maze has no solution and no seeming way out until Thomas shows the Gladers a different way of looking at the Maze. The way out is one they may have all suspected for quite some time. The Griever Hole is the most frightening way out. The Gladers are forced to face their own doubts and fears to move past it, just as teenagers have to get past their own fears to achieve real growth.

The novel also thematically deals with the issue of authority and how to overcome it one must frequently create their own order and authority. Well-meaning adults use authority to control their children and keep them safe. It is only when that child is able to maintain control and discipline in their own lives that they can throw off the shackles of an outside authority. In this manner, Thomas also struggles with his own issues with becoming an authority figure. The responsibility on him frightens him but he rises to accept it.

Romantic feelings are also a common trope in coming of age stories. Thomas begins to develop romantic feelings for Teresa, though he is unsure of how to handle these feelings. He and Teresa come to be seen as a couple, and Thomas starts to see Chuck as a younger brother. This family structure demonstrates growth on Thomas's part as well. He goes from wanting to escape the Glade and its inhabitants to becoming a surrogate father figure.

The Maze Runner Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Maze Runner is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

The protagonist feels trapped and wants to escape. When/how does Thomas show his desire to escape the Glade? In dialogue

Thomas wants all the Gladers to escape one day. For example Thomas reflects on Chuck's death, telling Teresa about the promise he made to him. Thomas's characterization as a savior of the Gladers and the resulting guilt he experiences when he is...

How does Minho react to the major change in the Gladers' enviroment?

Minho reacts by immediately going back to study the maps they've been making along the way. Thomas is shocked that he didn't tell Alby and Newt first, but Minho takes charge. As a runner, he wants to check everything thoroughly.

What do the words stamped into the stone of the walls suggest about the world outside the maze? What might it suggest about why the boys are in the Glade?

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Study Guide for The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner study guide contains a biography of James Dashner, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Maze Runner
• The Maze Runner Summary
• Character List

Lesson Plan for The Maze Runner

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Maze Runner
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Maze Runner Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Maze Runner

• Introduction
• Development

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Book Review of The Maze Runner: English Literature Essay

In the novel, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Thomas wakes up one day in a large, open room called the Glade (an elevator car) with no recollection of his life before. He finds that he is among a community consisting of 50 boys going by the name Gladers.

They have a leader named Alby, a co-leader by the name Newt and all they’re trying to do is solve the one maze. The entrance to the maze automatically closes every night at the same time, and that protects the Glades from Grievers (half animal, half robots) that will attack you if you get caught outside the maze. Chuck has to work alongside Thomas. They later become best friends. For the next several years, Thomas struggles to survive and find his way out only to learn that he is actually part of an experiment where they are trying to get teenagers from all over the world in order to create a cure for an unknown disease that has spread.

Uniqueness of The Maze Runner Essay

The tale is filled with suspense and adventure as Thomas attempts to find out more about the place, he has landed in. Surprisingly, a feeble teen girl with little of her memory remaining is brought in on his second day. The girl’s name is Teresa, and when she comes out from the coma, Thomas discovers that they can telepathically communicate. They, therefore, had this notion that they must have known each other before it happened to them. One evening, before the walls close and the time is running out, two runners named Minho and Alby did not return because they found a dead body the previous day. Just as the walls were almost closing, some of the runners soon discovered that they were not going to make it out and therefore they broke the first rule. Minho, therefore, decides to split up with Alby and leaves him to die because he got stung. They failed to accept that and tied Alby to the wall.

The maze runner book description

The end in The Glade gets triggered when they wake up one day, and there was no sun, after which they realized that they have existed in an environment of simulation. Thomas decides to solve the maze, and that is to get stung and go through the changing. Thomas realizes that all the teens were being used as experiments. They had been given false names from a scientist. He makes up a plan to get out of that prison, and it works. The bad thing is that half of the people die while trying to escape. When they finally managed to escape from the bondage, they met a rescue party after taking about two hours, where they get to some new location.

The maze runner characters’ description

Thomas is the book’s main protagonist, and he Is about 16 years of age, and his height is 5 ft 9. He also has black and brown hair and a set of blue eyes. Some people describe Thomas as ugly.

Among the many memorable scenes is when Alby, Thomas, and Minho got themselves trapped in the maze in the dark. I expected Minho to act as their leader, but he decides to ditch the group and go about his business on his own. The best part was the climax when they had run for about 3 hours, and Thomas meets with Minho and is surprised that he is alive. It is almost morning when they meet, but they are tired from the running, and from there, Minho comes up with a plan, and that’s when Thomas tricked the grievers into falling off the cliff. That scene was quite memorable and says that characters fought all odds, and you can even feel your adrenaline shooting even if you’re just sitting.

Other individuals who would like to read the same book would be interested in a series of books like Harry Potter. The readers must be lovers of Adventures or mystery. By reading the book, you will get hooked and know the next time that will happen, especially with all the twists within the storyline.

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Essay Samples on The Maze Runner

Stepping out of your comfort zone through the maze runner story.

In life, many of us will find one’s self in an unfamiliar situation and will be forced to make decisions and overcome them. In the maze runner by James Dasher, Thomas finds himself in this situation. He is trapped in a huge maze with a...

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Sustaining Order and Democracy in Lord of the Flies and The Maze Runner

Introduction In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and James Dashner’s The Maze Runner, the protagonists, Ralph and Thomas, are set up as leaders of the society that is constructed encompassing them. However, whilst Ralph joins the island within a group- incrementing himself into his...

• Lord of The Flies

The Importance of Bravery for the Survival in The Maze Runner

Being brave both physically and mentally brave and working hard can bring success very easily. It isn’t something that someone is born with, but rather they are skills that develop overtime as you proceed onto them. The science-fiction book Maze Runner, written by James Dashner,...

The Maze Runner Movie Review: Movie Adaptation of the Best-selling Sci-Fi Novel

What would you do when you find yourself in a maze without an exit? This is exactly what happened in The Maze Runner movie directed by Wes Ball. The 20th Century Fox released The Maze Runner in the United States on September 19, 2014. This...

• Movie Summary

Why Maze Runner Should Have Age Requirement

Maze runner, the book that is very famous to a lot of people including me. It talks about Thomas, a random guy been sent into the place called the maze. Inside there, he met a lot of people inside the maze including the leader Alby...

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3. The Importance of Bravery for the Survival in The Maze Runner

4. The Maze Runner Movie Review: Movie Adaptation of the Best-selling Sci-Fi Novel

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The Maze Runner

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-20

Chapters 21-24

Chapters 25-28

Chapters 29-32

Chapters 33-36

Chapters 37-40

Chapters 41-44

Chapters 45-48

Chapters 49-52

Chapters 53-56

Chapters 57-60

Chapters 61-63 (Epilogue)

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

The exit from the Box and entrance into the Glade can be seen as a birth of sorts, or a rebirth. Even the language the Gladers use is something newcomers have to learn. Using specific examples of Thomas’s experience, discuss how the concept of birth, as well as the concept of “growing up,” plays out in his character arc.

Order and stability are recurring themes in the novel. Discuss the importance of order and stability in the novel, giving examples of order in practice, as well as examples of what happens when order appears to break down.

Chuck , Alby and Gally all sacrifice themselves in the novel, though for different reasons. Describe each sacrifice, and then compare characters and why they sacrificed themselves.

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'The Maze Runner' by James Dashner: Book Club Discussion Questions

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"The Maze Runner," by James Dashner, is a 2009 young adult post-apocalyptic science fiction novel. Set in a dystopian reality where young boys must fight for their lives within a deadly maze, this is a thrilling novel full of plot twists and action sequences. As the first book in a trilogy, "The Maze Runner" ends on a cliffhanger.

Plot Summary

A boy wakes up in an elevator remembering only that his name is Thomas. The elevator brings him to a place called the Glade, a large piece of land surrounded by walls that are several miles high. The Glade does have four openings, but outside of the Glade is an ever-changing maze. The Glade houses a group of boys called the Gladers. Each day, a few members of the group, called the Runners, slip outside of the Glade to try to find a way out of the maze, but they never do—until Thomas helps them escape.

Eventually, 20 Gladers are rescued only to learn that outside of the maze, there has been an apocalyptic world event and that they are part of an elaborate experiment created to help equip them with the skills to save the new world. Presaging the next novel in the trilogy, the reader learns that this was only the first phase of the experiment.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to work through the novel and discuss what you think James Dashner is trying to say. Spoiler alert: These questions contain details from the novel and talk about the end of the book. Finish reading the book before looking on.

• Why do you think WICKED put the kids in the maze? Do you think it was an effective way to find the smartest and most resilient?
• Where do the characters in this novel get their names? What is the significance of names to the story and to character development?
• Even though Thomas does not remember it, he and Teresa had a role in creating the maze. Do you think that makes him guilty? Does he owe something to the other boys?
• What was the point of sending Teresa into the maze?
• What role does language play in this novel? For example, why do you think the people in the Glade use slang words such as "shank?"
• Was Gally good or bad? Why do you think the scientists used him?
• Throughout the book, Thomas and the other boys have more questions than answers. The reader, too, does not know what is happening. Did you like how this produced suspense? Were you satisfied with the answers provided in the end?
• In the final memo from WICKED, they refer to "Group B." Who do you think that is?
• If the world is truly in catastrophe, do you think the means can justify the ends of saving the human race? Even if it means enslaving or killing children? Is it possible, as Teresa thinks, that WICKED could be good?
• Did you guess that the maze could be a code? Do you think the kids ever would have tried to escape through the Griever Hole if the end had not been triggered?
• Do you think the author, James Dashner, intended to draw any parallels to society as a whole with this novel? In what ways?
• Do you think you will read the next two books in the series to find out what happens?
• Rate "The Maze Runner" on a scale of 1 to 5.
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Home — Essay Samples — Business — Comparative Analysis — The Maze Runner Movie Vs Book: A Comparative Analysis

The Maze Runner Movie Vs Book: a Comparative Analysis

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Published: Jun 13, 2024

Words: 736 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, character development, plot structure, thematic emphasis.

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Comparing the Book and Movie – the Maze Runner

This essay will compare the “Maze Runner” book with its movie adaptation. It will highlight the key differences and similarities in plot, character development, and thematic elements, discussing how these changes affect the overall narrative and audience reception. PapersOwl offers a variety of free essay examples on the topic of Book.

How it works

?Have you ever noticed when you are watching a film, based on a book, it never seems quite the same? Well, directors actually do this for a reason. They do this to make the movie flow faster and make it easier for the audience to understand. When comparing the book “The Maze Runner”, by James Dashner, to the movie, directed by Wes Ball, there were several differences. First, some of the character’s personalities in the book were not the same as described in the film.

Secondly, Thomas’s memory differed from the movie compared to the book. Lastly, in the book, the entryways leading into the maze were unlike the movie. Although there were differences between reading “The Maze Runner” and watching the film, the overall story was awesome!

When comparing the book, “The Maze Runner”, to the movie, one difference was the personalities of the two characters Gally and Alby. In the movie, Gally has a strange attachment to the Glade. You also don’t find out he gets stung by the griever until the end of the movie when he escapes. In the book, Gally gets stung by the griever way before Thomas arrives. Alby and Thomas are, also, very close in the movie. Alby becomes a teacher for Thomas and answers all his questions. This is very different when compared to the book. In the book, Thomas is called names, and information is withheld from him. Alby is very negative towards Thomas and isn’t helpful in answering the questions Thomas asks. These two characters’ personalities are very different when comparing them from the book to the movie.

Another difference, when comparing the book to the film, is Thomas’s memory and where he sleeps at night. At the beginning of the movie, Thomas remembers his name when getting to the Glade. When this happens, Thomas starts having dreams about WICKED. In his dreams, there is a young girl and a voice that keeps repeating “wicked is good”. In the book, Thomas remembers his name late the night he arrives at the Glade. He starts getting some memory back when he intentionally stabs himself with the broken part of a griever. When looking at where Thomas slept at night, in the movie, he slept with the other Gladers in the same tent. In the book, Thomas slept in a corner of the maze, in the forest.

One of the biggest differences when contrasting the book “The Maze Runner” to the movie was the entryways leading into the maze and the missing beetle blades. In the movie, there is only one entrance to the 8 maze openings. It opened up each day and it closed by both of the outside walls sliding together. In the book, there are four separate entryways that lead into the maze. There is one on each wall. At the end of the day, a stone door closes by the right side sliding into the left. In the book, there are beetle blades which are mechanical lizards with cameras as eyes, created by wicked. The beetle blades are used to spy on the Gladers and report back to wicked. In the movie, they don’t exist. Wicked spies on them through cameras in the maze.

Reading the book “The Maze Runner” was exciting and it kept readers wondering why the maze was there and if the boys were really going to get out. The movie created a lot of action, a lot of guessing and the setting was the same as the book. Overall, the book was better. The author gave so much more detail and suspense. Thomas’s memory,

Gally and Alby’s personalities, the entryway into the maze, and the beetle bugs were only a few of the differences seen when reading the book and watching the film. At times, the differences from the movie to the book made it a little confusing and disappointing that so much was left out. In conclusion, “The Maze Runner” movie was not a bad film to watch, but the book was well written and without question the favorite.

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Comparing the book and movie - The Maze Runner. (2019, Feb 25). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/comparing-the-book-and-movie-the-maze-runner/

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PapersOwl.com. (2019). Comparing the book and movie - The Maze Runner . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/comparing-the-book-and-movie-the-maze-runner/ [Accessed: 11 Jul. 2024]

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PapersOwl.com. (2019). Comparing the book and movie - The Maze Runner . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/comparing-the-book-and-movie-the-maze-runner/ [Accessed: 11-Jul-2024]

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Home / Essay Samples / Entertainment / The Maze Runner / Reflection On The Book Maze Runner

Reflection On The Book Maze Runner

• Category: Literature , Entertainment
• Topic: Book Review , Literature Review , The Maze Runner

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