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Summary- The book starts with the main character, Thomas, inside a dark, creaky elevator not knowing anything but his first name. As he arrived at the surface, he was welcomed by a group of boys who lived in a massive square called the Glade. Surrounding the Glade is an enormous structure with 100-foot walls called the Maze. As soon as Thomas learns about the Maze, he is strongly urged to become a Runner. Runners are the people who explore the Maze, the ones who desperately search for a way out of the Maze. As soon as Thomas begins to settle into his new life, things begin to change. A girl, the first girl to ever be sent to the Glade, appears from the elevator. As the odds get stacked against Thomas and the Gladers, it becomes ever more important to solve the Maze and escape the Glade. But every time they would feel the hope of escape, the Creators, who created the maze, would throw another variable at them, test them. Once they finally "escape" the Maze and are rescued, they are rushed across a vast desert, filled with disease, to what they assume will be their new home. Once inside they feel a sense of security as they happily eat dinner and go to bed. The book ends with the Gladers safely going to sleep.

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Theme- Hope in Desperation

Explanation- The Maze Runner shows how having hope in desperate times can drive you to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. Every day the Runners were faced with the task of running the endless miles of the Maze. They could not have done this if they didn't have any hope that they would find an exit. If they didn't have hope, they would have chosen to give up, living the rest of their days in the Glade. But having hope caused them to persevere, which was important if they were to escape.

Textual Evidence- "The fact that the Gladers hadn't given up said more about these people than anything else." (Dashner, 130).

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Character- Chuck

Analysis- When Chuck was first introduced to Thomas, he seemed like a coward that everyone looked down upon. As time went on Chuck became more and more brave, even volunteering to face the Grievers. We especially see Chuck's bravery when he sacrifices himself to save Thomas, who became his best friend over the weeks they were together in the Glade.

Textual Evidence- "Then, inexplicably, Chuck was there, diving in front of him." (Dashner, 310).

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Symbol- The Maze

Explanation- The Maze represents the chaos of the situation the Gladers are in the middle of. They are sentenced to try to find an escape to a Maze that changes every night, not to mention the bone-chilling creatures called Grievers which stalk the Maze at night. Chaos plays a role in diminishing the Gladers' hope and sanity, which is all due to the existence of the Maze.

Textual Evidence- "Everything we do-our whole life, Greenie-revolves around the Maze. Every lovin' second of every lovin' day we spend in honor of the Maze, tryin' to solve somethin' that's not shown us it has a bloody solution, ya know?" (Dashner, 37-38).

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The Glade- (symbolizes safety)

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The Cliff- (symbolizes punishment and escape)

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The Changing- (symbolizes distrust)

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The Maze Runner was a good read for me because it showed the importance of having the strength to persevere. Watching as the Gladers developed their society and made new solutions for escape was fascinating to me as well. It did hurt when Chuck died though because he was one of my favorite characters. It was heartbreaking to see Thomas crying about how he couldn't keep his promise that he would bring Chuck home to his parents.