Book Research: The Maze Runner

THE MAZE RUNNER by JAMES DASHNER

Dashner was born and raised in Georgia. He grew up a southerner, with five brothers and sisters, and loved every minute of it.

After high school, James attended Brigham Young University, where he went on to receive a Masters Degree in Accounting. He also took a couple of years off and served a mission in Japan. Since graduation, afirm, and now currently works as a financial analyst. He has been married to Lynette Anderson from West Valley City, Utah and has four children.

Other written works include: The 13th Reality series, the Jimmy Fincher Saga, The Journal of Curious Letters, The Scorch Trials, and the Death Cure.


BOOK 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 surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.


EMOTIONS and FEELINGS

• Fearful
• Mysterious
• Sad
• Yearning
• Hopeful
• Courageous
• Worried
• Thrilling
• Annoying
• Afraid
• Excited
• Confused

QUOTATIONS

“But there was something about the largest object in the solar system vanishing that tended to disrupt normal schedules.” —James Dashner
“If you ain’t scared … you ain’t human.” —Alby
“But happiness had been ripped from their lives. Love had been ripped from
their lives” —James Dashner


PROTAGONIST

Thomas is the protagonist because he begins as a blank slate and leads the Gladers out to their final escape. He genuinely wants to help the Gladers although he doesn’t realize that he is part of the reason they are there in the first place. However, he is dynamic because he wants to defeat his system and the Creators, as they forced him to create such a horrible torture for children.


ANTAGONIST

The Creators of the maze are the antagonists. We don’t know much about them because not much information is given until the very end, and even then we only know that they are some kind of scientists. However, there is a glimpse of who may be in charge when Thomas discovers a beetle blade with the word “Wicked” embellished it, which spies for the Creators.