The Maze Runner

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Thomas grapples with losing his memories and regaining some of them.

• How do his memories affect his identity? (topic sentence)
• Incorporate at least three quotations from the novel with reasoning about how they prove your points.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain to what extent memory builds or is not important to who Thomas is, ensuring you explicitly demonstrate the connection between this and the novel's themes of Memory and Identity and Growing Up.

2. To finally escape the Maze, Thomas develops a plan, and many follow him.

• How would you evaluate Thomas's plan? (topic sentence)
• Include at least three specific details from the novel that support your evaluation and explain what each proves.
• In your conclusion, show the connection between this plan and the novel's themes of Sacrifice, Growing Up, and/or Hope. You may also consider offering additional ideas that might strengthen the plan.

3. After Ben attacks Thomas, those in the Glade banish Ben.

• How fair is this banishment? (topic sentence)
• To defend your analysis, include at least three specific details and reasoning.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, provide clear criteria for what makes a punishment fair and connect this to the novel's themes of Order Versus Chaos and Sacrifice.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1.Think about the novel's themes of Memory and Identity and Growing Up. Reflect on Thomas as a character. Is he more selfless or selfish? Why does he want to become a Runner? How does he act toward Chuck? Where does he sacrifice himself for others? What choices does he make for himself? Does he act in ways that help both himself and others? What motivates him during the escape plan at the end?

2. What is the symbolism of the Maze? What role does it play in the lives of those in the Glade? How does Thomas feel about the Maze? What are some rules regarding the Maze? How do the revelations once Thomas and others escape add to or shift the symbolism? What do all these facets of symbolism have to do with the novel's themes of Order Versus Chaos and Hope?