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    DystopianScience FictionYoung Adult

    The Maze Runner

    by Dashner, James
    “The Maze Runner” by James Dashner is a dystopian science fiction novel that follows Thomas, a teenage boy who wakes up in a mysterious glade surrounded by an ever-shifting maze. With no memory of his past, he joins a group of similarly amnesiac boys known as the Gladers, who must navigate the deadly labyrinth to survive. The maze is patrolled by biomechanical creatures called Grievers, adding to the danger. As Thomas uncovers fragments of his identity, he learns they are part of a sinister experiment. Themes of survival, identity, and societal control drive the plot, culminating in a gripping struggle for freedom. The novel’s fast-paced action and intricate world-building make it a standout in young adult dystopian literature.
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    The Maze Runner

    Chapter 36

    by Dashner, James

    Thomas, over­whelmed by Teresa’s sud­den intru­sion into his mind, retreats to a seclud­ed spot behind the Dead­head for­est to escape the chaos. Hid­ing under a blan­ket, he tries to calm him­self until Tere­sa unex­pect­ed­ly appears, speak­ing to him aloud. She reveals frag­ment­ed mem­o­ries of their past con­nec­tion, though nei­ther can recall specifics. Their con­ver­sa­tion is tense yet famil­iar, as Tere­sa strug­gles to explain her tele­path­ic abil­i­ties and the vague impres­sions she has of their shared his­to­ry, includ­ing the unset­tling phrase, “The Maze is a code.”

    Tere­sa shares more clues, such as the words “WICKED is good” writ­ten on her arm, which Thomas rec­og­nizes from the bee­tle blades spy­ing on the Gladers. Both are baf­fled by the phrase’s mean­ing and their inabil­i­ty to remem­ber its sig­nif­i­cance. Teresa’s pres­ence and her cryp­tic mes­sages deep­en Thomas’s con­fu­sion, but he feels an unde­ni­able bond with her. Their dia­logue oscil­lates between frus­tra­tion and cama­raderie, as they grap­ple with their erased mem­o­ries and the eerie real­iza­tion that they might have been delib­er­ate­ly placed in the Maze for a pur­pose.

    As they dis­cuss their fears and the dete­ri­o­rat­ing con­di­tions in the Glade—such as the miss­ing sup­plies and the gray sky—Thomas grows more deter­mined to uncov­er the truth. Teresa’s frag­ment­ed mem­o­ries sug­gest they were once impor­tant fig­ures, pos­si­bly manip­u­lat­ed by the Cre­ators. Their exchange is inter­rupt­ed when Newt sud­den­ly arrives, hint­ing at anoth­er impend­ing cri­sis. The chap­ter ends on a cliffhang­er, leav­ing their con­ver­sa­tion unre­solved and the Glade’s fate uncer­tain.

    The chap­ter high­lights the deep­en­ing mys­tery sur­round­ing Tere­sa and Thomas’s con­nec­tion, as well as the esca­lat­ing ten­sion in the Glade. Their shared con­fu­sion and par­tial rec­ol­lec­tions under­score the larg­er enig­ma of the Maze and its cre­ators. The arrival of Newt sug­gests that the Gladers’ strug­gles are far from over, set­ting the stage for fur­ther rev­e­la­tions and con­flicts in the sto­ry.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Thomas initially react to Teresa waking up from her coma, and what does this reveal about his emotional state?

      Answer:
      Thomas actively avoids seeing Teresa or anyone else after she wakes up, slipping away unnoticed to hide behind the Deadhead forest. This reaction reveals his deep emotional turmoil and confusion about their connection. By covering himself with a blanket, he symbolically tries to shield himself from Teresa’s mental intrusion, indicating fear and vulnerability. His need for solitude suggests he’s overwhelmed by the strange bond they share and the implications of her arrival, which has disrupted the Glade’s normalcy.

      2. What key revelation does Teresa share about her memories, and how does this parallel Thomas’s own experience?

      Answer:
      Teresa describes her memories as “empty shelves” with labels but no content, comparing them to a “white curtain” hiding her past. This directly parallels Thomas’s fragmented memory—he recalls riding a bicycle but not learning how, just as Teresa senses their shared history without concrete details. Both experience emotional echoes (e.g., Teresa’s familiarity with “Tom,” Thomas’s feeling of home) without full recall. This mutual amnesia suggests they were intentionally memory-wiped before entering the Maze, hinting at manipulation by the Creators.

      3. Analyze the significance of the phrase “WICKED is good” that Teresa wrote on her arm. How does this connect to broader mysteries in the Glade?

      Answer:
      The phrase “WICKED is good” introduces a critical paradox, as “wicked” typically implies evil, while “good” suggests benevolence. Thomas recognizes “WICKED” from the beetle blades—the Creators’ surveillance devices—implying it’s an acronym or organization name. Teresa’s instinct to preserve this message (despite not remembering why) indicates subconscious knowledge of their captors. The phrase may foreshadow that the Maze’s cruelty serves a hidden purpose, challenging the Gladers’ assumptions about their imprisonment and suggesting moral ambiguity in the experiment’s design.

      4. How does the telepathic communication between Teresa and Thomas evolve in this chapter, and what does it suggest about their relationship?

      Answer:
      Initially, Thomas is alarmed by Teresa’s mental messages, but by this chapter, he grows more accustomed to them, even acknowledging relief that they no longer “freak him out.” Teresa compares their telepathy to an innate skill like riding a bike, implying it’s a recovered ability rather than a new one. Their seamless switching between spoken and mental dialogue (e.g., Teresa saying “I just don’t know” in his mind) suggests a pre-existing, intimate connection—possibly engineered by WICKED. This bond sets them apart from other Gladers, positioning them as central figures in the Maze’s purpose.

      5. Evaluate how Teresa’s arrival and revelations impact the chapter’s tone and the story’s central conflict.

      Answer:
      Teresa’s awakening shifts the tone from suspense to urgent mystery. Her cryptic clues (“The Maze is a code”), telepathy, and the “WICKED” message escalate tensions by introducing higher stakes—the Glade’s systems are failing (no supplies, gray sky), and her presence has “triggered the Ending.” The chapter juxtaposes intimate moments (their handshake, shared laughter) with existential dread, deepening the central conflict: uncovering their past while surviving imminent catastrophe. Teresa becomes both a catalyst for change and a symbol of hope, as her partial memories suggest they were placed in the Maze for a reason.

    Quotes

    • 1. “‘Forgetting about you was the worst part.’”

      This quote marks Teresa’s first spoken words to Thomas after her coma, revealing their mysterious past connection. It introduces the theme of fragmented memories and emotional bonds that persist despite their memory wipes.

      2. “‘I remember remembering… Like I have all these shelves in my head, labeled for memories and faces, but they’re empty.’”

      Teresa’s vivid metaphor captures the central mystery of their condition - the haunting sense of lost identity. This poetic description represents the novel’s exploration of memory and selfhood.

      3. “‘WICKED is good’”

      The cryptic message Teresa wrote on her arm becomes a crucial clue about their circumstances. This paradoxical phrase hints at the larger conspiracy behind the Maze and introduces the mysterious organization WICKED.

      4. “‘The Maze is a code.’”

      This telepathic message from Teresa suggests there’s more to the Maze than just physical challenges. It represents a turning point in their understanding of their environment and hints at deeper layers to the story’s mystery.

      5. “‘All I want is to get back home… Just like the rest of you.’”

      Teresa’s simple statement encapsulates the universal longing driving all the Gladers, while ironically highlighting their shared amnesia - none can remember what “home” actually is.

    Quotes

    1. “‘Forgetting about you was the worst part.’”

    This quote marks Teresa’s first spoken words to Thomas after her coma, revealing their mysterious past connection. It introduces the theme of fragmented memories and emotional bonds that persist despite their memory wipes.

    2. “‘I remember remembering… Like I have all these shelves in my head, labeled for memories and faces, but they’re empty.’”

    Teresa’s vivid metaphor captures the central mystery of their condition - the haunting sense of lost identity. This poetic description represents the novel’s exploration of memory and selfhood.

    3. “‘WICKED is good’”

    The cryptic message Teresa wrote on her arm becomes a crucial clue about their circumstances. This paradoxical phrase hints at the larger conspiracy behind the Maze and introduces the mysterious organization WICKED.

    4. “‘The Maze is a code.’”

    This telepathic message from Teresa suggests there’s more to the Maze than just physical challenges. It represents a turning point in their understanding of their environment and hints at deeper layers to the story’s mystery.

    5. “‘All I want is to get back home… Just like the rest of you.’”

    Teresa’s simple statement encapsulates the universal longing driving all the Gladers, while ironically highlighting their shared amnesia - none can remember what “home” actually is.

    FAQs

    1. How does Thomas initially react to Teresa waking up from her coma, and what does this reveal about his emotional state?

    Answer:
    Thomas actively avoids seeing Teresa or anyone else after she wakes up, slipping away unnoticed to hide behind the Deadhead forest. This reaction reveals his deep emotional turmoil and confusion about their connection. By covering himself with a blanket, he symbolically tries to shield himself from Teresa’s mental intrusion, indicating fear and vulnerability. His need for solitude suggests he’s overwhelmed by the strange bond they share and the implications of her arrival, which has disrupted the Glade’s normalcy.

    2. What key revelation does Teresa share about her memories, and how does this parallel Thomas’s own experience?

    Answer:
    Teresa describes her memories as “empty shelves” with labels but no content, comparing them to a “white curtain” hiding her past. This directly parallels Thomas’s fragmented memory—he recalls riding a bicycle but not learning how, just as Teresa senses their shared history without concrete details. Both experience emotional echoes (e.g., Teresa’s familiarity with “Tom,” Thomas’s feeling of home) without full recall. This mutual amnesia suggests they were intentionally memory-wiped before entering the Maze, hinting at manipulation by the Creators.

    3. Analyze the significance of the phrase “WICKED is good” that Teresa wrote on her arm. How does this connect to broader mysteries in the Glade?

    Answer:
    The phrase “WICKED is good” introduces a critical paradox, as “wicked” typically implies evil, while “good” suggests benevolence. Thomas recognizes “WICKED” from the beetle blades—the Creators’ surveillance devices—implying it’s an acronym or organization name. Teresa’s instinct to preserve this message (despite not remembering why) indicates subconscious knowledge of their captors. The phrase may foreshadow that the Maze’s cruelty serves a hidden purpose, challenging the Gladers’ assumptions about their imprisonment and suggesting moral ambiguity in the experiment’s design.

    4. How does the telepathic communication between Teresa and Thomas evolve in this chapter, and what does it suggest about their relationship?

    Answer:
    Initially, Thomas is alarmed by Teresa’s mental messages, but by this chapter, he grows more accustomed to them, even acknowledging relief that they no longer “freak him out.” Teresa compares their telepathy to an innate skill like riding a bike, implying it’s a recovered ability rather than a new one. Their seamless switching between spoken and mental dialogue (e.g., Teresa saying “I just don’t know” in his mind) suggests a pre-existing, intimate connection—possibly engineered by WICKED. This bond sets them apart from other Gladers, positioning them as central figures in the Maze’s purpose.

    5. Evaluate how Teresa’s arrival and revelations impact the chapter’s tone and the story’s central conflict.

    Answer:
    Teresa’s awakening shifts the tone from suspense to urgent mystery. Her cryptic clues (“The Maze is a code”), telepathy, and the “WICKED” message escalate tensions by introducing higher stakes—the Glade’s systems are failing (no supplies, gray sky), and her presence has “triggered the Ending.” The chapter juxtaposes intimate moments (their handshake, shared laughter) with existential dread, deepening the central conflict: uncovering their past while surviving imminent catastrophe. Teresa becomes both a catalyst for change and a symbol of hope, as her partial memories suggest they were placed in the Maze for a reason.

    Note