Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of The Scorch Trials
    DystopianScience FictionYoung Adult

    The Scorch Trials

    by Dashner, James
    “The Scorch Trials” by James Dashner is the second installment in the “Maze Runner” series, following protagonist Thomas and his fellow Gladers as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by solar flares and a deadly virus. After escaping the Maze, they face a new set of challenges in the Scorch, a desolate wasteland, as part of a mysterious trial orchestrated by WICKED. Themes of survival, trust, and moral ambiguity are central as the group encounters treacherous environments, rival factions, and shifting alliances. The novel expands the dystopian lore while maintaining suspense and action, appealing to fans of young adult science fiction.
    PreviousNext
    The Scorch Trials

    Chapter 6

    by Dashner, James

    In Chap­ter 6 of *The Scorch Tri­als*, Thomas and the Gladers encounter Aris, a new boy who reveals he shares Thomas’s tele­path­ic abil­i­ties. Aris explains that his part­ner, Rachel, was killed by an unknown group, mir­ror­ing Thomas’s con­nec­tion to Tere­sa. The rev­e­la­tion unset­tles Thomas, who draws par­al­lels between Aris’s sto­ry and his own expe­ri­ences in the Maze, par­tic­u­lar­ly Chuck­’s death. The group is skep­ti­cal and con­fused, espe­cial­ly when Aris men­tions a female-dom­i­nat­ed Maze, rais­ing ques­tions about the true nature of their cap­tiv­i­ty and the motives of their cap­tors, WICKED.

    The ten­sion esca­lates when a Glad­er notices a mys­te­ri­ous tat­too on Aris’s neck, read­ing “Prop­er­ty of WICKED. Group B, Sub­ject B1. The Part­ner.” Aris insists the tat­too was­n’t there before, spark­ing dis­be­lief and fear. As the boys inves­ti­gate, they dis­cov­er iden­ti­cal tat­toos on their own necks, each labeled with “Group A” and unique des­ig­na­tions. Min­ho’s tat­too iden­ti­fies him as “The Leader,” while Newt is called “The Glue,” hint­ing at their roles with­in the group. The dis­cov­ery sends the Gladers into a fren­zy, as they real­ize WICKED still has con­trol over them.

    Thomas grap­ples with the impli­ca­tions of the tat­toos, ques­tion­ing why WICKED has brand­ed them and what their des­ig­na­tions sig­ni­fy. The chap­ter high­lights the boys’ vul­ner­a­bil­i­ty and the per­va­sive influ­ence of their unseen oppres­sors. Newt’s reac­tion to his title, “The Glue,” sug­gests a deep­er emo­tion­al weight, as he strug­gles to com­pre­hend WICKED’s manip­u­la­tion. The tat­toos serve as a stark reminder that their escape from the Maze was nev­er tru­ly free­dom, but part of a larg­er, more sin­is­ter exper­i­ment.

    The chap­ter ends on a cliffhang­er, with Thomas await­ing Newt’s response to his own tat­too, which Newt hes­i­tates to reveal. The atmos­phere is charged with dread and uncer­tain­ty, as the Gladers con­front the real­i­ty that they are still pawns in WICKED’s game. The tat­toos sym­bol­ize their loss of auton­o­my and fore­shad­ow fur­ther tri­als ahead, leav­ing read­ers eager to uncov­er the next twist in their har­row­ing jour­ney.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. What is the significance of Aris’s tattoo, and how does it parallel the tattoos discovered on the Gladers?

      Answer:
      Aris’s tattoo reads “Property of WICKED. Group B, Subject B1. The Partner,” revealing he is still under WICKED’s control and likely part of a parallel experiment with a female-dominated group (as implied by his reference to “Beth” and “Rachel”). This mirrors the Gladers’ tattoos, which label them as “Group A” subjects with designations like “The Leader” (Minho) or “The Glue” (Newt). The tattoos suggest WICKED categorizes subjects by roles and groups, hinting at a larger, orchestrated system of experimentation. The sudden appearance of these markings also implies WICKED’s ongoing surveillance and manipulation.

      2. How does Thomas’s reaction to Aris’s story about Rachel’s death reflect his own trauma and the themes of loss in the chapter?

      Answer:
      Thomas empathizes deeply with Aris’s grief over Rachel’s death, as it mirrors his own trauma from Chuck’s murder. The chapter highlights recurring loss as a central theme, with Thomas recalling Chuck’s death and fearing Teresa’s fate. His internal monologue (“Everything in the world just sucked”) underscores his emotional turmoil and the psychological toll of WICKED’s experiments. The parallel between Rachel’s stabbing (by Beth) and Chuck’s stabbing (by Gally) further reinforces the cyclical nature of violence and manipulation in their world.

      3. Analyze the implications of the Gladers’ tattoos being labeled “Property of WICKED.” How does this revelation change their understanding of their situation?

      Answer:
      The tattoos shatter the Gladers’ belief that they escaped WICKED, proving they are still trapped in its experiments. The phrase “Property of WICKED” dehumanizes them, reducing them to test subjects. This realization fuels distrust (e.g., Minho’s skepticism toward Aris) and existential dread, as they grasp the extent of WICKED’s control. Newt’s stoic cataloging of the tattoos suggests he recognizes their systemic categorization, hinting at a broader design. The markings also imply WICKED’s ability to manipulate them physically (via unnoticed tattoos) and psychologically.

      4. Why might Aris’s group refer to the Gladers as “sticks,” and what does this reveal about the two groups’ dynamics?

      Answer:
      The term “sticks” likely serves as slang unique to Aris’s group, just as the Gladers use words like “shuck” or “klunk.” This linguistic divergence suggests the groups developed isolated cultures despite similar Maze experiences. The parallel vocabularies (noted when Minho and Thomas exchange glances) imply WICKED engineered both groups with controlled but distinct environments. The term also fosters an “us vs. them” dynamic, which could escalate tensions if the groups interact further, as seen in Minho’s initial hostility toward Aris.

      5. How does the chapter use the tattoos to advance the mystery of WICKED’s experiments?

      Answer:
      The tattoos deepen the mystery by introducing new questions: Why are subjects branded with roles (e.g., “The Partner,” “The Leader”)? Why do some have additional designations while others don’t? The sudden, inexplicable appearance of the tattoos hints at WICKED’s advanced technology or psychological manipulation. Thomas’s realization that Aris’s Group B mirrors their Group A (with swapped gender ratios) suggests WICKED is running comparative experiments. These details build suspense, leaving readers to speculate on WICKED’s endgame and how the groups’ fates might intersect.

    Quotes

    • 1. “He can do it, too… They can talk in each other’s heads.”

      This quote reveals the shocking discovery that Aris shares Thomas’s telepathic abilities, deepening the mystery of their connection and the experiments conducted by WICKED. It marks a pivotal moment where the Gladers realize they’re not alone in their strange abilities.

      2. “Property of WICKED. Group B, Subject B1. The Partner.”

      The discovery of Aris’s tattoo shocks the group and confirms they’re still under WICKED’s control. This physical marking becomes crucial evidence that their supposed escape was just another phase of the experiment.

      3. “Property of WICKED. Group A, Subject A7. The Leader.”

      Minho’s matching tattoo reveals the systematic nature of WICKED’s labeling, with his designation as “The Leader” hinting at his role in their group dynamics. This moment escalates the tension as all Gladers begin discovering their own markings.

      4. “You’re Subject A-five and they called you the Glue.”

      Newt’s designation as “the Glue” perfectly captures his role as the emotional center holding the group together. This moment provides insight into how WICKED has been categorizing and studying their interpersonal dynamics all along.

      5. “I don’t believe a shuck word he says.”

      Minho’s skepticism about Aris represents the group’s growing distrust and paranoia, showing how their traumatic experiences have made them wary of newcomers and revelations, even as they uncover disturbing truths about themselves.

    Quotes

    1. “He can do it, too… They can talk in each other’s heads.”

    This quote reveals the shocking discovery that Aris shares Thomas’s telepathic abilities, deepening the mystery of their connection and the experiments conducted by WICKED. It marks a pivotal moment where the Gladers realize they’re not alone in their strange abilities.

    2. “Property of WICKED. Group B, Subject B1. The Partner.”

    The discovery of Aris’s tattoo shocks the group and confirms they’re still under WICKED’s control. This physical marking becomes crucial evidence that their supposed escape was just another phase of the experiment.

    3. “Property of WICKED. Group A, Subject A7. The Leader.”

    Minho’s matching tattoo reveals the systematic nature of WICKED’s labeling, with his designation as “The Leader” hinting at his role in their group dynamics. This moment escalates the tension as all Gladers begin discovering their own markings.

    4. “You’re Subject A-five and they called you the Glue.”

    Newt’s designation as “the Glue” perfectly captures his role as the emotional center holding the group together. This moment provides insight into how WICKED has been categorizing and studying their interpersonal dynamics all along.

    5. “I don’t believe a shuck word he says.”

    Minho’s skepticism about Aris represents the group’s growing distrust and paranoia, showing how their traumatic experiences have made them wary of newcomers and revelations, even as they uncover disturbing truths about themselves.

    FAQs

    1. What is the significance of Aris’s tattoo, and how does it parallel the tattoos discovered on the Gladers?

    Answer:
    Aris’s tattoo reads “Property of WICKED. Group B, Subject B1. The Partner,” revealing he is still under WICKED’s control and likely part of a parallel experiment with a female-dominated group (as implied by his reference to “Beth” and “Rachel”). This mirrors the Gladers’ tattoos, which label them as “Group A” subjects with designations like “The Leader” (Minho) or “The Glue” (Newt). The tattoos suggest WICKED categorizes subjects by roles and groups, hinting at a larger, orchestrated system of experimentation. The sudden appearance of these markings also implies WICKED’s ongoing surveillance and manipulation.

    2. How does Thomas’s reaction to Aris’s story about Rachel’s death reflect his own trauma and the themes of loss in the chapter?

    Answer:
    Thomas empathizes deeply with Aris’s grief over Rachel’s death, as it mirrors his own trauma from Chuck’s murder. The chapter highlights recurring loss as a central theme, with Thomas recalling Chuck’s death and fearing Teresa’s fate. His internal monologue (“Everything in the world just sucked”) underscores his emotional turmoil and the psychological toll of WICKED’s experiments. The parallel between Rachel’s stabbing (by Beth) and Chuck’s stabbing (by Gally) further reinforces the cyclical nature of violence and manipulation in their world.

    3. Analyze the implications of the Gladers’ tattoos being labeled “Property of WICKED.” How does this revelation change their understanding of their situation?

    Answer:
    The tattoos shatter the Gladers’ belief that they escaped WICKED, proving they are still trapped in its experiments. The phrase “Property of WICKED” dehumanizes them, reducing them to test subjects. This realization fuels distrust (e.g., Minho’s skepticism toward Aris) and existential dread, as they grasp the extent of WICKED’s control. Newt’s stoic cataloging of the tattoos suggests he recognizes their systemic categorization, hinting at a broader design. The markings also imply WICKED’s ability to manipulate them physically (via unnoticed tattoos) and psychologically.

    4. Why might Aris’s group refer to the Gladers as “sticks,” and what does this reveal about the two groups’ dynamics?

    Answer:
    The term “sticks” likely serves as slang unique to Aris’s group, just as the Gladers use words like “shuck” or “klunk.” This linguistic divergence suggests the groups developed isolated cultures despite similar Maze experiences. The parallel vocabularies (noted when Minho and Thomas exchange glances) imply WICKED engineered both groups with controlled but distinct environments. The term also fosters an “us vs. them” dynamic, which could escalate tensions if the groups interact further, as seen in Minho’s initial hostility toward Aris.

    5. How does the chapter use the tattoos to advance the mystery of WICKED’s experiments?

    Answer:
    The tattoos deepen the mystery by introducing new questions: Why are subjects branded with roles (e.g., “The Partner,” “The Leader”)? Why do some have additional designations while others don’t? The sudden, inexplicable appearance of the tattoos hints at WICKED’s advanced technology or psychological manipulation. Thomas’s realization that Aris’s Group B mirrors their Group A (with swapped gender ratios) suggests WICKED is running comparative experiments. These details build suspense, leaving readers to speculate on WICKED’s endgame and how the groups’ fates might intersect.

    Note