The Maze Runner Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
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The Maze Runner has 62 chapters · 375 pages
Part of the The Maze Runner series
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank.
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Inside the journal: 62 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
When Thomas wakes up in the dark box, what details help you understand how confused and scared he feels?See all 62 questions ↓
About the book
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.
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The Maze Runner questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 62 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
When Thomas wakes up in the dark box, what details help you understand how confused and scared he feels?
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Chapter 2
What do you learn about the boys in the Glade when Thomas first meets them, and how do they treat him?
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Chapter 3
The word Glade means an open space. Why do you think the boys use this word for the place where they live?
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Chapter 4
Why are rules important in the Glade, and what might happen if the boys did not follow them?
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Chapter 5
What is your first opinion of Chuck? What does he do that makes you feel that way?
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Chapter 6
How do the huge Maze doors change the mood of the story when they close for the night?
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Chapter 7
Thomas remembers almost nothing about himself. What do you predict he will discover about his past?
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Chapter 8
How would you describe Gally in these early chapters? Use details from his words or actions.
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Chapter 9
The Gladers use many made-up slang words. How does their special language make the Glade feel like its own world?
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Chapter 10
What jobs do the boys have in the Glade, and why does each job seem important?
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Chapter 11
Would you want to be a Runner if you lived in the Glade? Explain your reasons.
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Chapter 12
What happens when Ben attacks Thomas, and what does this event show about life in the Glade?
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Chapter 13
Fear is a big part of the story so far. How do different characters handle fear in different ways?
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Chapter 14
What do Alby’s choices during Ben’s punishment tell you about him as a leader?
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Chapter 15
A girl arrives with a strange message saying she is the last one. What questions does this raise for you?
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Chapter 16
Why is Thomas so interested in the girl, even before he fully understands who she is?
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Chapter 17
The Changing sounds painful and frightening. What do you think this word means in the story, based on what characters say?
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Chapter 18
Thomas often feels a strong pull toward the Maze. What does this show about his personality?
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Chapter 19
What do Minho and Alby find in the Maze, and why is this discovery so surprising?
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Chapter 20
What do you predict the dead Griever might mean for the Gladers and their future?
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Chapter 21
Why does Thomas run into the Maze after Minho and Alby, even though he knows it is against the rules?
Example answer: I think Thomas runs into the Maze because he cannot just watch Minho and Alby get trapped outside. He is scared, but he also feels that helping people is more important than protecting himself. This shows that Thomas is brave and acts quickly in a crisis. Even though he breaks a rule, his reason is to save lives.
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Chapter 22
Do you think Thomas made the right choice by breaking the rule and entering the Maze? Why or why not?
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Chapter 23
How does Minho react when things seem hopeless in the Maze, and what does that show about him?
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Chapter 24
What plan does Thomas use to help protect Alby during the night in the Maze?
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Chapter 25
How do Thomas and Minho work together to survive the Grievers?
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Chapter 26
After surviving a night in the Maze, how does Thomas seem different to the other Gladers?
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Chapter 27
What consequences does Thomas face for going into the Maze, and why do the leaders think consequences matter?
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Chapter 28
Do you think the Keepers treat Thomas fairly after he survives the Maze? Explain your thinking.
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Chapter 29
Why does Thomas want to become a Runner so badly, and what does this goal reveal about him?
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Chapter 30
How do Newt and Minho support Thomas, even when other boys do not trust him?
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Chapter 31
What strange things happen with the girl, and how do they make the mystery deeper?
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Chapter 32
The girl says that everything is going to change. What do you think the word change means for the Gladers now?
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Chapter 33
How do the Gladers react when their normal life starts to break apart, and what does this show about them?
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Chapter 34
What does Thomas learn during his first Runner training, and why is the job harder than he expected?
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Chapter 35
What kind of teacher is Minho? Give examples of how he trains Thomas.
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Chapter 36
Why are the maps so important, and what do they show about the Gladers’ patience and hard work?
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Chapter 37
What do you predict the Cliff or the Griever Hole might have to do with escaping the Maze?
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Chapter 38
How does Thomas and Teresa’s unusual way of communicating affect their relationship?
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Chapter 39
What changes in the sky or weather make the Gladers realize their world is no longer working the same way?
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Chapter 40
How would you feel if the safe routines in your home suddenly stopped working like they do in the Glade?
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Chapter 41
The Gladers search for a code in the maps. What does the word code mean, and why might a code be useful?
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Chapter 42
What happens when supplies stop coming, and how does this make the situation more dangerous?
Example answer: When supplies stop coming, the Gladers cannot count on food and tools the way they used to. I think this makes everyone feel more worried because their whole system depends on those supplies. It also means they may not be able to stay in the Glade much longer. The danger feels bigger because they have fewer choices.
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Chapter 43
Where do you see hope in the story, even when the Gladers are facing serious problems?
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Chapter 44
Gally gives a warning about Thomas. Why might some Gladers believe him, and why might others not believe him?
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Chapter 45
What pattern do the Grievers begin to follow, and how does it change the choices the Gladers must make?
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Chapter 46
What do you predict the Gladers will do to stop the Grievers from taking one of them each night?
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Chapter 47
Why does Thomas decide to get stung on purpose, and what does this show about his bravery?
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Chapter 48
What memories or clues does Thomas gain after going through the Changing?
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Chapter 49
What does the story suggest about truth when characters learn that some of their memories were hidden from them?
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Chapter 50
The name WICKED sounds frightening, but the phrase says it is good. What do you think this confusing name might mean?
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Chapter 51
How do the code words help the Gladers understand what they need to do next?
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Chapter 52
What is your opinion of the escape plan through the Griever Hole? Is it smart, risky, or both?
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Chapter 53
How does Teresa help the group as they prepare to escape?
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Chapter 54
What do the Gladers do on the night before the escape, and how do these actions build suspense?
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Chapter 55
Who do you predict will show the most courage during the escape, and why?
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Chapter 56
What happens when the Gladers fight their way through the Maze, and how do they help one another?
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Chapter 57
How does Chuck show bravery near the end of the story?
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Chapter 58
What does Chuck’s choice to save Thomas teach about friendship and sacrifice?
Example answer: Chuck’s choice teaches me that real friendship can mean putting someone else first. He saves Thomas even though it costs him everything. This moment made me feel sad because Chuck was young and kind. It also shows that he was much braver than he seemed at the beginning.
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Chapter 59
What do Thomas and the others learn about the people who created the Maze?
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Chapter 60
Do you think it was right for the Creators to test children in such a dangerous way? Explain your opinion.
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Chapter 61
How does Thomas react after the escape, and why are his feelings so complicated?
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Chapter 62
After the ending, what do you predict will happen next to Thomas, Teresa, and the other Gladers?
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How to use this The Maze Runner reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 62 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for The Maze Runner. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.