Literature Analysis: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

1. What drew you to this book?  What did you expect and/or hope to experience through reading it?
What drew me to this book was the fact that it's growing more and more popular, especially with the movie in theaters now. Plus this is just the style book I really enjoy reading, this futuristic but realistic fiction in a world going up in flames. I hope to enjoy every single bit of it and love it so much that I want to read the other three books in the series.
2. What kept you reading past the first ten pages?
What kept me reading past the first ten pages was the constant action from the very beginning. In this book it seems like there's always something happening and it didn't take a long time to develop the plot. My interest was peaked from the very beginning and I could't wait to read on and on.
3. Describe your reading habits
As I stated in my very first literature analysis, my reading habits vary depending on the book that I'm reading. With this particular book it's been constant. I wake up in the morning and all I can think about is reading this book, every chance I get I pick it up and get reading. Last night I even took a bath instead of a shower just so I could read. 

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
This novel is about a group of around 60 teenage boys who've been sent one-by-one each month to this isolated forest type area all surrounded by a maze that locks closes itself off and it's pattern changes every night. Their minds have been blocked of all memory completely prior to being sent to here and they must figure out how to escape while fighting off mechanical bug-like creatures trying to kill them and all obstacles which come with living of the land. When the protagonist arrives, everything there changes and the end is soon to come. I'm not sure of the author's purpose just yet but he sure as hell does a great job entertaining us with this novel comparable to the Hunger Games or Divergent. 
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
The theme of The Maze Runner isn't evident. But how I interpret it is Order VS. Chaos the idea that when people are put into a situation where they are powerless or can't think of any solution, their minds become chaotic leaving no room or energy for organization. But what this theme does is proves this theory wrong. One might say that when we become desperate, our strength doubles  and it becomes a question of do or die. You can also say when you become so fed up you don't give up, you become unstoppable and are willing to fight until your heart stops.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
James Dashner's tone in The Maze Runner is hopeful. Through the actions in this book we can sense the feeling hope towards most situations in the novel. 
1. "When Minho returned, safe and sound, Thomas thought he seemed very optimistic that it really was an exit. Or entrance. Depending on how you looked at it." The whole plot leading up to the moment when they either died trying to find an escape from the maze or finding an exit was coming close and they seemed hopeful of their chances.
2. "If you're going to decipher a hidden code from a complex set of different mazes, I'm pretyy sure you need a girl's brain running the show." Ever since the only girl was sent to the maze they all seemed fed up having to deal with a female, they saw her as being a sign of failure but then she starts to help crack the code and suddenly they find hope in her. 
3." Next, you become one of the first people ever to survive an entire night outside the Glade, and to top it off you kill four Grievers." Before the protagonist was sent to the maze nobody had ever been able to survive a night within the maze outside of their safe zone so it was a big deal when Thomas proved his ability to the other "Gladers" (Inhabitants of the Glade-Maze)

4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
1. FORESHADOW: "Greenie, we've never had two Newbies show up in the same month, much less two days in a row." (Page 48) A sign of another Newbie arriving to the Glade one day after had never happened so we can foreshadow that something is about to change in the games of the maze and they will soon figure out a way out.
2.SIMILE: "... the dark feeling of utter hopelessness, like the world had ended for him." (Page 6) 
3. SYMBOL: "WICKED- World In Catastrophe Killzone Experiment Department" is what the Gladers find on tiny bug-like creatures that spy on them. This symbolizes the creators of the maze.
4.IMAGERY: “Ben’s head snapped violently to the left, twisting his body until he landed on his stomach, his feet pointed toward Thomas. He made no sound” (Page 74)
5.METAPHOR: The maze itself is a metaphor. It's whole purpose is to confuse the Gladers minds and test their reactions to situations and we can never trust if something is real or just in their imaginations or what seems to be a trick from the creators.
6.ALLUSION: The Glade is compared to a prison, they are completely stuck there until they find a way out of the maze. It confuses the Gladers, frustrates them and they don't feel as though they deserve to be there.
7. CACOPHONY: "Someone cheered, and then someone else. Soon, shouts and battle calls broke out, rising in volume, filling the air like thunder." (Page 328)

1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: 
1. "I'd say you're sixteen. And in case you were wondering, five foot nine ... brown hair. Oh, and ugly as fired liver on a stick" (Page 15)
2. "her brown hair was cut at the shoulder, and she had a thin face with dark eyes" (Page 
INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION:
1.
2.
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?
I don't believe that the author's syntax or diction changes when he focuses on character because he keeps his descriptions very similar to the way he writes his dialogue between characters. It's a very informal way of writing.
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
The Protagonist is a dynamic, round character because at the beginning of the book he can't even remember who he is but as the story develops, his character flourishes into a strong, fearless and high thinking person. He changes completely as he discovers his role in the Glade and the things he must do to conquer the maze,
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
After reading the book I do feel like I've met the characters because the author brings the characters to life and puts them through things that make us feel for them and give us the impression of them being complex human beings rather than characters in a book. For example when at the end of the book one of the significant characters dies, I cried because I felt an attachment to his relationship to the other characters in the book and what he set out to accomplish. 

"Summons" by Robert Francis

• The title of the poem "Summons" by Robert Francis has significance to the poem itself because it is based off of Robert Francis' desire to be summoned or "woken up" metaphorically by a certain someone special. 
• The tone of the poem is lustful in a way. It's obvious that the author lusts after this woman or man in such a way that he uses such a powerful verb such as to summon to convey his feeling towards him/her. He wants to be heard so he uses words that will scream at us and get our attention but also show how desperately he wants this person to get his attention at the same time.
• The initial mood I get from this poem is fierce. We can feel the intensity in each line and with every word the poem flourishes. What makes it so intense is the way we can relate and be put in his place just from reading it. No matter who you are you always want someone to want to grab your attention and he portrays what he wants to get out beautifully and with such angst.
• There isn't an obvious shift in this poem but I'm guessing it's at the very last line because the above lines are demands almost leaving no personal information but then the last two lines go "Not only tell me but persuade me.
  You know I'm not too hard persuaded. " It gives a little personal touch in a flirty way that makes us feel like they are close.
• The theme of this poem is if someone doesn't show their feelings and show you what they want you to know then you need to make it obvious to them or be the one to make your feelings evident.

"Chops" by Stephan Chbosky