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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the man do with the truck Rick was driving?

2. To what area is Joe being transferred?

3. What kind of vehicle pulls into the camp?

4. How old was his grandmother when she died?

5. What guard tries to wave Rick down in his dream?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the dream Rick has when he is sleeping in the desert where the camper had gone?

2. How does Rick get caught and what does the man order him to do?

3. What does Killian whisper to Rick that frightens him, and what does Rick decide to do about it?

4. What does Lon tell Rick his job will be while Lon is hang gliding? Who is going hang gliding with Rick?

5. What does the man do when Rick gets into the passenger side of the man's truck?

6. How and when does Rick implement his plan?

7. What do Lon and Rick do after Joe leaves, what does Rick ask Lon and what is Lon's response?

8. Why has Rick been brought before a judge, what does he say about his actions and how does the judge view Rick?

9. What does the judge ask Rick, what is Rick's response, to what does the judge sentence him and why?

10. What is Rick reading in the library, how does he relate to the story and what discourages Rick about Mr. B's encouragement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "The Maze" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "The Maze" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Many people were running from their problems, such as jobs they hated, bad marriages, or escaping from relatives they did not like, by leaving for the gold fields. Many realized very quickly that no matter how far they ran the character flaws were always there. Rick has run from his problems, but then finds he must face the central cause of his problems -- himself.

1. Running from problems by going somewhere else is called a "geographic cure." Discuss what do you think this means.

2. Do you believe taking the geographic cure is a good idea or a bad idea? Why or why not? Could it be different depending on the circumstance? How did running help Rick? How did it harm him?

3. Discuss two situations that might respond well to a geographic cure and two that wouldn't be helped with on. Does Rick's determination to leave the detention center seem like a geographic cure? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of "The Maze", Rick grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "The Maze" might be considered a slice of Rick's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that "The Maze" is a "bildungsroman" of Rick Fisher. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Rick as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Rick?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Rick's growth throughout the story, do you think "The Maze" could be considered Rick's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in the novel who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

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