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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 color is Lon's jacket?

2. What does Rick realize Carlile has stolen when Rick gets back to camp?

3. What does the judge acknowledge exists at Blue Canyon?

4. Where does Rick wonder if one can hang glide?

5. When does Josh arrive?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rick do after he hears the men talking about Lon?

2. How does Lon catch M4?

3. How does M4 end up dead?

4. What does Lon do about M4 flying in the wrong direction, and what does he decide to do when that fails?

5. How does Rick help Lon after Lon captures M4?

6. What does Rick tell the judge, and what is the final disposition of Rick's case?

7. What does Lon tell Josh about M4, what favor does he ask of Josh and why?

8. What does Rick do on his third and fourth day hang gliding?

9. What does Rick learn has happened with Lon?

10. What does Lon tell Rick about how he became involved with condors?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

Characters are an important part of what makes "The Maze" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Rick. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Lon. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Nuke. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

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