1. The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur: The Maze itself alludes to the labyrinth where Theseus battled the Minotaur in Greek mythology. Thomas, like Theseus, must navigate the maze and overcome challenges to escape.
2. The Bible's Garden of Eden: The Glade, where the Gladers live, resembles the Garden of Eden. They have abundant resources, but they are confined and unaware of the world beyond.
3. The Story of the Pied Piper: The Grievers, mechanical creatures that roam the maze, echo the tale of the Pied Piper, who lured rats away from a town with his music.
4. The Maze as a Symbol of Duality: The duality of the maze reflects the duality in characters like Teresa, who seems both ally and enemy.
5. Ancient Greek Tragedy: The tragic fates of certain characters mirror the tragic elements of Greek plays, where noble heroes face downfall despite good intentions.
6. The "Codex" and the Dead Sea Scrolls: The "Codex," a mysterious book in the series, parallels the Dead Sea Scrolls' discovery and the secrets they hold.
7. The Names of Characters: Many names reference historical and literary figures. For example, "Minho" relates to the Chinese philosopher Mencius, and "Frypan" alludes to the inventor of the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg.
8. Dante's Inferno: The Trials, a series of challenges, can be seen as a nod to Dante Alighieri's "Inferno," where characters pass through various levels of punishment.
These allusions enrich the narrative of The Maze Runner series by drawing parallels between the characters' experiences and classic stories, myths, and historical events.