Dark Places

Should Ben have been more communicative with his family to prevent some of the misunderstandings that led to his arrest? Why wasn’t he? Support your response.

Libby, Ben, Patty, and Debby have bright red hair and freckles; these traits mark them as unmistakably belonging to the Day family. What is the narrative significance of their family’s unique look?

Identify three coincidences and describe how they influence the plot. Are the coincidences believable? Support your response with evidence from the text.

Libby has dreams at key moments in the narrative. Identify these dreams and discuss their symbolism and overall importance to Libby’s character growth.

Lyle identifies with Libby because he accidentally started a wildfire when he was a child. Are their situations similar? Why or why not?

Flynn uses vivid sensory descriptions to describe the people and places in the novel. Find an example of a descriptive passage that employs all five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. What is its narrative significance, and how does Flynn’s use of sensory language impact her storytelling?

Patty believed the only solution to her financial crisis was an arranged suicide. Were there other options that she could have explored? If so, why did she choose to work with Calvin Diehl? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

The novel takes place in the rural Midwest. Discuss the importance of setting in the novel. Choose three particular settings (a town, region, room, house, or outdoor space) and analyze their narrative and thematic importance.