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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. Why does Doreen say she did not say no to the plan to buy the house?

2. Where does Lynette go after The Dutchman’s Room?

3. How old is Lynette’s first sex client?

4. What team is on Kenny’s sweatsuit and comforter?

5. What is the name of the hotel’s bar?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Lynette’s conditions for Kenny when she leaves him alone while she goes to work?

2. What does Kenny look like physically?

3. What are Lynette’s instructions for Fuller’s Coffee Shop for Kenny’s breakfast?

4. Why did the 9th Street Bakery sell its employee parking lot?

5. What is the deal that Lynette’s family made with the owner of the house?

6. How does Lynette’s father pay for his crew of workers?

7. At the beginning of the book, on what condition does Lynette say she will get up?

8. Why does Lynette’s first sex client say he sees her?

9. What is Kenny and Lynette’s mother’s physical description?

10. What does Lynette’s first client say his upbringing was like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A particularly moving passage in the novel is the description of Lynette’s past with her boyfriend Jack Burns. Though the two clearly loved each other, their breakup is primarily Lynette’s fault due to her mental health problems. Write an essay about the relationship between Lynette and Jack and what that relationship tells readers.

Essay Topic 2

One of the most complicated relationships in the novel is that between Lynette and her mother Doreen. While Lynette has devoted her life to trying to hold on to their house, her mother ultimately decides to divide the family and find new homes, thereby extinguishing her daughter’s dreams. Write an essay about the relationship between Lynette and Doreen.

Essay Topic 3

To a large extent, The Night Always Comes is essentially a novel about money. Money is Lynette’s constant preoccupation and the source of much of her suffering. Write an essay about money as a symbol in the novel.

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