Essay prompts
DNA
Dennis Kelly
Free essay questions and prompts for DNA — covering analytical, argumentative, and comparative tasks. Use them for timed practice essays, coursework assignments, or as a springboard for your own prompts.
# Essay Prompt: *DNA* by Dennis Kelly **Prompt:** In *DNA* by Dennis Kelly, the group's choice to hide their role in Adam's apparent death highlights the fragile and often corrupt nature of social hierarchies. **Argue that Kelly illustrates how the urge to belong and protect oneself outweighs individual moral conscience.** In your essay, you should: - Analyze how Kelly depicts the group dynamic and the changing power structure (e.g., Phil, Leah, and the broader gang). - Examine how different characters react to moral dilemmas and what these reactions reveal about human behavior. - Look at how dramatic techniques — including silence, staging, and dialogue — are employed to support your argument. - Back up your points with close references to the text, citing key scenes and quotations. **Assessment focus:** Develop a coherent argument with a clear line of reasoning, backed by textual evidence and analytical insights.
gcse_english_literature · aqa · edexcel
# Essay Prompt: *DNA* by Dennis Kelly **Prompt:** In Dennis Kelly's play *DNA*, the group's choice to conceal Adam's accidental death illustrates the complexities of collective guilt and moral cowardice, overshadowing the idea of individual evil. In a well-structured essay, discuss how Kelly portrays group dynamics, important character relationships, and dramatic tension to convey that the urge to fit in and evade repercussions can distort a person's moral compass. Back up your argument with detailed references to the text.
gcse_english_literature · aqa · edexcel
# Essay Prompt: *DNA* by Dennis Kelly **Prompt:** In *DNA* by Dennis Kelly, the group's choice to conceal Adam's accidental death highlights deeper issues of power, conformity, and moral responsibility. Write a structured essay arguing how Kelly critiques the tendency of individuals to relinquish their moral agency due to social pressure. Use specific examples from the play, such as character actions, dialogue, and the dramatic structure, to support your argument.
gcse_english_literature · aqa · edexcel
These essay prompts are part of Storgy's free teacher toolkit for DNA. For a full study guide with chapter summaries, characters, themes, and key quotes, visit the DNA study guide. To browse essay prompts for other works, return to the Essay Prompts hub.