GCSE English Literature DNA

LOU 

• Not afraid to say what she thinks.
• She sticks with whoever has the most power in the group.
• She takes a back seat in the group.

John Tate

• In the beginning he is the leader of the group.
• Fades out.
• Couldn't deal with the pressure and responsibility of being group leader.
• Ended up joining the 'Jesus Army'

Leah

• Enigma of the group.
• Insecure.
• Most developed character.
• Never really gets spoken to. Only speaks to people.

Richard

• He didn't want the leadership role however he isn't afraid to challenge John Tate.
• Doesn't talk much after John Tate threatens him until in the last scene he is seen trying to comfort Phil.

Phil

• First seems quiet and withdrawn.
• Often shown eating.
• Only person to physically respond to Leah.
• Comes up with the plan to cover up Adam's 'death' and re-appearence.

Cathy

• Strong and powerful.
• Seems to enjoy the experience of Adam's 'death' and re-appearence.
• Pushes everyone to their limits.
• Eventually becomes the leader of the group.

Adam

• The play seems to revolve around him, however he is not there most of the time.
• Shy.
• The victim of the group.
• He just wants to fit in.
• Falls under peer pressure.
• He ends up dead.

Jan

• Jan is always seen with Mark.
• She gossips with Mark all the time.
• She doesn't seem to talk or show her opinions when the group is together.
• Ends up shop-lifting.
• Was part of Adam's apparent 'Death', however she leaves before it happened.

Mark

• Always seen with Jan.
• Gossips with Jan all the time.
• He provokes people.
• He was fully involved in Adam's 'death'.
• Ends up shop-lifting with Jan.

Danny

• He is the only one who knows what he wants to do with he life.
• Easily led.
• Always thinking of himself and how it will affect his future.

Brian

• He took a back seat in the group.
• Shy and scared.
• He slowly deteriorates.
• Seems to show the groups emotions.
• Goes mad and eventually has to be put on medication.

Act 1 Scene 1

• Jan and Mark are gossiping on a street.
• They are making it seem like not such of a big deal.
• They don't give many details away.
• All we find out is that someone has died but we don't know who.

Act 1 Scene 2

• Leah and Phil are sitting in a field.
• Leah struggles to finish her sentences however when she does they are very long winded.
• Her short sentences which she doesn't finish shows her insecurity.
• Gives us an insight into Phil and Leah's relationship.

Act 1 Scene 3

• Danny, John Tate and Lou are in the woods.
• We find out who died and how when Jan and Mark enter with Leah and Phil.
• Some of the short sentences suggest that the seriousness has finally sunk in. 
• John Tate doesn't finish all of  his sentences which shows that he doesn't believe in himself.
• Phil comes up with the plan to frame the fat man, wearing a postman's uniform, with rotting teeth, for Adam's death.

Act 1 Scene 4

• Phil and Leah are in a field. 
• When Leah is talking about chimps, it relates to the characters as they isolate Adam.
• Leah does all of the talking.
• Phil only seems to eat.

Act 2 Scene 1

• Jan and Mark are on a street.
• Same structure as in Scene 1.
• It shows they haven't developed as people.
• Suggests they are stuck in a web and cannot get out.
• Uninformative.
• Makes the audience guess what is happening.

Act 2 Scene 2

• Phil and Leah are in the field.
• Phil says nothing.
• Leah links the gang to the planets and stars.
• 'Molten lava' could be a reference to the situation.
• Phil finally reacts to Leah after she says "Why do you think I did that?" by shrugging.
• By killing Jerry (her pet rodent) Leah might think that she is working her way into the group by showing that she is hard enough to kill or she might be trying to get a reaction from Phil.

Act 2 Scene 3

• The impact of the arrest of the postman could be a relief to the gang.
• Leah is on the outside of the group. She may be like the conscience of the group (as the postman's framing), she is the only one who says it is wrong.
• Phil comes across as threatening in the scene to get out of the situation rather than the organised person he was in the earlier scenes.
• Phil takes over as the leader of the group.
• Jan and John are absent.
• Jan is never there in awkward situations.

Act 2 Scene 4

• It is significant as it is the first time Phil verbally responds to Leah.
• Leah always wants something to happen.
• Her life seems to be on a cycle.
• She knows a lot about Phil even though he doesn't talk a lot.
• Phil only responds when something needs to be said.

Act 3 Scene 1 

• Same structure as in acts 1 and 2.
• The audience may feel left out as Jan and Mark don't reveal any details.
• We can tell that Jan and Mark are close as they finish each others sentences.
• Cathy has interfered into Jan and Mark's duo.

Act 3 Scene 2

• Same structure as in Scenes 1 and 2.
• Leah is still fighting for a proper answer from Phil.
• Ironic as Phil is preparing a waffle whilst Leah is 'Waffling' on.
• A lot of things have changed and sound more real.
• The group are all playing up to what they are seen as (heroes).

Act 3 Scene 3

• The gang have found Adam.
• Phil tells Brian and Cathy to go and kill Adam for good.
• Phil thinks killing Adam is the right thing to do. ("What's more important; one person or everyone?").
• Leah is the only one who tries to stop Phil.
• Adam tells the group what he has been through.
• Brian is delirious to the situation and doesn't know that Phil and Cathy are going to use him to kill Adam as he thinks it is a game.

Act 3 Scene 4

• Phil makes a proper gesture towards Leah by giving her a starburst.
• Leah spits out the starburst which could be a sign of their relationship. 
• Leah storms off and that is the last we see of her.

Act 4 Scene 1

• Same structure as the beginning of all other scenes.
• Jan and Mark are back to their normal duo.
• They are gossiping about where Leah has gone.

Act 4 Scene 2

• Richard is trying to cheer Phil up by walking on his hands.
• Richard has taken over Leah's role as he does all of the talking in a field with Phil.
• Phil isn't eating or drinking anything. Shows a sign of change.
• We hear that everybody has changed and is not who they used to be.
• When Richard is talking about going up the hill it makes us think that he might be going into heaven as he walks up through a big wind of fluff (clouds leading up to heaven).