The Story of Tom Brennan

Revision

EVENTS

• Story opens with prologue (early morning). • Brennans silently leaving town. Forced to go.

Most of town quite hostile towards them. • Brennans move from Mumbilli to Coghill.• Explores the ramifications of a car accident

(audience doesn’t know until Ch6).• Daniel Brennan was drink driving. Killed Luke

and Nicole. Fin (cousin) paralysed.

EVENTS cont.• Brennans move in with Carmel (grandmother)• All struggle to cope with the consequences of the

accident.• Daniel sentenced to five years in jail.• Tom terrified people will learn the truth.• Playing rugby for the new school (St Bennie’s) helps him to

move on. • Tom realises winning not important- team is. Almost beat

St Johns. Nasty incident during game.• Tom and Chrissy become an item. He plans a trip to Nepal.

TESS BRENNAN

• BEFORE• Healthy• Loving• Happy• Clean• Heavily involved in

community events• Well respected• Loves her family- active

part of the family• Loves being outdoors

• AFTER• Depressed• Hides away- bed• Closed off from world• Doesn’t socialize• Not clean (unhygienic)• Attention focused on Daniel

(and self)• Blames herself• Forgets about Kylie & Tom• Seeing Daniel coping helps

& Kath’s comments

JOE BRENNAN

• BEFORE• Coached St John’s• Family oriented• Well respected in

community• Happy, confident• Involved in community

• AFTER• Keeps family together-

like the glue• Has confidence in kids,

encourages them.• Struggles- but keeps it

below the surface. Adam’s apple wobbles.

• Strong person• Assistant coach at St

Bennie’s (enjoys- team)

DANIEL BRENNAN• BEFORE• Self absorbed• Confident• Angry (dark moods)• Sporty- talented• Drinking too much• Unsure of self• Jealous (Fin)• Not there for siblings-

absorbed in own world• “Accident waiting to

happen”.• Depressed.• People scared of him.

• AFTER• Suicidal • Unhappy• Scared• Not there for siblings• Self-pity• Regret• Guilt (struggles to deal with it)• Must accept responsibilities• Loves family• Mentoring helps• Physically & emotionally similar to Tess.

TOM BRENNAN

• BEFORE• Living in Daniel’s

shadow• Unsure of self• Talented at rugby

(doesn’t realize)• Happy with life• Lots of friends• Likes living in Mumbilli

• AFTER• Depressed (cave)• Doesn’t want to talk about

accident or remember• Didn’t want to play rugby

(memories)• Angry at Tess• Chrissy & gran vital plus

friends and Brendan.• Tom re-engages in world• Plays rugby- about

teamwork• Talk about accident• Not under Daniel’s shadow

KYLIE BRENNAN

• BEFORE• Popular• Lots of friends• Confident, outgoing• Happy• Loves family• Involved in everything• Set up Claire and Fin

(encourage them)

• AFTER• Guilty about accident-

blames herself• Changes appearance, social

group• Angry• Depressed• Struggling but tries to hide

this• Wants to talk about it-

everyone busy• Helps with Fin- her way of

making up for accident

FIN

• BEFORE• Went behind Daniel’s

back- betrayed him.• Starting to get noticed,

outshine Daniel• Happy• Talented• Confident

• AFTER• Quadriplegic• Lost dignity• No privacy• Angry, bitter• Disgusted• Blames Daniel but

doesn’t hate him• Blames self- he got in car.

KATH

• Fin’s mum• Supportive, loving• Close to Kylie• Disgusted by Tess’ behaviour• Stays strong, determined• Has no choice- has to move on.• Tries to remain positive.

BRENDAN

• Tom’s uncle. Tess’ brother• Gay (relationship with Jonny)- hides it from others• Fixes tractors• Wants to go to Nepal• Athletic, fit, loves running• On surface strong. In private, struggles with losing

Daniel and family breakdown. Drinks, cabin untidy.

CARMEL (GRANDMOTHER)

• Catholic, devoted/deeply religious• Loves saints. Faith important• Can’t cook• Loves her chickens• On surface appears strict and judgmental. • Offers support to Tom and stability.• Husband died, gambler.• Having family around gives her purpose.

CHRISSY

• Jonny’s sister• Becomes Tom’s girlfriend• Listens to Tom, offers him confidence and

someone to talk to.• Supports him. • Wants to study nursing.

MOTIFS & SYMBOL

BLACK:• Used to depict state of despair, depression.

E.g. leave Mumbilli in dark. • Tom describes his room as “the cave”. • Slips into a “long black tunnel”. • Daniel’s moods referred to as “dark”. • Kylie wears black eye make up- shows us how

vulnerable she is.

MOTIFS & SYMBOLSWATER:• Generally used to show positive outcomes. • Kylie takes a shower to cool off.• Tom caught in shower by Chrissy.• Tom first goes out with friends at local pool.• Tom feels that he truly finds himself again at

the river.• Fin and Kath move closer to beach (hope for

better future).

MOTIFS & SYMBOLS

‘SUDDEN DEATH’• Match St John’s has to play to have place in

Wattle Shield final.• New significance after accident.• For Tom, phrase forever linked in his mind

with what happened.

MOTIFS & SYMBOLS

DRIVING• Daniel’s drink driving causes the tragedy.• Book opens with family silently leaving town

in the car.• Weekends spent driving to visit Daniel or Fin.

MOTIFS & SYMBOLS

RUGBY• Holds many of stories together.• Symbolizes prestige that was accorded to

Brennan brothers because of football prowess.

• Symbolizes friendships Tom makes in Coghill.• Also symbolizes fear when Tom learns he has

to play against St Johns.

MOTIFS & SYMBOLSRUNNING• Positive step when Tom starts running with

Brendan.• Time to talk, deal with tragedy.• Improves Tom’s fitness and helps him get back into

rugby again. • Gives him new goal- Nepal.• Family could be seen as running away from

problems.• Tom also runs from problems, refuses to talk

initially. Only when he opens up that he moves on.

MOTIFS & SYMBOLS

HILLS & MOUNTAINS• Symbolize Tom’s struggle and journey.• ‘The Ascent’• Daniel hated climbing hills ‘Daniel’s whine’.

Symbolic of how Daniel got everything easily despite bad behaviour. No one stood up to him.

• Tom must overcome hurdles/challenges to move forward. Once he reaches the “peak” he has his life ahead of him again.

MOTIFS & SYMBOLSNAMES• Before accident, Brennan name symbolized their

status in the town. Well respected, boys known for their talent.

• After accident, becomes a name that they hate. Everyone in Mumbilli associates the name with Daniel.

• Rugby game- “killer” and “Brennan”.• “Shame on you Brennans.” Kylie hates name.• Tom comfortable with name by end of book, “that

was the morning Tom Brennan came back.”

THEMES

• Fear• Drink driving and its effect on families and

communities• Family relationships• Dealing with crisis• Friendship• Consequences• Conflict

KEY QUOTES• “Well Tess…I’m sorry about that. But my son can’t

even turn his neck to see his back.” (Kath) • “Tom…I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry that you had to

leave the Billi. I’m so, so sorry.” (Daniel)• “I hadn’t decided if I was playing rugby this year…I

hadn’t decided if I was playing ever again. I didn’t know if I could without my brother. Things just weren’t that simple anymore.” (Tom)

• “Tell someone who cares, Tom.” (Kylie)

KEY QUOTES

• “So you’re sure it was Daniel who was driving?” (Tess)• “ ‘Daniel Brennan was an accident waiting to happen.’

What a shame his accident happened to others. Our family will be there in court next week, yet no sentence will be long enough.” (Nicole’s family)

• “Can’t see the point…it’s all about winning, isn’t it?” (Daniel)

• “It’s not like you not to try…They deserve a fair go, like you did…Cause I know you’re better than this.” (Joe)

KEY QUOTES

• “Theresa…We’re not starting lunch without you. Come on girly, don’t be so indulgent. Life goes on.” (Carmel- grandmother)

• “The accident,” he sighed. “How could I go?” (Brendan)