The Story of Tom Brennan

1. The Story of Tom Brennan Revision

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. MOTIFS & SYMBOLS WATER: • 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).

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. MOTIFS & SYMBOLS RUNNING • 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.

20. 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.

21. MOTIFS & SYMBOLS NAMES • 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.”

22. THEMES • Fear • Drink driving and its effect on families and communities • Family relationships • Dealing with crisis • Friendship • Consequences • Conflict

23. 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)

24. 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)

25. 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)