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
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BEFORE
Healthy
Loving
Happy
Clean
Heavily involved in
community events
• Well respected
• Loves her family- active
part of the family
• Loves being outdoors
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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
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BEFORE
Coached St John’s
Family oriented
Well respected in
community
• Happy, confident
• Involved in community
• AFTER
• Keeps family togetherlike 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)
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DANIEL BRENNAN
BEFORE
Self absorbed
Confident
Angry (dark moods)
Sporty- talented
Drinking too much
Unsure of self
Jealous (Fin)
Not there for siblingsabsorbed in own world
• “Accident waiting to
happen”.
• Depressed.
• People scared of him.
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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
• AFTER
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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
• 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
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BEFORE
Popular
Lots of friends
Confident, outgoing
Happy
Loves family
Involved in everything
Set up Claire and Fin
(encourage them)
• AFTER
• Guilty about accidentblames herself
• Changes appearance,
social group
• Angry
• Depressed
• Struggling but tries to
hide this
• Wants to talk about iteveryone 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
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AFTER
Quadriplegic
Lost dignity
No privacy
Angry, bitter
Disgusted
Blames Daniel but doesn’t
hate him
• Blames self- he got in car.
KATH
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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)
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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 & 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).
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 & 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.
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 & 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.”
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)