Chapter Two: Tom Brennan
1. Ch 2 is written in four sections? Can you identify these and
explain what each one deals with? What are the cues to show
us that one section has ended and the next has begun?
2. Why does he agree to go to the football game and describe his
level of enthusiasm about it? Explain why.
3. Why does Tom name his room the cave? How does Tom
describe “the cave”? What figure of speech is used and how
does it help us understand Tom’s grieving process at this stage?
Give some other examples of language features that indicate
his state of mind.
4. How are we drawn to Daniel? What is it about Tom’s narration
that creates empathy? What heightens the impact of Daniel’s
dilemma?
5. How do we know Tom’s mother has a close bond with Daniel?
How has the accident impacted on her? How does she cope?
6. Has Gran got a close relationship with Daniel? Explain how
she is impacted by the accident. How does she deal with it?
7. How do we know Tom has retained his humorous perspective
on the world? How is this used as a coping strategy? Give
some examples of this humour.
8. How does Kylie react to going to the football match? Why does
she react negatively? Where do you think she is at in terms of
dealing with the accident? Why do you think this?
9. What term does Kylie use to describe her grandmother? What
does this tell us about her relationship? Has Kylie retained any
humour? Give some examples.
10.Does Kylie have empathy for her mum? Explain
11.How does Kylie regard the Australia Day lunch? What
technique is used to indicate this?
12.What is Kylie’s reaction to Tom’s verbal empathy for Daniel?
What does this show about her feelings and attitude towards
Daniel?
13.Tom reacts by stating “I sat there…trying to shut down the bad
thoughts that always surfaced and suffocated any hope I had of
getting my life back”. What figure of speech is this and what
does this tell us about how Tom is coping with the tragic
circumstances surrounding the accident at this time?
14.How is Uncle Brendan portrayed?
15.How does Tom perceive the town of Coghill and its
inhabitants? Give some examples. Why might he be so
negative?
16.Flashback is used during the drive to the football match to a
much happier time when he played football. How is this
juxtaposed with the current football event? What does he fear
about the gossip that went ahead of the family to Coghill?
17.When Tom started to play the game, “…it was the most
freedom I felt in months. No pain, no bad thoughts. Maybe I
could keep on running.” What does this us about football as a
coping strategy? Is there any potential for change in his life?
18.What does the last paragraph in Ch 2 reveal about the
transitional phases of coping with tragedy in Tom’s life?