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 AFTER 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 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 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

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 & 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)