Tom Brennan Quotes

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In The Story of Tom Brennan by J.C. Burke, Tom’s world is completely changed because of his brother, Daniel’s, drink driving accident, leaving 2 people dead, another quadriplegic and Daniel in jail left to deal with the consequences. The traumatic event forces the Brennan family to move towns to escape the shame, and each member of the family is left coping in their own way. Tom uses his room, known to him as “the cave” as a way to hide away from the world, and be a catalyst for change into a depressive state from the the sporty and outgoing person he was before the accident. The continued use of imagery in “the tunnel of darkness” as well as the Australian lingo ““grubby, shit-coloured walls” describing his cave shows the reluctance of Tom …show more content…
As a new student to the prestigious Welton Academy, following in the footsteps of his highly successful older brother Jeffery, Todd is quiet, introverted and reluctant to be apart of his new community. When addressed by Mr Nolan in the statement “speak up Anderson”, we see how timid and shy Todd is by the stuttering and barely audible reply. However, relationships with Mr Keating and his roommate Neil Perry allow Todd to grow in self-confidence, and we see a shift as he joins the “Dead Poets Society”, rather than isolating himself further from the other boys, encouraged by Neil. Todd is also fascinated by Mr Keating’s unorthodox methods of teaching and strong advice to “seize the day”, but is challenged when instructed to read a poem aloud. As Todd stands on the desk to begin his presentation, Keating turns the lights out, symbolizing Todd’s movement into the unknown. His personal growth continues throughout the story, with Todd even volunteering to read poetry to his class. However, the sudden and unexpected suicide of Neil challenges Todd, and he is forced to resist the urge to return to his shy and timid
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