THEMES - Exploring Transitions
individual Growth
Individual growth is about facing chelisngss, confronting fears and above all rsalising that growing up
|s@ transformative process,
‘As a character Tom shows that he Is 2 ssnslive, responsible young man who fests concsm for
others. tn the novel Tom must face meny challenges, At first he feels in some way responsible for the
accident and he has to come to tems with what happened and lis tragic consequences (shown
through the use of flashbacks). The fleshbacks show sn ordinary femily which make them even mors
powerful. As the novel progresses, the flashbacks bacome less frequent. The responder can ee thet
‘Tom is living in and enjoying the present while leting go of the past. Ha is in the procass of
{ranslioning from adolescence to adutthood, Tom is able to overcome the past and ils consequences
through his strength of charactor. Tom overcomes his difieuty of playing rugby without Danial and
Finn, He perseveres end discovers that rugby provides him with new iisnds, freedom and success,
Which techniques could you use when writing @ paragraph about individual grown?
Page [Tecnnique [Example Efe
'B.277 | Moi of hills | "Proved ib us | Symbalises Tons growth, The mountains
you can already | symbolise the hardships Tom has faced. This is en
‘amb image the responder can relate to. Tom has been
mountains.’ | able to overcome the physical and emotional
‘hatlenges in his fe.
‘To show that Tom is not afraid to confront his fears
and this abilly halps him to grow and haps us to
“The runs were | understand the process of traneton,
hard and they
hut ke hell but
was worth it
Flashbacks
245 | Motif of rugby | "The game was
better when the
team was
tuned and
loving i
B61 | First and tid | But mow
Parson what | missed
the most.
missed me,
Tom:
Brennen, and
that's wy now Lwould wl
Because | cout
Soo ho was
coming back
pare “Th water was | The Wea hat he wal & cleansing Tom, fenovino
Symbolism of old and fesh._| the past and allowing him Sansiion towers 2
thewater” | Somenow it fe | happior urs
Metaphor like full of
promises. _|
BEE] Fest and TFS] ‘That vas the THs shows Ton's acceptance ofwho hes
person | momingwe, | demonsrstss his orowih
fwem ard
loved each
other ae that
was the
morning Tom
Brennan came
back, rovers
Change
The provess of transition can result in CHANGE. in The Story of Tom Brennan we can see how the
experiences that each character has is a necessary part of the translion process. A significant
change can be a transformative experience. Whon Tom first moves to Coghill he isin a dark place
with no hope for the future. He hides away in his ‘cave’. He feels comfort in his Isoletion. This 1S
juxtaposed through flashbacks to Tom's past in Mumbill when he was popular and content. By
rejecting change Tom remains stagnant, unable to move fonvard, when he does accapl the change
we can see his transition towards a new identity. The use of frst person creates empathy for Tom
{and we are drawn inlo his private thoughts. We share his feelings of dark depression and his,
enlightenment as he discovers that lfe can be full of wonderful experiences,
Which techniques could you use when wating a paragraph about change?
[Page [Technique [example Eos
Repetition of [When | was
firs person | with Chrissy, 1
was me again
Flashbacks
| Malaghor "Vou helpad me | This emphasieos Tom's gratitude towards Chilasy.
find myself. | He understends how much she has helped hina find
Believe ma | himsat.
that’s
everything.”
Third person 1Consequences
Its the cause and sffsct of Denials actions which tigger the proosss of transition that Is the contrat
‘concem in our study of this text. The action of this siory is driven by characters that ive with the
CONSEQUENCES of decisions made by another person. Every member of the Immediate and
extended Brennan family has made ths transition from the routines and confor of their old ves and
are suddenly forcad to find thelr way through grief, disbollt and shared sense of gull. The responder
begins to appreciate the far reaching effects of Denie!'s csr eccident as they follow the slow progress
‘of charscters who constantly struggle to find equlibrium. While dealing with the consequences of his
‘actions in gaol, we witness Daniel's rehabilitation as a slow end psinful struggle to survive this period
of transition,
‘Which techniques could you use when writing @ paragraph about consequences?
Pags [Technique Example ect
“= siood there, the Black
p95 | Motif of darkness | curtain descending down
and light onme.”
“Tin so sory. Tivso somry | Daniels deep remorse is
p. 139 you had fo leave the Bill. | consequence of his iransitory
Fm so, 50 sony.” process while Incarcerated.
.150 | Rhetorical
question
"Tebbs aliarifisaid an | A pivolal point for Tom who finally
Metaphor enormous weight hadn't | realises thet his fear of reprisals ts
p84 lifted off my shoulders.” | baseless.
485
p.190 And | didnt think about
Dialogue how this é be for you. | sew
the way you looked, every
lime you thought someone
was going to say
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