The Story of Tom Brennan
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen
Themes
All Themes Family Friendship and Teamwork Identity and Independence Debt and Redemption
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Tom Brennan Daniel Brennan Dad Fin Mum Gran Brendan Aunty Kath Kylie Brennan Claire Chrissy Tulake Jonny Tulake Matt Rory Pa Michael Harvey Luke Nicole Theo Brad Wiseman Chris Davin Owen Brianna Jimmy Theo
Symbols
All Symbols Water “The Legend of the Brennan Brothers”
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The Story of Tom Brennan

by

J. C. Burke
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Matt Character Analysis

Matt was Tom's best friend in Mumbilli before the accident. Their friendship continues after Tom moves, but Tom feels unable and unwilling to truly connect with Matt given their history. They played together on the St. John's rugby team and Matt was instrumental in getting help for Daniel, Fin, Luke, and Nicole after the accident. He's the only friend who tries to remain close with Tom and the Brennan family as a whole in the aftermath. After Tom moves to Coghill Matt emails him regularly, even when Tom doesn't reply. Tom calls Matt twice; the first time he's unable to bring himself to truly open up to Matt, while the second time, it's implied that they actually begin to repair their relationship. Matt is distraught when one of his teammates yells "killer" at Tom during the match between St. John's and Bennie's.

Matt Quotes in The Story of Tom Brennan

The The Story of Tom Brennan quotes below are all either spoken by Matt or refer to Matt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Family Theme Icon
).
Chapter Six Quotes

Somewhere in the bush, hard to say how far away, I could hear the painful sound of groaning, retching sobs. It was Daniel but I couldn't go to him. Part of me wanted to, the other part didn't. I knew I had to stay with Fin, stay with the mess Daniel had made. Yet a voice inside of me was screaming, "He's alive, he's alive. Daniel's alive."

Related Characters: Tom Brennan (speaker), Daniel Brennan, Fin, Matt, Luke, Nicole, Snorter
Family Theme Icon
Identity and Independence Theme Icon
Debt and Redemption Theme Icon
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Nine Quotes

There were so many times when I just couldn't believe this'd happened, happened to me, to my family. This sort of thing happened to other people, not the Brennans.

Related Characters: Tom Brennan (speaker), Daniel Brennan, Matt, Snorter
Family Theme Icon
Friendship and Teamwork Theme Icon
Page Number: 120
Explanation and Analysis:
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Matt Quotes in The Story of Tom Brennan

The The Story of Tom Brennan quotes below are all either spoken by Matt or refer to Matt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Family Theme Icon
).
Chapter Six Quotes

Somewhere in the bush, hard to say how far away, I could hear the painful sound of groaning, retching sobs. It was Daniel but I couldn't go to him. Part of me wanted to, the other part didn't. I knew I had to stay with Fin, stay with the mess Daniel had made. Yet a voice inside of me was screaming, "He's alive, he's alive. Daniel's alive."

Related Characters: Tom Brennan (speaker), Daniel Brennan, Fin, Matt, Luke, Nicole, Snorter
Family Theme Icon
Identity and Independence Theme Icon
Debt and Redemption Theme Icon
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Nine Quotes

There were so many times when I just couldn't believe this'd happened, happened to me, to my family. This sort of thing happened to other people, not the Brennans.

Related Characters: Tom Brennan (speaker), Daniel Brennan, Matt, Snorter
Family Theme Icon
Friendship and Teamwork Theme Icon
Page Number: 120
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+
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