The Story Of Tom Brennan and the movie Coach carter.

both these texts explain and describe the consequences and complications that can come from your actions. In the Story of Tom Brennan by JC Burke, Toms story is told where he changes mentally to cope with the tragic accident and consequences of his brother Daniel going to jail. In the novel metaphors are used to reinforce the main change in Toms life after his brother is involved with the car accident. On page 76 of the novel as Tom bangs his head against the mirror in frustration for what has happened he says to himself Thanks to Fin we thought wed escaped sudden death. But we were wrong; instead wed walked into it. This metaphor symbolises the loss of loved ones, the football game was a sudden death game. The statement wed walked into it implies that the night wasnt a win for everyone, they had not escaped sudden death; they had walked right into it metaphorically. This is the point where everything has turned, winning the football game, that all seem to care about, has turned into a new path for Tom Brennan. This is the moment where Tom has to step into the world for himself throughout the story. He needs to choose which path he will take to overcome his frustration and loss.

In the novel the use of the non-linear structure and ashbacks present a contrast and juxtaposition to life before and after the accident. The contrast between the past and present in the novel highlights the impact of the car accident on the whole family especially Tom. Each family member has changed since the accident. Juxtapositions are used to show that they have a new identity when Tom has his ashbacks. For example, Toms mother before the car accident is the typical loving caring mother but as soon as the accident occurs she moves into the dark, into a shell. Tom moves into the world and starts to spend less time thinking about the past, there are fewer ashbacks towards the end of the novel. Tom is moving on in his life, he is becoming stronger than his family. He looks forward into the world and the different paths that he can take. Rather then dwelling on the past and the road less travelled.

Throughout the novel, symbolism is used to reect the emotional ride and extremes the family and Tom himself have to overcome due to the accident. The ascent is a mountain or hill in the town where Tom lives, this is something that Tom can not climb or overcome, he makes it to the top but he doesnt do it easily. The hill reects the feelings and emotion throughout the story as the hill is a steep emotional struggle. Characters in the book note the hill as all the way to heaven, a mountain. The symbolism behind heaven shows the character has to reach the top of his emotional struggle to be truly happy and united with God. Towards the end of

the Novel Tom reaches the top of the ascent without even realising. This shows the natural progress Tom has made throughout the novel to overcome the horrors that have been in his life. He has reached the top of the mountain, the top of his emotional struggle. All he has to do is take the easy run down the slope. Reference to mountains is also used as Tom and Brendan are taking a trip to the tallest mountain in the world, showing that Tom now has the ability to emotionally cope with all struggles in life ready to overcome the large mountain in life, Mount Everest. Burke shows that moving into the world can lead to new experiences through the emotional ride Tom had and overcame. He moves on with his life into new and better experiences. The author JC Burke shows the emotional journey people take as they move on a different paths throughout the novel The Story of Tom Brennan.

In the lm Coach Carter a basket ball team of disadvantaged students who are journeying into society and are taking much more responsibility as they move into adulthood. The team was effected by one member named Tom Cruze who was drug dealing with his cousin when his cousin was shot dead due a drug related matter. This effected then entire team and the Coach because Tom Cruze had left the team as he was pulling everyone down with his negative attitude towards life and the team, he then re joined the team whilst they where winning.

Tom was then punished by coach carter as that was the consequences of disrespecting the Coach, he was given several hundreds of pushups to do, which was nearly impossible. Toms team mates decide to help Tom by doing a few pushups on behalf of Tom. This shows that his team supported him and always had his back. Tom realises his bad actions and asked Coach Carter for some support.

From both these texts we can see that young teens may face different obstacles throughout there journey into society. They are un aware that actions can have a huge impact on ones life e.g. relationships