Short Story Presentation

Brother Dear
Made by: Ronnie, Matej
Overview
Biography
Characters
Plot/Summary
Time/Setting/Perspective
Theme
Discussion Questions
Media Piece
 Bernice Friesen
Canadian Author & Artist
Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts
Born in Saskatchewan in 1966 (“Home”)
Her work is published across Europe & America
(“Bernice Friesen | the Writers’ Union of Canada”)
Shortlisted twice on CBC Radio Literacy Award
Won several awards for fiction, poetry, art

Greg
Greg has a strong belief in
himself and no matter how
much his dad tries to convince
him that he is wrong and should
just “go to university so he can
be something” (Friesen 8) he
never gives in. This shows how
courageous he is.
Characters
Sharlene
Sharlene has dreams of going to
Europe however she is too scared to
tell her dad for fear of how he would
react. She slowly matures throughout
the story realising that you don’t have
to go to university to be something
and she shouldn’t be scared to tell her
dad.
Dad (Jack)
Jack has very firm beliefs just like
his son. He regrets not becoming a
doctor as he inherited a business
which is why he’s so uptight about
university even saying that you
won’t be anything if you don’t go
Jack is very irritable and short-
tempered. Especially around Greg.
Mom
The mom is the mediator
between Jack and Greg,
always steering the
conversation away from the
argument and talking Jack
down from his outbursts. She
is also composed, always trying
to calm down Jack by laughing
which relaxes him.
 During dinner, the
dad, Jack, found out
Plot
Greg is planning on Jack was
dropping out of extremely mad at
university to plant Greg and yelled at
trees as a job. him. Greg got up
Sharlene dreams about and left the house.
leaving the city after
highschool, she wants
to go to Europe before
university.

Sharlene chased Greg to the

At 4, her brother Greg bus stop, they resolved their
came back from conflict through a conversation,
university. Sharlene and Sharlene supported Greg to
started annoying him. do what he wanted.
 Book review

Time Setting Pov

The story takes place The story takes place in Grassbank which is Sharlene tells the story in a
a small town in Alberta. The impression it
sometime in April and makes on me is dull and repetitive because first-person POV as the main
the story spans around 3 at the beginning of the story Sharlene talks character.
about how the town is so boring it can “But when I go to university I
hours as Greg arrives at
make a “Normally sane person want to
4:00 and leaves at 7:00. jump off a cliff” (Friesen 2). won’t come back with a
screwed-up head” (Friesen 2).
Theme of “Brother Dear”
People should not be affected/influenced by others’ opinions.
It’s vital to be able to think individually and follow your thoughts.

In the Story:
Greg shows us an example of individuality.
Greg eventually finds his passion for nature, he also missed an exam for it.
Although he got yelled at for it, he still wanted to continue what he was doing.
Throughout the story, Sharlene also learns and in the end, supports Greg.
 Discussion Questions

1 2 3

Do you agree Do you think Do you think

Jack’s reaction to that Sharlene is
with Jack or
Greg quitting
Greg? Why? a dynamic
university was
character? Why?
justified? Why?
Media Piece:
Thank's For
Listening
Works Cited