Preview

October Sky

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
949 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
October Sky
October Sky is a movie about how a hillbilly accomplished his dream of building rockets and got out from the falling mining hometown named Coalwood. Homer Hickam, the main character of the movie, would never succeed in his rocket dream without the extraordinary inspiration and encouragement from Miss Riley. An outstanding educator will focus on enlightening students and extending their limits instead of instructing strict rules and following rigid formats. The teacher in the movie, Miss Riley, recognizes the potential in every student, not only the ones with visible ability. She would use philosophical stories and her experience and observation to help her students to orient their dreams. All the positive impacts on the students came from the unique personality of the instructor.
There is a remarkable dialogue that touches my heart and wins my approval in the movie October Sky. When Homer and his partners were going to launch their rocket, some of the town residents had found their blockhouse and had been waiting for their launch. Miss Riley said to Homer, “You do not have to prove anything to anybody.” Miss Riley said that to the boys to make them feel more relaxed and try to comfort them from nervousness. Even Homer’s father, John Hickam, didn’t believe his son could be successful in building rocket. Miss Riley gave support to the rocket boys and helped them to approach their goal as much she could, such as ordering a book for Homer. In the beginning, Principal Turner reprimand Miss Riley for giving her students false hopes and wasting their time; and confiscated Homer’s rocket and the book about rockets. It was Miss Riley helped to get Homer’s things back and directed him to pursue his goal even though there would be obstacles along the way and he should not fear.
Homer’s father, John Hickam, and Ike Bykovsky both had influence on Homer’s coming of age. The effects from them were definitely not the elements that motivated Homer to achieve his

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Throughout the movie you could see there was great tension between Homer and his father and I think it affects the relationships that he makes in the movie. At first we see Homer pining after one of the beautiful popular girls in his school but she is unattainable. Just like his father’s relationship, he can’t have the affection that he wants and because of this he overlooks the girl who it quiet but beautiful inside and out who is clearly in love with him. Once Homer figures out his place in the community and realizes he doesn’t need to work hard for a love that’s not there he opens himself…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    One of Homer’s main obstacles was his community who made fun of him and doubted him for a very long time. That is, until they saw Homer’s first successful rocket launch. When the boys go to school, all the other kids would constantly ostracize them because everyone knows that “the jocks are the only ones who get to go to college.” And that is because without a football scholarship “the rest of ‘em will go to work in the mines.” Homer, Quentin, Roy and O’Dell did not have a very good start with their rockets. Their first, did not take off, the second took off in the air a bit but then went straight into the mining area. With that rocket, Homer’s father told them not to shoot off any more rockets on company property. Even with Leon Bolden’s help, they did not get the right type of rocket shape, or formula to get the rockets to go straight up and fly as high as possible for as long as possible. The first time the town showed up for a rocket launch, the…

    • 1470 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the short story Summer, David Updike describes the coming of age of Homer, the…

    • 463 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    November Blues

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Mr. and Mrs. Prescott they are the parents of Josh, they were very disappointed when Josh died they were not the same until the found out that November Nelson was going to have a baby. Now they want November’s baby and they are trying to take her to court to get custody of the baby when it’s born.…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Half the Sky

    • 2157 Words
    • 9 Pages

    1) How would you convey the message of the book “Half the Sky” to family, friends, and colleagues?…

    • 2157 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Overachievers Essay

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Journalist Alexandra Robbins returns to high school to follow nine students as they pass through their years of fierce competition. Robbins combines fascinating investigative journalism and riveting storytelling to provide a moving narrative that explores how our high stakes educational culture has spiraled out of control. Robbins purpose is not only to show how carried away our generation has gotten with the desire to succeed but also to highlight and make aware of the pressure that the majority of teenagers face in high school while on the road to achievement.…

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Homer’s vital leadership skill was important and essential to every member because everybody just couldn’t wait for the adults to make the decisions and accept the responsibility and worry for them. Homer was different. When everybody started arguing why the lights on the planes weren’t on, Homer immediate took charge of the situation. “Everyone calm down, stay calm, or we’ll get nowhere.” Pg 67. This quote shows Homer’s very first taste of being in charge; no one had realized Homer’s amazing skills yet but as least they listened and followed his instructions. “Homer had been silent for ten minutes or so and then we found ourselves looking at him because we were starting to recognise Homer’s leadership. He didn’t seem to notice, just began talking naturally.”. This quote shows that Homer finally understood that instead of getting attention from being a trouble maker, he could get it from being a leader. It also shows the whole group might collapse without the excellent control from Homer. Initiative was another important skill hidden inside him, all those years Homer pretended he was just a class crown having no emotions when playing Greek Roulette. “Listen, while you guys were walking towards Wirrawee last night with your eyes shut, I was noticing a few…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    1. Homer doesn’t support Sonny’s plan to become a rocket engineer, because he wants his son to follow his own footsteps. He wants Sonny to work in the mine like himself. Many older people such as parents, relatives, and teachers have a very hard time supporting teenagers’ career plans, because teenagers nowadays make career choices that are much different than those of teenagers in the 1900’s. Teenagers nowadays are lazy and choose to do the easiest job such as wanting to work in fast food restaurants and places such as bars. Adults do not support these teenagers, because they want the best for teenagers, for they are what our future consists of.…

    • 1045 Words
    • 1 Page
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    One way that Miss Moore shows that she is a caring person, is by showing how dedicated she is to he job. “She’d been to college and said it was the only right that she should take responsibility for the young ones’ education, and she not even related by marriage or blood.” This quote shows that she cares about the children’s future. Most teachers just teach to get paid and that’s it. But that’s not the story with Miss Moore she has gone to college, and now she gets paid good money for what she does and she wants to pass that down to the kids, because the kids right now are poor and live in the slums ( except for Mercedes). Junebug doesn’t even have a desk and Flyboy doesn’t even have a home to go to. So even though Miss Moore is not related to the kids by blood or marriage she still wants the kids to achieve in life just like she did. “And school suppose to let up in summer I heard, but she don't never let up. And the starch in my pinafore scratching the shit outta me and I'm really hating this nappy-head bitch and her goddamn college degree. I'd much rather go to the pool or to the show where it's cool.” This quote shows that Miss Moore really wants them to succeed in life because, she is teaching them in the summer when they should be out having fun and not thinking about school. If she didn’t care about their education she would just let them have fun in the summer, but instead she s out in the summer trying to teach them a very important lesson.…

    • 1023 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    October Sky Analysis

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “How about I believe in the unlucky ones?” this could arguably be the most important line in the entire film, October Sky. This teacher, Miss Riley, recognizes the potential in every student, not only the ones with visible ability. This should be the goal of every teacher. Miss Riley not only provides the boys with hope, but also with endless supports as they proceed in their rocket building. Teachers have the greatest gift in the world—the ability to help shape a student’s life. They can use that to present a world of opportunities to those who may not have had any. This was true in October Sky; when the “Rocket Boys”, a group of high school students from a small failing mining community, were given an amazing opportunity to be more than they…

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the story, a father can only afford to send one person in his family to Mars, a trip that would be an incredible opportunity. No one wants to go unless the others in the family could also attend. To solve the problem, the father buys a rocket, and creates an illusion so that everyone can go on the trip. In this story, the family doesn’t have much material wealth, but they care for other, and are overjoyed that they get to share the experience of going to space together. Furthermore, Bradbury shows how technology can be used for good. The father uses film, mirrors, screens, and other gadgets to create the fantasy that they are travelling through space, and as a result, gives his children the experience of a lifetime. In addition, Bradbury demonstrates the importance of relationships in bringing a person’s happiness, rather than…

    • 1290 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Have you ever read a book and later watched the movie version only to find out that they are completely different? In Homer Hickam's book, “October Sky” and the film adaptation by Joe Johnstun, the main character Sonny Hickam is portrayed differently. His physical characteristics, personal goals, motivation, and his family. There are just a few changes between the book and movie.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rocket Boys Book Essay

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Author of this book was the main character himself. What I think he was trying to do at all was tell his amazing story of how he got to be one of the biggest influences in NASA and other space influenced industries. What he might be saying is just follow your dream, despite weaknesses you may have. Academically Homer Hickam excelled in the language arts (thus the book, Rocket boys), but he struggled in the sciences and mathematical areas. Because of his love for rocketry he went on to achieve his…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Moonrise Kingdom

    • 1021 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola’s right of passage screenplay, Moonrise Kingdom, the connection of Sam & Suzy advances. The protagonist Sam Shukusky, is an orphan and seems to be misunderstood and he seeks a family throughout the play. There are three ways Sam and Suzy connect with each other, both are misunderstood, they feel unloved, and love one another. This essay will show how Sam and Suzy connect with each other. The first connection between Sam and Suzy is that they are misunderstood. Sam’s scouts and foster family do not understand him. The scouts and foster family think he is crazy and emotionally disturbed. When Mr.Billingsley and Captain Sharp are on the phone Mr.Billingsley says “He’s a good boy, he’s got a good heart but it’s not fair to the others you see? He’s emotionally disturbed. The Billingsley do not really understand Sam and neither do the scouts. When the scouts found Sam and Suzy the first time Deluca stats to Suzy “you shouldn’t be friends with him...because he’s crazy.” Seems like everyone has their own opinion about Sam. Redford even says “He’s emotionally disturbed because his family died.” Nobody really knows Sam’s problems but Sam, same for Suzy. Suzy is the only person who knows how she feels about her own life. Suzy’s family do not understand her. “She eats a bowl of tomato soup alone in the pantry.” Suzy likes to be alone and reading her books about lives she will like to have. Suzy found a pamphlet on top of the refrigerator named “Coping with a Troubled Child” and Suzy feels as if her parents think she has problems. That is why Suzy is depressed. The second connection is that Sam and Suzy feel unloved from their families. Sam’s foster family doesn’t really care for him. When Sam was writing each other Suzy “Five of Sam’s foster brothers watch calmly as the sixth throws Sam against the wall then jumps on top of him, pinning his arms to the floor while Sam struggles crazily.” His foster family is not nice…

    • 1021 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the memoir about his youth, Homer Hickam in Rocket Boys demonstrates excellence in prose. Hickam, a former aerospace engineer from NASA, credibly and masterfully crafts his memoir so as to bring the reader into his mindset. His insightful descriptions of action enable the reader to experience the moment firsthand with him through their imagination. He carefully selects his words in order to create an image in the mind of the reader through his deliberate syntax, powerful diction, literary devices, and imagery. The following passage is an example of his powerful prose:…

    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays