Preview

October Sky

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1343 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
October Sky
October Sky

Introduction Having confidence in yourself versus listening to others can be beneficial in your dreams. Homer Hickam, a 17 year old young man from Coalwood, West Virginia, struggles with his wants and everyone else’s wants. Homer is looking to achieve his personal goals of freedom, determination, and in search of confidence. Homer is looking for a better life outside of Coalwood, with the opportunity of freedom from the mining town. Homer has a hard time keeping his morals in perspective as his father discourages him to work on the rockets, making him even more determined to succeed. At the same Homer is trying to gain the confidence to follow his goals despite his father’s requests.
Choice of Freedom Homer’s opportunity for freedom starts on October 4, 1957, while he sits watching the Sputnik launch into orbit from the television. As he starts his journey, he realizes that his father does not want to hear of his quest. This creates a new challenge for Homer to accomplish freedom.
For example, Homer sets his goal with freedom from Coalwood. It all starts with the statement from Homer’s father, “Can’t dream your way out of Coalwood”. With this statement Homer looks at this as a challenge and starts to design and build his rocket. He starts with risking his own reputation in high school as he sits down next to Quentin. From there it starts as a journey for himself to become something more. Ms. Riley starts to see the interest Homer has with rockets and the potential. She approaches him with the idea of the County Science Fair. A promise if you win you will go onto Nationals in Indianapolis. This is his first small taste of freedom for Homer. AUK 1; first rocket begins production; this is Homer’s attempt to leave Coalwood and be somebody. The next thing Homer realizes is his father does not approve. As they get into an argument, Homer states” I’m never going down there”, referring to the coal mines. With the start of this

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    After Washington, they head south to their next destination, the Appalachian Trail. Jenkins and Cooper spend a cold Thanksgiving on a peaceful mountaintop in Sperryville, Virginia (Jenkins 58-59). Next, Jenkins and Cooper walk into the town of Chattam Hill, Virginia. While in Virginia, Jenkins hears of a man by the name Homer Davenport (67-68). Jenkins journeys a far distance up a mountain to find Homer’s secret home, which faces the town of Saltville, Virginia. Homer invited Jenkins and Cooper to “come on up for a spell” (71). During their two days and nights at Homer’s, Jenkins says, “I learned and expanded until I thought I couldn’t change any more” (78). Homer and Jenkins understand each other’s way of living and thinking. Homer mentions to Jenkins that he should settle down on his mountain and make a life there. However, Jenkins continues on his journey south.…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thus far, in Homer Hickam’s October Sky, Homer Jr’s parents Homer Sr. and Elsie both have varying ideas of what their son should do with his life. Although Homer Sr. wants him to enter a career most boys in Coalwood will pursue, Elsie, the more understanding parent, wants Homer to go to college, build rockets and make it out of Coalwood. Despite Homer Jr almost blowing up the entire backyard Elsie continues to tell Homer to keep at it regardless of Homer Sr’s opinion on the matter. Elsie tells her son, “You’ve got to get out of Coalwood”(Hickam 50).…

    • 99 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Homer is a legendary ancient Greek epic poet. He is the author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Odyssey mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus and his long journey home following the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War. In his absence, it is assumed he has died, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors, the Mnesteres or Proci, competing for Penelope 's hand in marriage. On his way he came…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good 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
  • Better Essays

    O Brother Where Art Thou

    • 1612 Words
    • 7 Pages

    If these elements don't exactly add up, maybe they're not intended to. Homer's epic grew out of the tales of many storytellers who went before; their episodes were timed and intended for a night's recitation. Quite possibly no one before Homer saw the developing…

    • 1612 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Cited: Homer. The Odyssey. in Maynard Mack et al., ed., The Norton Anthology of World…

    • 2022 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Lillies of The field

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages

    4b) Homer finds in the city that motivates him to return was a stack of old plumbing fixtures that had sinks, basins, and bathtubs. This is the first time since he has left that he starts thinking about the nuns. He buys the tubs and returns back to the nuns.…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    This theme is shown throughout the novel many times and it made Raymond’s dreams come true. Creativity is the key to success and making your dreams come…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Counselors as Companions

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As a result of the relationship that Steve had with his counselor, he has learned that sometimes the goals we set for ourselves may be unattainable. However, just because a goal needs to be modified a little, it doesn’t make it any less spectacular…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obstacles In The Odyssey

    • 588 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey”, the hero Odysseus faces several perils on his journey to return to Ithaca. My own life models this path, with my goal of success being hindered. I face several perils; temptation, longing and coming of age. All of these elements attempt to discourage me from ultimately achieving what I desire most.…

    • 588 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To conclude, we all want to reach our goals of being a doctor, teacher, entrepreneur, or even being a good parent. Getting to a certain potential of doing a specific action, or getting a certain position can be challenging for most. However, this pain are hardships that you experience that are part of the process to becoming better and leveling up. With the “Allegory of the Cave” by Plato and “Learning to Read” by Frederick…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Odysseus as an Epic Hero

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Cited: Homer. “The Odyssey.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature: Shorter Second Edition. Ed. Peter Simon. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2009.…

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Odysseus

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cited: Homer. The Odyssey. Holt McDougal Literature Grade 9. Ed. Janet Allen et al. Evanston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. 1204-1265. Print.…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Boyatzis applies the motivational pull of a desirable future (dreaming) to personal change he also borrows the notion of identifying (discovering) and creatively using (designing) existing strengths to move you closer to who you want to be in the future and the focus on strengths is intrinsically motivating.…

    • 975 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Homer’s Odyssey clearly illustrates the characteristics of epic literature and cultural values in ancient Greece, especially nostos, the protagonist’s long journey home by sea. Throughout the epic, Homer utilizes the writing strategy of conflict. This develops the central idea that the journey of the hero teaches him valuable lessons and ultimately transforms him. The use of conflict between Odysseus and monsters, as well as human enemies, demonstrates that he learns to control his hubris by the conclusion of the epic.…

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays