October Sky--Rising Action

Sure, his first dozen or so rockets either blew up or didn't launch at all, but Homer was confident that his rocket would surely fly one day.

Soon, the public authorities got harsh with the boys. They had to go out of the mining property, which was a few miles away. Homer wasn't going to give in, so he packed his stuff and went out. His friends were iffy about it, but they came with him.

October Sky--Climax and Symbolism

Climax: In October Sky, Homer's father is in the mine while it collapses. He saved a few lives, while endangering his own. While his father is in the hospital, recovering, Homer makes a big decision--to work in the mines until his father returns, maybe longer. It was all dependent weither or not his father looses his eye. This puts a large strain on his goal of building a rocket.

Symbolism: Homer's first day in the mine, he looks up through the elevator shaft and watches Sputnik float by. This keeps him reminded that no matter what happens, his dream can still come true. [Image of Homer Hickam]

October Sky

"Sometimes one
dream is enough to light up the whole
sky"

Homer Hickam was truly inspired by the first rocket shot into space, Sputnik. So inspired, in fact, that he set his goals on launching his own rocket...and succeeded.

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The movie, October Sky(1999), was a movie based on Homer Hickam's adventure, building and launching his rockets with The Rocket Boys.

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Main Characters:

Homer Hickam

Quentin Wilson

Roy Lee Cook

Sherman O'Dell

John Hickam

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Plot: Homer H. Hickam Jr. was destined to become a coal miner, like his father. But that's not what he wants to be. At least, not after witnessing Sputnik one night. Since he saw Sputnik, Homer decided on building a rocket, against his father's wishes. With much appreciated help along the way from friends and teachers, Homer and his friends, known as the Rocket Boys, launched their very own rocket.

Exposition: Meet Homer Hickam and the Rocket Boys: Quentin Wison, Roy Lee Cook, and Sherman O'Dell. Homer's father thought for sure his son would end up in the mines, and for a while there, so did Homer. But that was all before they got the news about Sputnik, and Homer just had to see it. Sure, his friends made a lot of jokes, like;

Roy Lee: Let them have outer space. We got rock 'n' roll.

but Homer's mind was set. One night, he was able to witness the flight of the Russian space shuttle and a new dream came into view. He was going to build a rocket.