Characters
Narrative/Plot
Details
The Cold War
Random
100
Who is this?
Homer Hickam
100
In what town does October Sky take place?
[Town, State]
Coalwood, West Virginia
100
What type of math did Homer use to prove his rocket was not responsible for starting the forest fire?
Trigonometry
100
Between which two nations was the Cold War?
The United States and the Soviet Union
100
Who plays Homer Hickam in the movie October Sky?
Jake Gyllenhaal
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200
Who is this?
John Hickam
200
What do the Rocket Boys do to raise money for their equipment?
They pull out iron train spikes and rails
200
In what year(s) did Sputnik orbit the Earth?
1957 (into 1958)
200
Who was the first American in space?
Alan Shepard
200
In what year was October Sky released?
1999
300
Name one of these characters:
Miss Riley and Principal Turner
300
Why does Homer start working in the mines?
His father is injured in a mining accident, and his older brother Jim has received a football scholarship.
300
Why are the Rocket Boys arrested?
It is suspected that a rocket launched by the Rocket Boys started a forest fire. They were able to prove themselves innocent and exonerated.
300
Who was the first person in space?
Yuri Gagarin
300
Who was the director of October Sky?
Joe Johnston
[Hint: for extra credit on tomorrow's quiz, look up this movie director]
400
Name these characters:
O'Dell, Roy Lee, Homer, Quentin
400
List three events that happen at the Indianapolis Science Fair.
1) Homer's display is stolen
2) Homer and the Rocket Boys win the science fair
3) Homer shakes hands with Wehrner von Braun
400
To what illness does Miss Riley ultimately succumb?
Hodgkin's Disease
400
In what year did the Cold War end?
1989
400
In the movie, Leon tells Homer that seeing a rocket heading toward him was like reliving his days when he was in the Red Tails. Who or what were the Red Tails?
The Red Tails, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen, were a group of black pilots who served during World War II. They flew over 15,000 sorties throughout the course of the war.
500
Who is the character on the left?
Ike Bykovsky
500
Name two differences between the movie and the real life events of October Sky.
[Answers will vary]
Homer's father was very supportive of his aspirations in real life, whereas in the movie he opposed them for most of the film.
Homer's father's real name was Homer, instead of John. In real life, his full name is Homer Hickam Jr.
Homer and Wehrner von Braun never met each other in person, despite both attending the Indianapolis Science Fair.
500
List two foil characters (characters who do not change or develop) and two dynamic characters (characters who undergo some type of transformation) in October Sky.
FOIL CHARACTERS: Miss Riley, Jim Hickam, Elsie Hickam
DYNAMIC CHARACTERS: John Hickam, Homer Hickam, Principal Turner
500
Who was the US President in 1957, when Sputnik was launched into space?
Dwight D. Eisenhower
500
What countries have independently put people in space?
Citizens of how many countries have been to space?
3 countries have independently sent people into space: China, Russia, and the US.
Citizens of 47 different countries have been to space.