Narrative Theories of October Sky

Cassiana RobyCommunications 403

MWF 11:10-12:00

Narrative Film Chosen & Why When looking through and having to find a narrative film, I felt as if October Sky was a good choice having seen the movie many times, I felt that it fit into the description of all the things that were needed for this project.

Though October Sky may not be a classic to all people, the movie in my opinion is a wonderful portrayal of a real life story that deserves the recognition.

The movie October Sky itself is mainly a character-driven story that focuses upon the real aspects that real people have faced upon there many struggles and drives within there life.

In a way this film portrayal strays away from the category of strict nonfiction that it was placed into by many peoples opinions.

The film October Sky is in my eyes a classic, and I will explain and portray the details as to why I feel this way throughout the powerpoint.

The Three Focuses The first part of the powerpoint

will focus upon the Actantial model.

The next part will focus upon the three act structure, by aristotle.

And lastly it will show Propp’s six steps of narrative structure.

Actantial Model Sender ----->

Receivers:Homer Hickam

ObjectHelpers -----> Rocket Boys Subject: Opponents:

Homer Hickam Homer’s brother & Homer’s father

Actantial Model: The Senders The senders:

- The real sender: This would be everyone who worked on the movie, and put in there time and effort to make the movie what it is.

- The implied sender: is Jake Gyllenhaal, he isthe actor that is playing Homer Hickam.

- The implied sender, is also the narrator within the story, and it is based solely upon Homer’s life and the things that have happened with him.

The usage of the implied sender shows up quite frequently throughout the movie since he is the main character that everything in the story focuses upon.

The Object The object: The main object within the story is for

Homer to receive acceptance from his father, whom wants nothing really to do with his personal goals in his life.

- The object merely in this is for acceptance for Homer.

- Homer desires to be someone in this world and that is the main object that the film is based upon.

The Receivers The Narratee: this is the possibility of all audiences.

This is also why I placed a picture in the actantial model of Shepherd University students, since they possibly could be the audience.

The Implied Receiver: this is the intended audience that the film was produced for. Something important with this is to also look at the demographic that the film was intended for.- A key part of looking into the demographic is that the film is based upon someone from West Virginia, therefore that is why the film is portrayed the way it is so that it will interest those from West Virginia.

The Real Receiver: this is the person who is watching the movie. Also this is why I placed a picture of myself since I was the one that was watching the movie.

The Helpers The helpers within this story are going to be the

Rocket Boys. Each of the Rocket Boys plays there own special

part in helping Homer achieve his desire of acceptance from his father.

Quentin: he is the mathematician of the group, and is the main one whom helps Homer figure out the equations and the things that he needs done to fire off rockets.

O’Dell: is the witty one of the group giving the knowledge of words and wisdom to everyone that needs it.

Roy Lee: he is just truly around for the ride of his life, but he also shows homer a true helping hand whenever he so needs it.

The Subject The Subject: is Homer Hickam.

He has dreams of becoming something other than what his father wants him to be.

He is directed towards science and rockets, and that is what he aspires to be throughout the film.

He also wishes to be accepted by his father, and for his father to be proud of the dreams that he has in life.

The Opponents The two main opponents that are truly against

Homer are his father John, and his older brother. His father John feels as if Homer has nothing going

for him in life and should just be a coal miner like his father is. He also puts him down any chance throughout the movie that he can.

His brother is a football star at the High School, and receives a scholarship to play at WVU. The father’s focus and attention always goes to the older brother since his father feels as if he is doing something worthy by playing football.

The Three Act Structure

The Three Acts in detail Most narrative that we see in movies, and other things in the

world today is shown in a three act structure, which was first shown by Aristotle.

Act One: Act one within the structure is meant to be the beginning piece that will showcase the main story behind the movie itself. It will show a problem that is going to happen, and how the subject within the story will reach this goal.

Act Two: This is the middle of the story, it will showcase here many issues that will arise with the subject and the people that are surrounding him or her. In a way it is like bullying or teasing the subject and the people around him, because it is keeping him away from his main goal.

Act Three: This is the climax of the story, there will be a end result usually of good fortune that is reached during this act. Chances are that the character will reach the goal, but there also is a chance that the subject will not. Most of us know this part of the story to be the “And they lived happily ever after” part.

Act One Which is known to some as the backbone of the whole

story.

We meet Homer, and we start to see his life and a few very key things about him.

We learn that the Soviet Union has just set out there first rocket which is called Sputnik 1. This is the main part as to where the story really takes hold, because you first notice Homer’s love for rockets and science.

Turning Point #1: This is where Homer’s father starts to really see his son Homer’s interest in Rockets, and he tells him how foolish it is and that is needs to quit before he blows himself up.

Act Two This is where things really start to get interesting.

Homers brother is offered a college scholarship, and therefore this makes Homer’s father realize that there is no way Homer will ever get to college on this rocket stuff.

This is where the Midpoint takes place. The midpoint is the middle of the story where things are at a crossroads for Homer and his dream of Rockets.

Turning Point #2: This is where Homer’s father is injured in a mining accident, and he is forced to drop out of school and to take care of his family by mining now. This means that he has to place his dreams of launching a rocket himself away.

Act Three This shows the resolution of the whole matter as to

where, Homer decides that he is going to re-enroll back in school and to enter the Science Fair to follow his dreams of launching rockets.

His father also still does not understand why his son is doing this, but he does it anyway.

To make a long story short, Homer ends up winning the National Science Fair, and all of the Rocket Boys are awarded full college scholarships.

Also Homer’s father finally comes to his senses and realizes how important all of this is to his son. He is actually the one who helps Homer and the Rocket Boys send off there last rocket before leaving there beloved home of Coalwood, West Virginia.

Propps’ Six Steps of Narrative Structure His six steps of Narrative Structure include the

following:

Preparation

Complication

Transference

Struggle

Return

Recognition

Preparation This in large part is going to be exactly like that of Act

One of Aristotle’s three act structure. This is really where the story line starts to take place,

and everything important that needs to be shown early on will be.

This is where Homer learns that his father does not want him around anything that has to deal with rockets.

And since during this time when the movie was shot, it was a time where when your parents said something you had to obey them and there wishes or else.

Homer though being the wise one that he believed that he was, did not obey his fathers wishes of leaving the rockets alone.

He breaks his fathers rules of not associating with rockets, numerous times and does not think twice about doing this.

Complication This is the part of the story where things really start

to take forth.

This is where Homer finds out that something is missing between his father and him, it is a bond something that they had never shared before. He seeks acceptance and wants his father to be proud of him.

From here it is where Homer feels that if he shows his father home important Rockets, and how he really can make something out of himself that his father will be proud of him.

Transference This is where Homer really starts to have his friends,

whom are known as “The Rocket Boys” really step up and want to help Homer in anyway that they can with his rockets.

The Rocket Boys are going to be there every step of the way with Homer fighting for his cause, because rockets and science are important to them also.

Each of The Rocket Boys truly wants to be something in this world and dreams to go to college, something that without a scholarship would not be possible.

In a way this is also where Homer leaves home in a sense, he is branching out on his own and therefore wants no help from his parents in his quest.

Transference

Homer is attacked by many people that poke fun, and try to accuse him of setting a fire with the launching of his rockets.

He is interrogated by the police for supposedly starting a fire that burned numerous acres with his rockets.

Afterwards Homer receives word from the police that his rockets did not start the fire, and therefore this leads to the truly good part of the story itself.

The Struggle Here in a sense is where Homer and his dad start to

bond in a way. When Homer is in jail for the police assuming that it

was his rocket that caused a fire, his father is called to bail him out of jail.

Here they in a way come together, and Homers father sticks up for one of his friends when there stepfather comes to pick them up from jail. His friends stepfather starts to beat his friend outside in a back alley way.

Homer’s father though goes and saves the young boy, and brings him back to the car.

Here is where Homer’s father lets them both know that he what they have done was not wrong, and something that people could learn from.

The Struggle In a sense you truly have to watch the little details of the

whole movie to see here where the “so called hero” Homer, and the “so called villain” John (Homers father) come together in a sense.

In a way also it is like the villain is being defeated because Homer’s father is truly starting to understand that his son does have some talent and is truly worth something.

Also another part of this is where Homer goes to the National Science Fair to present there project on rockets. While he is there all of the stuff that he is supposed to show the judges his stolen from there table.

Since things are not good back home in Coalwood, and there is a strike at the mine Homer’s mother Elsie must march right into the mine gates and tell Homer’s father that there son really needs his help.

Homers mother Elsie also tells Homers father that if he doesn’t help his son that she will leave him, and go to Myrtle Beach.

Return This is the part as to where Homer returns from the

National Science fair, yet no one knows if they have won or what has happened.

Homer is pursued by everyone on his arrival home to find out what truly has happened, and if he actually wont anything.

Homers task though that he truly wanted to accomplish which is the recognition and acceptance from his father John is received, and his father shows this throughout the end of the movie.

Recognition Here is where Homer is recognized as a hero to

everyone in the town, when he arrives home on the bus.

Everyone sees that Homer has came home with a first place medal, this meaning that they did in fact win the National Science fair, and that all of the Rocket Boys will receive full scholarships.

Here also is where Homer’s father actually comes to watch his sons last rocket launch ever, and he stands with his hand on his sons back recognizing the accomplishments that he has done.

After this Homer receives a full scholarship to college, and becomes one of Americas important men helping with NASA.

Three-Dimensionality Homer Hickam is by far the most dimensional and dynamic

character.

He is shown to be a country boy that really is not going to amount to anything else in life except being a coal miner like his father is.

This is shown to contrast that of his older brother, a smart, attractive, and athletic young man who is going to receive a college scholarship to play football and hopefully get out of the small town that they live in.

But as Homer starts to show himself and his true knowledge underneath everything that he is wiser than most people think that he is, this is his true self that he hasn’t been able to show people.

He really was just a young man who had dreams of being something in the world that he lived in, not a coal miner or someone who worked in the town. But to be a scientist for NASA and help design rockets.

Three Dimensionality With the help of Homers teacher he is able to show people that he is a smart individual and that people really should give him a chance

He actually transforms throughout the movie not only on an educational level, but also a mental level.

He starts to be much more wiser than he was before, and realize that he is a tough young man that can face anything thrown his way.

This is where he starts to pursue his lifelong dreams. And actually receives a college scholarship and eventually follows his lifelong dream and works for NASA.