1. Chapters 17 - 19 Comprehension Questions
October Sky
Chapters
Comprehension Questions

2. What causes Sonny’s dreams of reciprocal love from Dorothy to end?
He is devastated when Dorothy arrives, and he realizes that she is the special date for which Jim had carefully prepared.

3. How would you feel?

4. Who consoles Sonny after Dorothy? How?
Valentine
He and Valentine leave, and she, who recognizes his hurt over Dorothy, offers her own love out of pity.

5. What happens to Ike Bykovski and Homer in the mine tragedy?
Mr. Bykovski was operating the loader that go buried.
The cable they were using snapped and hit Homer in the head. The force of it cracked his helmet in two. It causes him to lose sight in his right eye.

6. Which do you think affects Sonny? Why?

7. What effect does the tragedy have on Homer and Elsie?
After his injury heals, Homer rarely comes home from the mine, and Elsie spends most of her time alone in her room.

8. Why do you think this happens?

9. Why does Sonny abandon rocket building after the mine tragedy?
He realizes that he has been selfish all his life trying to make things go his way.
He loses all energy and feels hopeless shame.
He begins to feel sorry for himself, then suddenly realizes he feels nothing, the worst thing he has ever experienced.

10. How is the situation resolved?
Miss Riley first causes him to feel something again when she asks about his not working on the rockets anymore.
Mrs. Bykovski urges Sonny not to forget Ike and to honor him by continuing with his rockets, something Mr. Bykovski would have wanted Sonny to do.

11. What does Miss Riley tell Sonny about rocket building?
She tells him he is suffering from self-pity and pride.
She tells him he must put all his hurt and anger aside so he can build rockets.