Tenth Entry (Characterization)

Write about the relationship between two characters and how it is changing or developing. What are the characteristics of the relationship? What does it work or not work? What is changing? How do they affect one another?

The relationship between Capt. Sullenberger and his wife Lorrie

After their marriage in 1989, they settled down in Danville California, which means that he had to commute between his residence and New York and to be away from home quite often and for a longer time.

This is the main reason why he missed quite a lot about the growing-up of the two daughters they had adopted.

Lorrie had to assume full responsibility for their education, but she didn’t affect their relationship negatively. She just hoped that after her husband’s retirement things would get better, a which is the case now, and this allows them to make up for all the feelings of loneliness she experienced during the time when Capt. Sullenberger was working so irregularly. Now they enjoy their life together, and Lorrie is of course very grateful that her husband is still alive. When she got informed about his bravery, she was very proud of him and had to answer a lot of questions from journalists all over the world who wanted to know how she had felt as the wife of a nationwide hero.

(227 words)

Ninth Entry (Reflection)

Write about how the setting or any of the characters remind you of people or characters in your own personal life. How are the situations or events similar to your own life? How are they alike and how are they different?

I would like to become a commercial pilot myself and have already had about 160 flying hours on different types of aircrafts. Therefore, I was fascinating by this book, not only because of the extraordinary landing on the Hudson River which is described so accurately, but also because of the personal background of Capt. Sullenberger, which I can compare in the initial phase with mine.

Like me he started flying and had his first solo flight at the age of 16, but I can well imagine that he didn’t have any voice contact with his flight instructor – according to what it says in the text. On the other hand, we have to assume that the plane he used wasn’t as well equipped and safe as the one I fly with.

It’s also interesting for me to know in advance what is coming up step by step in my own career as a future pilot.

From all these statements, it should be clear why I have chosen this book and why I can well identify myself with the technical education of Capt. Sullenberger.

(225 words)

Eighth Entry (Analysis)

Name 5 of the main themes of the novel or play.

As five of the main themes of the novel, I think I could mention the following:

·       The way Capt. Sullenberger describes in all detail how he grew up in Texas and spent his happy childhood there.

May 1969

·     His career in the army, where he had the opportunity to develop his skills as an aviator in a combat aircraft.

Summer 1971

·      The way he got to know his future wife and how they set up a harmonic family with two adopted daughters.

The Sullenberger family with President Obama and the First Lady at an inaugural ball, January 20, 2009.

·      The different phases of the flight US-Airways 1549 and the bird strike which led to an engine breakdown on both sides and a power-off glide of the plane.

·       The way Capt. Sullenberger took the decision to land on the Hudson River, which can be considered an extraordinary exploit. It was owing to the pilot’s experience and sangfroid that a catastrophe – which would have caused the probable death of about 100 people – could be avoided.

Flight Path of Flight 1549, January 15, 2009.

(170 words)

Seventh Entry (Analysis)

Write about the style of writing the author use.

 

The book is meant to be an autobiography in which the author makes us participate in his development from early childhood on.

I must admit that I didn’t find the introductory part of the book very exciting as I was more interested – as a future pilot myself – in what happened in connection with his heroic act.

I found his style of writing relatively simple and easy to read, and I didn’t have to look up too many words in the dictionary.

The fact that he has experienced live all the feelings and emotions described in the book makes the text much more authentic and thrilling compared to what may have come out of it if he had just imagined the whole accident.

I think this is the main difference between a novel, in which the author makes up an imaginative story, and an autobiography, in which he can report facts and situations he has really been confronted with himself.

 

(172 words)

Sixth Entry (Characterization)

Write a short letter to the author/playwrite or to one of the characters. Tell them what is on your mind.

Dear Mr. Sullenberger

As I would like to become an airline pilot myself, I can well imagine how you felt when it came to the emergency described in your book.

I admire you for having had the nerves to remain calm in the situation you were confronted with. I also guess that few other pilots would have taken the decision to land on a river without being aware of the risk you were taking.

I congratulate you - as many others did - on being successful with the manoeuvre you had in mind and on saving thereby the life of 155 passengers.

All those people must be very grateful to you for what you did, which was only possible thanks to your coolness and your experience.

I hope many other pilots will take advantage of your advice and instead of panicking, keep a cool head in a similar situation where you have to react spontaneously in order to avoid a catastrophe.

I thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your book and to profit from your experience in my own career as a future pilot.

Best wishes

(211 words)

Fifth Entry (Prediction)

At any point in the story predict how some character is going to change/develop (character development) as the story progresses. How will they change?

Taking Capt. Sullenberger’s wife as a character that develops throughout the story, I could mention the following:

She was a flight attendant and was sent over to him to replace the one who had been selected to join him and who got sick.

At that time she was 27 and he was 35. Her name was Lorrie Henry and they had never met before. She straight away showed her interest in him but it wasn’t love at first sight.

She didn’t appear to their first date, but a friend told her that she would never find a man if she kept sitting at home on the couch. So she decided to go out with him after all. This is the way they finally got in closer touch with each other.

About three years later, they got married and soon afterwards she gave up her job. Because she couldn’t give birth to any children, they decided to adopt two girls in order to be a real family.

She always suffered a bit from his being so often away from home as a pilot, but accepted the situation and tried to make the best of it.

She was also worried that something could happen to him, but now that he is retired, she can fully enjoy their relationship.

(245 words)

Fourth Entry (Analysis)

Are there any words you are unsure of their meaning? Write down the words. Then write down what you think they mean, guessing from the context. Then write down a dictionary meaning.

Sure there were words I could not quite understand. But that's just exciting that you can expand your vocabulary.

“I felt an exhilarating freedom.” (page 9)

I would paraphrase it as: great, unbelievable, enchanting.

The definition in the dictionary: erheiternd, erfrischend

“And lucky that when I left the military, I found work as an airline pilot, when such jobs weren’t plentiful.” (page 17)

I would paraphrase it as: in abundance

The dictionary meaning: reichlich, im Überfluss (vorhanden)

“But we weren’t gawkers.” (page 59)

I would paraphrase it as: onlookers

The dictionary meaning: Gaffer

“Hers was not a painless childhood, but she isn’t one to make excuses.” (page 171)

Pain means “Schmerz” and less means “wenig”, so I would say: She didn’t a painful childhood.

““No,” I said. “There’s been an incident.”” (page 254)

I would say it as rewriting: something happening

The dictionary meaning: Vorfall, Ereignis, Zwischenfall

(185 words)