CAPTAIN NOBODY

(DEAN PICTHFORD)

FORECAST SPM 2106 QUESTIONS

By:
SM Sains Sembrong, Kluang
&
SMA Al-Maarif, Kuantan
QUESTION 1: “WE MUST HAVE COURAGE TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS IN LIFE”. WITH
CLOSE REFERENCE TO THE TEXT, HOW FAR IS THIS TRUE OF NOVEL YOU HAVE
READ?

Based on the novel Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford that I have studied, the story is about a
kid named Newton Newman who is going through many difficulties and challenges in order to be
accepted in the society. In the novel, Newton Newman’s wants to be known by people. Throughout his
journey to transform from the unknown, he showcases his courage in a variety of situations.
Firstly, Newt climbs the dumpster to get the drum for his best friend, Cecil. At first, Newt suggests
Cecil to be the one who should climb the dumpster but after Cecil makes it clear that the job is meant for
the fearless Captain Nobody, Newt changes his mind. Even though he has fear of heights, he
courageously overcomes his fear to fulfill his best friend’s dream. Although in the beginning he hesitates
when he sees how high he is, he still pushes himself nonetheless for the sake of his friend’s dream. At the
end of day, Newt succeeds in getting the big bass drum for Cecil. Although Newt still unknown during
this time, but this is the event that first sparked his courage. In my opinion, no matter what kind of
challenges may come, we must face it with courage. If I were him, I will definitely do the same just to
overcome my fear in order to help people.
Next, Newt showcases his courage by saving Ferocious the Ferret when it accidentally escapes from
its cage. Ferocious runs wildly, so Newt and his best friend are chasing after it. They chase after
Ferocious until they reach the highway. Ferocious bolts in to the middle of the highway and stops.
Nobody is brave enough to go after it anymore. With full courage, Newt steps up to the challenge and
dashes towards Ferocious to stop the traffic just to save Ferocious, despite risking his own life. Drivers
are furious due to the stoppage caused by Newt. Suddenly, an airplane lands on the highway due to an
emergency. This causes Newt’s brave actions to hit the headlines, although people still did not know who
he was. In my opinion, if we are really determined to do something, we will have the courage to help us in
achieving our goals. In this case, his goal is to spend a night with Ferocious, the team mascot. Newt has to
ensure that nothing bad happens to the ferret. It is clear how his courage is enduring all the challenges to
keep the ferret safe has helped him to achieve his goal.
Lastly, Newton Newman climbs up the Appleton Water Tower to save Reggie Ratner. Actually,
Reggie Ratner climbs the water tower to spray paint on the water tank but people assume that he wants to
commit suicide because he has grown increasingly depressed as people are blaming him for the Big
Tackle incident. Newt is afraid of heights but as Captain Nobody, he climbs the rickety ladder
courageously. When he looks at it fluttering down, he is terrified and wants to climb down. But thinking
of Reggie Ratner alone and desperate, he climbs up to the top of the tower to help him. When he reaches
the top, he manages to slither his way to reach Reggie Ratner despite the other challenges that he has to
face. In the end, Newt’s dream somebody known is finally fulfilled when his brave action is once again
showcased in the news, this time, everyone knows his name. In my opinion, for ten-year-old, his decision
to climb the Appleton Water Tower, the tallest structure in town to save Reggie Ratner is very bold and
extraordinary. This event explains the importance of courage and bravery in achieving our goals in life.
In a nutshell, it is undeniable that we need courage to achieve our goals in life. I have learned that it is
important to be courageous to reach our dream. In addition, we can use our courage to help others who
are in need, just like what Newton Newman did. He inspires me to be a better person in life and more
helpful to others.
 QUESTION 2: WRITE ABOUT ONE CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL YOU HAVE STUDIED
EHO FINDS A NEW IDENTITY. WITH CLOCE REFERENCE TO THE TEXT, HOW DOES
HIS/HER IDENTITIY CHANGE HER LIFE?

Based on the novel Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford, I have learned that everybody has his own
identity. Having an identity is very essential to create a great personality. Form this novel, there is a
character who manages to find a new great identity 5hat totally changes his life. The character I am
referring to is Newton Newman, who is also known as Newt and Captain Nobody in this interesting
novel.
Newt is an invisible and an introvert. However, he changes into a boy with a high confidence level
after he becomes Captain Nobody. He is once considered as a boy who is overshadowed by his famous
brother, Chris Newman. His confidence can be seen when he is being summoned by his best friend, JJ. JJ
asks a huge favour from Captain Nobody, which is to correct the mistakes on the sign boards in the
Sullivan’s store. As a ten-year-old boy, correcting mistakes made by adults needs a very high confidence
level. As Captain Nobody is very confident, he calmly walks into the store after being convinced by JJ
that the job is meant for him. Normally a ten-year-old boy will flee and never bothers about the errors as
he is lacking of confidence and afraid that they will be blamed for interrupting an adult’s affair. From my
perspective, although we are young, we still have the right to tell anyone about their own mistakes as long
as we have the confidence in ourselves. So, in our daily life, we must be confident in doing things as long
as the things would not bring us harm and negative effects and never think we was overshadowed. This
event really shows that after being Captain Nobody, Newt has managed to search for his once lost
characteristic which is being brave. Therefore, it is not wrong to say that he has found a new identity.
Next, Newt transforms into a brave person. From an acrophobic, Newton Newman manages to
overcome his fear of height. As we know, phobia is a fear or trauma that is created in our mind and it
takes a lot of courage for us to overcome it. Nevertheless, Newt overcomes his fear when he becomes
Captain Nobody and he fulfills his best friend, Cecil’s dream to get a big bass drum from the Dumpster as
Cecil himself is afraid of slimmy bags. This event starts when Cecil summons him through the walkie
talkie, he straight away dashes to the meeting place and Cecil is waiting there with a red wagon as he is
determined to bring the big bass drum home. At first, Captain Nobody hesitates to climb the dumpster. He
gathers all his courage after Cecil insists that the job is meant for Captain Nobody. When he reaches the
top of the dumpster, he looks down and panics as he is afraid of heights. But, he reminds himself that he
is Captain Nobody and it calms him down. He continues to grab the drum and passes it to Cecil’s waiting
hand and fulfills Cecil’s greatest dream. In my opinion, overcoming a phobia is a big war between us and
ourselves. The mind plays an enormous role to make sure that we would not lose in the inner war.
Therefore, as Newt is all about to help his friend, he also wins the war between himself in overcoming his
fear of heights. This really shows how Newton Newman has gained a new identity by becoming Captain
Nobody.
In a nutshell, being a new person needs us to sacrifice a lot. We must overcome our fear in order to be
brave and throe the hesitation away in becoming confident. Having a new identity could spark other
people to succeed. If we continue to live life without improving ourselves, how are we going to be like
Newt who turns himself from zero to hero? Therefore, we must get a new identity that could change our
life for the better.
 QUESTION 3: SUGGEST ONE CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL YOU HAVE STUDIED THAT
YOU THINK IS ADMIRABLE. BFIEFLY DESRIBE THE CHARACTER AND GIVE REASONS
FOR YOUR CHOICE WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO THE TEXT.

Based on the novel that I have learned, Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford,