Get here the summary, questions, answers, textbook solutions, extras, and pdf of the story Going Places by A.R. Barton of Assam Board (AHSEC / SEBA) Class 12 English textbook. However, the given notes/solutions should only be used for references and should be modified/changed according to needs.
Summary: In the story Going Places, our first encounter is with Sophie, a girl who is depicted as a daydreamer. She dreamed of owning a store. She considered pursuing careers as a fashion designer and an actress as well. Sophie was the type of girl who constantly instilled the desire for grand and magnificent things. However, it was obvious that such a fantasy would never come true because it would be beyond her capacity to make it happen.
Jansie had a very different temperament from Sophie since she was more grounded and practical. Because of her practical temperament and the fact that she was fully aware that fantasies like Sophie’s did not fit the stratum to which they belonged, she never yearned for such fruitless dreams. In reality, Sophie and Jansie were both friends and classmates, but they had very different outlooks, ways of thinking, and personalities. Jansie was aware that both of them came from lower-middle-class homes, making it difficult for them to think big and succeed in the same way. They did not come from wealthy families. Large investments were required for big ambitions, and expertise also mattered greatly, which they lacked. She was aware that they were both “destined for the biscuit factory.”
Sophie’s older brother, Geoff, was three years out of school. He commuted to his job on the other side of the city every day as an apprentice mechanic. He was a quiet person who was not easily influenced by anything or anyone’s wishes. Words had to be extracted from him like stones from the earth. He wasn’t submissive, to put it simply. It appeared that he and his sister Sophie were at odds. She wasn’t someone he thought he could trust and confide in completely. But Sophie wanted that she would tell him about everything.
Sophie informed Geoff of her unexpected encounter with Danny Casey, football’s wonder kid and a player for the United team, in the arcade. Geoff appeared stunned by the idea, and his claim was utterly unfounded. She denied having told their father about the encounter when he asked if she had. She provided a thorough account of her encounter with Casey. She was looking at the clothes out of Royce’s window when she came across an amazing scene. She was joined by Danny Casey, who had arrived. Sophie gave a thorough explanation in response to Geoff’s follow-up question about Casey’s appearance. Casey stood about average height and had soft, green eyes. Sophie’s unexpected encounter with Danny Casey was reported to their father by Geoff. The father responded in a timid manner, with a contemptuous look on his face. The father talked about Tom Finney and Danny Casey while ignoring Sophie. Casey’s father lavished admiration on him and expressed his hope that he would one day become a great football player. When she attempted to explain her encounter with the wonder boy, the father made fun of her and ignored her. It was “another of her weird yarns,” he said.
Geoff was not at all persuaded by Sophie and Danny Casey’s unexpected encounter. He, however, proved to be a tolerant listener to her tale. Geoff faithfully performed the duties of an older sibling. He warned her that Casey must have “strings of girls” chasing after him because he was famous. Sophie stood up for Casey. She said that she had spoken to Casey first. His accent, which she was familiar with from television, helped her identify him. Since neither of them had any paper or pens, she was unable to get his autograph. They also casually discussed the clothing shown in Royce’s windows. She said that if she wanted to meet him the following week, he would sign an autograph for her.
The entire Sophie family was obsessed with football. Danny Casey had a devoted following. In this regard, Sophie wasn’t falling behind because she, too, was chasing after him because Casey was her ideal hero. They went on their “weekly pilgrimage” to watch their favourite team, United, play soccer on Saturday. A member of the United team, Danny Casey conceded the second goal as United shocked the opposition by a score of two to zero. Sophie’s father joined the crazed United supporters in their ecstasy as their favourite team won the championship, breaking down in tears of joy. As her hero scored the second goal, Sophie flushed with pride.
Jansie learned about the tale of Sophie’s encounter with Danny Casey. She arrived to find out if the meeting had actually occurred. Jansie’s look suggested that she was hesitant to accept it. Sophie felt awful that Geoff had divulged their private information, which should have remained private at all costs. She was worried that Jansie would tell everyone in the neighbourhood about her encounter with Casey. However, Jansie vowed to keep it a secret.
She strolled down a safe path beside the canal after dark. It was a long way from the commotion of the metropolis. She used to play there frequently when she was little. She was seated on a wooden bench under a lone elm tree. It was a location where lovers would occasionally go. She had the impression that Danny Casey was moving closer. However, the sharp truth was that it was just a figment of the imagination, and everything is imaginable. Danny Casey stayed away. She was aware that he wouldn’t show up. She felt sad.
She lost herself in thought once more. She envisioned asking Casey for his autograph as he passed through the arcade. The results of Sophie’s fancy and imagination were her hopes and setbacks. She daydreamed a lot. Such an illusory connection could only lead to disappointment. She became impatient waiting for him. She came to the realisation that he would never come to see her.
Think as you read – I
1. Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?
Answer: The two girls were almost certainly going to be absorbed by the biscuit factory.
2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?
Answer: Sophie had a dream of opening a boutique, and if she did not have enough money, she planned to work as a manager in one. She also wanted to be an actress and run her boutique as a side business. She could even work as a fashion designer or any other field requiring sophistication.
Jansie was more practical and grounded in reality. Sophie knew they were both destined for the biscuit factory, and their families lacked the financial means to help Sophie realise her dream.
Think as you read – II
1. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?
Answer: Sophie knew she wouldn’t be able to persuade her father to believe her if she told him she met Danny Casey. She was also afraid of being discovered lying, which Geoff, who was gullible, believed. Her father’s response was precisely what she had predicted. He turned to look at her with contempt.
2. Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Answer: Geoff had reservations about Sophie’s story at first, but her accurate account of the meeting persuaded him. That’s when he informed their father who informed Frank later.
3. Does her father believe her story?
Answer: No, Sophie’s father does not believe her story. He dismisses her and warns her that she will talk herself into a lot of trouble. He dismisses it as just another of her bizarre stories.
4. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in the fantasy of her future?
Answer: Sophie had extravagant fantasies about her future. She was aware of a vast world eagerly awaiting her arrival. She saw herself riding alongside Geoff. He was dressed in new shiny black leathers, and she was dressed in a yellow dress with a cape that flew out behind her. The world rose to greet her and Geoff with applause.
5. Which country did Danny Casey play for?
Answer: Danny Casey represented Ireland in football.
Think as you read – III
1. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?
Answer: Sophie confided in Geoff to keep her story a secret. She knew that if Jansie found out about it, it would quickly spread throughout the neighbourhood. There was also the possibility that her lie would be discovered.
2. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?
Answer: Sophie never met Danny Casey. It was a fantasy she made up because she wished for something similar to happen in her life.
3. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?
Answer: Sophie only saw Danny Casey in person once, when she went to the football field with her father and brothers. Danny played for the United and they won the game that day.
Understanding the text
1. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?
Answer: Though Sophie and Jansie were classmates, their outlooks on life and temperaments were totally opposite. Sophie was a daydreamer who enjoyed living in a fantasy world. She did not work extra hard to achieve her goal because she expected it to come to her. Her dreams were a far cry from the reality of her life. She desired a life of elegance and glamour. Jansie, on the other hand, was grounded and practical. Sophie was reminded by Jansie that they were destined to work in the biscuit factory and that she should not entertain such fantasies. While one is a fantastic dreamer who lives in a world she created, the other does not dream at all and accepts life as it is laid out for them.
2. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?
Sophie’s father first appears at the dinner table, making a sarcastic remark about her claim to be wealthy. He’s a stocky man with a plump face that’s sweaty and grimy from the day’s work. The way he sat down to watch television and tossed Derek’s shoes onto the sofa portrays him as a man who is not particularly refined or sophisticated. He has a manly aggressiveness about him. He is a die-hard football fan who attends every week’s game. He’d go to the pub later to celebrate United’s victory. Sophie’s father was all too familiar with his daughter. When Geoff told him about the meeting with Danny Casey, he looked at her with contempt and warned her that if she kept talking like this, she would get herself into a lot of trouble. He was never convinced by her “wild stories.”
3. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolise?
Answer: Sophie liked Geoff more than anyone else because of his personality. He was a mystery to her. He was her elder and spoke very little to her. There were aspects of his life that she was completely unaware of and about which he said nothing. She longed to be closer to him and confide all of her secrets in him. She wished he would be more affectionate towards her and take her with him someday.
Sophie’s escape to her fantasy world was represented by Geoff. She rode away with him to the world that had been waiting for her for so long. There was also applause as the entire world stood to greet them. His inaudible thoughts captivated her simply because they were unknown to her and remained beyond her grasp.
4. What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?
Answer: Sophie came from a lower-middle-class family. There are numerous indicators that lead us to this conclusion. The two girls’ conversation reveals their financial situation. Sophie’s dreams are unrealistic because Jansie says they have been assigned to the biscuit factory, which means they must work immediately following school. When Sophie returns home, we get a glimpse of her surroundings. The description of the house and activities, her brother’s apprenticeship as a mechanic, her father’s sweaty face, and her mother’s pile of work all reveal their socioeconomic status. They take the bus to watch the football game, and Sophie later notices her father’s bicycle outside the pub.
Additional/extra questions and answers/solutions
1. Who is the author of “Going Places”?
Answer: The author of the literary piece “Going Places” is A. R. Barton.
2. What nation did Danny Casey represent?
Answer: Danny Casey represented Ireland as a player.
3. After graduating from school, what did Sophie fantasise about?
Answer: Sophie aspired to open her own store. She would run the most amazing store the city had ever seen. She also wanted to become a fashion designer and an actress. She may operate the boutique on the side.
16. Sophie was a chronic daydreamer. What were her fantasies? How did she intend to meet them?
Answer: Sophie wasn’t just a daydreamer; she had teenage fantasies that she almost believed in. Her fantasies about the future always transported her to a world far removed from the one she knew. Despite coming from a lower-middle-class family, Sophie wanted to own a boutique. Jansie said she would work as a manager because she had a natural talent for being at the top when she was reminded that she would need enough money. She could even become an actress while running the boutique on the side. Otherwise, she would be a well-known fashion designer. She had no idea where the funds would come from, but she knew it had to be sophisticated and glamorous.
17. Who was Danny Casey? What was his impact on Sophie and her family?
Answer: Danny Casey was a well-known Irish footballer. He was a United player. He was a teen idol, and children idolised him. Sophie’s entire family was a die-hard soccer fan. Every Saturday, they went to watch the game and cheered their team on wholeheartedly. Their joy and participation in the game demonstrate how Danny Casey has influenced their lives. Even at home, Derek expresses to his mother how much he wishes Casey was an Englishman. Geoff’s bedroom was covered in photographs of Danny. That’s why he’d become an object of Sophie’s fantasy and a topic for their post-dinner conversation.
18. Where did Sophie wait for Danny? Did Danny show up to meet with her? What did she do after that?
Answer: The week after her supposed first meeting with Danny, she walked by the canal along a sheltered path lit by the wharf’s distant lamps. She used to spend a lot of time there as a child. She sat down on a wooden bench beneath a lone elm tree to wait for him. She knew Danny would like it there. Danny did not show up to greet her. It was all in her head, with no connection to reality. She walked slowly back home, sad and dejected, with an illusion of her own mind. She struggled to bear the weight of the truth. Everyone would be sceptical about her first meeting now. There was nothing she could say anymore. She made her way up the crumbling steps to the street. She saw her father’s bicycle as she passed by the pub and was relieved that she would not have to face him right then.
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