CBSE Class 12 English Going Places Notes Set 03

About the Author

AR Barton is a modern writer who lived in Zurich and writes in English. He has authored many stories like 'Going Places' which are mainly concerned with the problems of the stage of adolescence like fantasising and hero worship.

Chapter Sketch

In his story Going Places, Barton explores the theme of adolescent fantasising and hero worship through the character of Sophie, a young teenage girl from a lower middle class family. Sophie is a daydreamer. Her family and friends try to stop her daydreaming and help her from time to time, but she keeps on building castles in the air. When reality hits her, all her dreams appear to be shattered. The author has thus, emphasised the aspirations and ideals of the modern young generation and at the same time highlights the pain of unfulfilled promises and unrealised dreams.

About the Characters

• Sophie: She is a highly ambitious lower middle-class adolescent girl living in a world of dreams and fantasy.
• Jansie: She is Sophie’s close friend and very practical about their status. She is also a gossip monger.
• Danny Casey: A talented football player who is a local hero, idolised by Sophie.
• Geoff: He is the hardworking elder brother of Sophie who is a sports enthusiast and confident of his sister’s desires and fantasies.
• Sophie’s father: He is hardworking, practical man who wants to provide better facilities for his family.

Summary of the Chapter

Daydreamer Sophie

Sophie was returning home from school with her friend Jansie, when she told her about her dream of owning a boutique. She said that she would become a manager to save the money needed for the boutique. However, Jansie, being practical, told Sophie that her dreams require a lot of money and are not realistic. She further added that they would work in the biscuit factory. Sophie remained unbothered by Jansie and kept on talking about being an actress or a fashion designer.

Sophie’s Family

Sophie entered her house talking about money with Jansie. Her father was eating and her mother was doing household chores when her younger brother Derek mocked her. Sophie felt sad and went to her brother, Geoff. Geoff was working on a part of his motorcycle in another room. He worked as an apprentice mechanic and was a quiet person. Sophie was jealous of his silence. She often thought of the places he went and wished that someday Geoff would take her with him. She imagined riding the motorcycle with him.

Meeting Danny Casey

Suddenly, Sophie told Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey, an Irish sports star. Geoff doesn’t believe her. So, she described that she met him while window shopping at the Royce. She told Geoff that the meeting with Casey was a chance encounter. She wanted his autograph for Derek but neither of them had a paper or pen. So, they talked and then, decided to meet next week. Casey promised to give her an autograph then. After Geoff was finally convinced with Sophie’s description, he shared it with their father. Her father got angry and warned Sophie that one day she would land herself in trouble because of her wild stories. Later, Sophie informed Geoff of her date with Danny Casey but Geoff refused to believe her.

Jansie- The Gossip Monger

On Saturday, Sophie, Derek and their father went to see a match played by the United. After the match, when Sophie met Jansie, she was surprised by the fact that Jansie knew about the meeting with Casey. As a result, she felt irritated with Geoff for talking about her secret to others as she knew Jansie would tell her secret to everybody. However, she was relieved to know that Jansie has no idea about the date.

Sophie’s Dream Shattered

Sophie was now at the canal waiting for Danny Casey. While waiting, she imagines Casey coming along the river. She imagines her excitement. However, when after some time she does not see Casey, she realises that her date with Casey was just her imagination. Hence, she becomes sad and miserable as she thought of how she would explain this to her family. She knew Geoff would be disappointed and others would doubt her. She doesn’t want to live with the burden of the truth.

Sophie Keeps on Dreaming

However, Sophie does not give up her dream. She once again dreams of meeting Casey at Royce. She asks for an autograph. But they don’t have a pen. Sophie is so into her fantasising that she fails to differentiate her dream from reality. She keeps waiting in the arcade for a long time, remembering Casey’s voice and eyes.

Word-Meaning

• boutique — a small shop selling fashionable clothes or accessories
• Mary Quant — a Welsh fashion designer and British fashion icon
• natural — person having an inborn talent for a particular task or activity
• earmarked — destined for working
• huh — an expression showing scorn or disagreement
• shepherd’s pie — a dish of minced meat under a layer of mashed potato
• incongruity — unsuitability
• exotic — unusual, belonging to a foreign country
• cape — a short, sleeveless cloak
• arcade — a covered passage with shops along the sides or a mall
• chastened — humbled
• unawareness — ignorance
• grunt — a harsh sound to express disgust or discontentment
• grimaced — frowned, made a facial expression suggesting disgust
• amber glow — honey-yellow coloured light
• prodigy — a young person with exceptional qualities or abilities
• inquisition — inquiry, cross-examination
• nosey — curious about other people’s affairs
• gawky — awkward, ungraceful
• chuffed — very pleased
• misery — unpleasant and disbelieving person
• row — quarrel
• wharf — dock, harbour
• solitary elm — single elm tree
• pangs of doubt — feelings of uncertainty
• resignation — giving up
• freckled — covered with light brown patches or marks
• shimmer — shine with a soft, wavering light
• gazelle — a small, slender deer
• ghost past — pass through like a ghost
• lumbering — moving in a slow, awkward way
• eruption — outbreak
• approbation — praise or appreciation

Important Themes of the Chapter

• Adolescent Hero-Worship: The story portrays adolescent hero-worship through protagonist Sophie’s admiration for a young football prodigy named Danny Casey. Her fascination with Casey borders on obsession blinding her to the reality of his fame and the unlikelihood of their developing a significant relationship. Sophie’s character illustrates how adolescents idealise their idols, projecting their fantasies and desires onto them.
• Fantasising: Sophie’s vivid imagination and tendency to construct elaborate fantasies define her character. Her dreams reflect her desire to escape the confines of her working-class life. Sophie’s encounter with Danny Casey becomes a focal point of her fantasies, highlighting the power of imagination to provide solace and inspiration in the face of adversity. It also highlights the importance of dreams and aspirations in the lives of adolescents, serving as a means of coping with the challenges of adolescence and envisioning a brighter future.
• Relationships: The story also focuses on relationships among family members, particularly Sophie’s strained relationship with her father. It also explores Sophie’s complicated bond with her brother Geoff and her friendship with Jansie. These relationships shape the characters’ aspirations, perceptions and interactions with each other and the world around them.
• Family-Friends Dynamics: Sophie’s family’s socio-economic status shapes their outlook on life and reactions to her aspirations. Her desire for support and validation is met with doubt. Trust and confidentiality are essential to her, revealing her need for autonomy.