"Going Places" by A R Barton for class 12 English (Flamingo) CBSE (Explanation, Summary, Word-Meaning and Question-Answer)
GOING PLACES
By A R Barton
Summary, Explanation, vocabulary, and very short questions and their answer
INTRODUCTION
In the story "Going Places," A.R. Barton delves into the theme of teenage fantasy and hero worship through the character of Sophie. She is an adolescent from a lower middle-class society. Sophie is always involved in daydreaming. She is also in the habit of cooking up new stories. Her friends and family try to take her out of her daydreams, but she never stops creating castles in the air. Thus, the author has emphasised the goals and aspirations of teenagers as well as the suffering associated with unrealised dreams.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.R. Barton is the author of the book "Going Places,". He is known for his engaging and relatable storytelling. His work has made a mark in literature with its focus on everyday experiences and human connections. Barton’s writing often explores themes of adventure, personal growth, and the pursuit of one's aspirations. His ability to weave these themes into compelling narratives makes his work both enjoyable and thought-provoking.
WORD- MEANING
Earmarked– selected/reserved
Melancholy– sad
Sophisticated–refined/delicate
Scooping: here, eating
Grimy: dirty, soiled
Stooped: bent forward
Incongruity: inappropriate
Crooked: bent
Cluttered: untidy/litter
Tinkering: repairing
Apprentice: learner
Suspected: guess, think
Outlying: distant place
Fascination: attraction
Frowning: annoyed
Component: part
Cradled: held
Abruptly: suddenly
Arcade: Gallery/passageway
Chastened: apologetic/realising the mistake
Grunt: a low rough noise
Wriggled: twist/turn
Disdain: scorn/disrespect
Reverently: respectfully
Grimaced: frown/angry
Inaudible: unheard
Prodigy: a young person with exceptional qualities
Strings: here, group
Jeered: ridicule
Apparently: evidently
Dragged: pulled
Unlikeliest: unexpected/impossible
Pilgrimage: religious journey
Ecstatic: joyful
Nosey: too interested in other people’s personal affairs/curious
Startled: shocked
Frowned: angry/annoyed
Glared: stare angrily
Gawky: awkward
Row: dispute/quarrel
Chuffed: cheerful
Hushed: quiet
Canal: a long, thin stretch of water
Wharf: dock
Muffed: silenced
Solitary: single/lonely
elm: tall tree
Elapsed: passed
Lumbering: moving in an awkward way
Hovered: flew
Thunderous: so strong like thunder of cloud
Eruption: explosion
Exultant: overjoyed
Approbation: appreciation
EXPLANATION
“When I leave, ” Sophie said, coming home from school. “I am going to have a boutique.”...................... And she turned into the open street door leaving Jansie standing in the rain.
Both Sophie and Jansie were in their final year of schooling. On the one hand, Sophie was a daydreamer. On the other hand, Jansie was somewhat realistic and more sensible.
One day they were returning from school. One day, on the way home, Sophie expressed that she wanted to open a boutique after leaving school. Jansie tried to convince Sophie that it would take a lot of money. In response, Sophie said she would get the manager job and quickly save enough to open a boutique.
Listening to Sophie, Jansie pointed out that it would not be possible to get a manager job just after completing school. But Sophie was not in the mood to listen to Jansie. She further said that she would be as natural as Mary Quant and that her boutique would be unique in the city.
Jansie was a little melancholic(sad). She was well known to the fact that both of them(Sohie and Jansie) were destined to work in a biscuit factory. She wished Sophie would come to her senses. Once again Jansie tried to convince Sophie that she should come to her senses and accept that she would not get much in shop work. Moreover, she wanted Sophie to realise that her father would never allow her.
Sophie, on the other hand, ignored Jansie's advice and expressed that she would do something sophisticated like fashion designing or acting.
Q. Who were Sophie and Jansie?
And. Sophie and Jansie were schoolgirls. They were from lower middle-class families. Both of them were good friends. They were in their final year of schooling.
Q. What was Sophie's ambition?
Ans. Sophie wished to open a boutique of her own. Moreover, she wanted to be an actress or a fashion designer. In fact, she wanted to do something sophisticated.
Q. How was Sophie's approach towards life?
Ans. Optimistic and whimsical
Q. How was Jansie's approach towards life?
Ans. Realistic and pragmatic
Q. Why was Jansie doubtful of what Sophie said about opening a boutique?
Ans. Jansie was well aware of Sophie's financial condition. Moreover, both had been earmarked to work in a biscuit factory.
Q. How did Sophie plan to get enough money?
Ans. By getting the position of manager.
Q. Who was Mary Quant?
Ans. A British fashion designer.
Q. How did Jansie try to convince Sophie not to indulge in wild dreams?
Ans. Jansie reminded Sophie that she would not be paid a high salary for shop work. Moreover, she told Sophie that her father would not allow it.
Q. Both Sophie and Jansie had been earmarked to work in__________
Ans. A biscuit factory.
“If ever I come into money I'll buy a boutique.”........................ she went to look for her brother Geoff.
- On reaching home Sophie expressed that she would purchase a boutique if she had money. Listening to this her father became somewhat sarcastic. He asked her to purchase a decent house for them if she had money.
- Sophie’s younger brother Derek said that Sophie thought money grew on trees.
- Her mother disapproved of her by sighing.
- Sophie felt uncomfortable because of the behaviour of her father, mother and younger brother. Moreover, the room was filled with steam and dirty dishes. Therefore, she came out of the room and went in search of Goeff, her elder brother.
Q. How did Sophie’s father react when she told him that she would buy a boutique?
Ans. Her father told her that she should buy a good house for the family if she got that much money. In fact, he made fun of her.
Q. What was Derek's reaction when Sophie expressed her desire to open a boutique?
Ans. Derek also made fun of her saying that Sophie thought that money grew on trees.
Q. Why did Sophie feel a tightening in her throat?
Ans. It was because of the steamy room, heavy breathing and piles of dirty dishes.
He was kneeling on the floor in the next room tinkering with the part of his motorcycle ………………… There was the sound of applause as the world rose to greet them.
Sophie found Geoff fiddling with a component of his motorcycle. Geoff had left school three years ago. Now he was working as an apprentice motor mechanic. Sophie was always curious to know where he was going, whom he met, etc. But Geoff rarely shared anything.
Geoff usually remained lost in his own thoughts. His quietness made Sophie jealous. Sophie wanted to know the places Geoff visited and the kind of people he used to meet. But Geoff rarely shared anything with Sophie.
For Sophie Geoff's world was fascinating because she knew nothing about it.
Sophie was eager to visit the unknown world. But her father had prohibited her. On the other hand, Geoff considered her very young. Therefore, her desire remained just a desire.
Sophie thought that the unknown world was waiting for her. That's why, she imagined that she visited the unknown world with her brother and got a warm welcome.
Q. Who was Geoff?
Ans. Geoff was Sophie's elder brother.
Q. What was Geoff's profession?
Ans. Geoff was an apprentice motor mechanic.
Q. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff's silence?
Ans. Sophie wished to know all about Geoff's activities. But he rarely shared anything with her. Usually, he remained lost in his own thoughts. That's why Sophie was jealous of Geoff's silence.
Q. Why was Sophie unable to visit the unknown world?
Ans. Her father had prohibited her from going outside and Geoff did not take her anywhere as he thought her too young.
Q. How did Sophie finally fulfil her wish to visit the unknown world?
Ans. Sophie fulfilled her dream of visiting the unknown world in her imagination. She imagined when she visited along with her brother, she was greeted with applause.
“I met. Danny Casey,” Sophie said.
He looked around abruptly. “ Where” ...................... “All right. What does he look like”
&
The table lamp cast an amber glow………………… “It's the unlikeliest thing I ever heard,”
he said.
Sophie told her brother Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey in the arcade, at Royce's window. Geoff did not trust her because he knew she was in the habit of cooking up false stories. Therefore, he asked Sophie to describe the appearance of Danny Casey.
When Sophie entered Geoff’s room she noticed three big photographs of Danny Casey.
She said that she had met Danny Casey while looking at clothes at Royce's window. She forced Geoff to promise not to tell his father about the meeting.
Further, she added that her meeting with Casey was just by chance. According to Sophie, when she saw Danny, she began to talk to him. She wanted Danny Casey's autograph for Derek, her younger brother. But she could not get as neither of them had a paper and pen.
According to Sophie, she and Danny Casey then talked about the clothes at Royce's window.
Sophie also said that Danny Casey seemed to be alone as he was far away from his homeland.
Furthermore, Sophie said that Casey had promised to sign an autograph if she met him next week.
Geoff didn't accept it as true. Therefore, he termed it as “the unlikeliest thing”
Q. When and where did Sophie meet Danny Casey?
Ans. In the arcade at Royce’s window.
Q. Why did Geoff not believe Sophie?
Ans. It was because she had the habit of cooking false stories.
Q. What has been termed as “unlikeliest thing”?
Ans. Danny Casey had promised Sophie to meet her next week.
Q. What did Sophie and Danny discuss?
Ans. They discussed clothes at Royce’s window.
“Sophie met Danny Casey,” Geoff said………… ….. “He don't believe you_ though he'd like to.”
After being convinced by Sophie’s story, Geoff told the father about her meeting with Danny Casey.
Sophie wriggled about when she heard her brother saying father about her meeting with Danny Casey. It was because she expected that Geoff would keep the secret to himself.
As the father knew about Sophie’s habit of day dreaming, he did not believe. He said that once he knew a person who had met Tom Finney.
The father and Geoff began talking about Danny Casey's skills. On the one hand, father was not ready to accept Danny Casey as a star football player. On the other hand, Geoff was trying to convince that Danny was a genius.
She added even more details to her story to make it seem believable. She said that Danny was going to buy a shop.
Sophie's father looked at her angrily and warned her that her crazy tales would get her into trouble.
Q. How did Sophie react when Geoff told their father about the chance meeting between Sophie and Danny Casey? Why?
Ans. She wriggled about as she had not expected it. Moreover, she knew that she was lying and thus feared rebuke from her father.
Q. How did the father react when Geoff told him about Sophie’s meeting with Dany Casey?
Ans. Her father did not believe it. He made fun of her saying that once he knew a man who had met Tom Finney.
Q. Which football player did the father admire?
Ans. Tom Finney.
Q. Whom did Geoff admire?
Ans. Danny Casey.
Q. How did the father react when Sophie told him that Danny Casey was going to buy a shop?
Ans. The father termed it one of her wild stories. Further, he added that one day she would be in great trouble due to her false stories.
On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to watch the United. ……………… Her father was gone to the pub to celebrate.
On Saturday, Sophie along with her father and brothers visited the football ground. Their visit has been termed a “weekly pilgrimage” as they were crazy after football. Geoff sat up higher with his friends while Sophie, Derek, and their father chose a seat close to the goal.
The United won the game. Danny Casey scored a goal. Geoff was so excited about the victory as he was a great admirer of Danny. On the other hand, Sophie pretended to be full of pride on Danny Casey’s great performance.
While they were returning, someone on the bus wished Danny Casey would be an Englishman. On the other hand, Derek told his mother that Ireland would win the football World Cup. Their father went to the pub to celebrate the victory of the United.
Q. What has been termed as a “weekly pilgrimage” and why?
Ans. Sophie's family's visit to the football ground has been termed as “weekly pilgrimage” because they were crazy after football.
Q. Who won the match?
Ans. Their favourite, the United won the match by two-nil.
Q. How did they feel after the United won by two-nil?
Ans. Geoff was elated while Sophie glowed with pride. On the other hand, the father went to the pub to celebrate.
Q. How can you say that Danny Casey was a football sensation?
Ans. Someone on the bus wished Danny would be an Englishman, while Derek said that Ireland would win the World Cup.
“What's this you’ve been telling?” Jansie said next week……………… Jansie said hushed. “You can trust me, Soaf. You know that.”
Next week Jansie asked Sophie about her meeting with Danny Casey. She informed Sophie that her brother Geoff told Frank all about her meeting.
Sophie realised that Jansie was curious to know about the meeting and that she was not inquisitive.
However, Sophie was a little disappointed and angry with her brother Geoff because it was meant for him only. She didn't want to share her secret with Jansie. She considered Jansie a stupid girl who could not keep any secret to herself. If anything was shared with her, she would tell others.
Sophie told Jansie that it was a chance meeting. Further she added that the meeting with Danny Casey proved to be futile because she could not even get his autograph.
Furthermore, Sophie requested Jansie not to reveal the secret. She said if the people knew about it, there would be a long queue of people in front of her house. This would make her father angry. As a result, there would be a row between her mother and father.
Q. How did Jansie come to know about Sophie's meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans. Sophie's brother Geoff told Frank, who was his friend. It was through Frank that Jansie came to know about it.
Q. Why was Sophie irritated?
Ans. When she came to know that Geoff had shared her secret with Frank, and through him Jansie also knew about it.
Q. Why did Sophie not want to share her secret with Jansie?
Ans. Sophie considered Jansie a stupid girl who could not keep any secret to herself. If anything was told to her, the whole locality would know the next day.
Q. What is the meaning of “gawky”?
Ans. Awkward and tall/clumsy
Q. What, according to Sophie, would happen if people knew about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans. According to Sophie, there would be a long queue of people in front of her house. It would make her father irritated. Finally, there would be a row between her mother and father.
Q. What did Sophie call her father?
Ans. According to Sophie, her father was a misery.
After dark she walked by the canal, along a sheltered path lighted only by the glare …… ………….. It is hard thing this sadness.
After the darkness fell, Sophie walked by the canal lit by lamps from the wharf across the water.
She remembered she used to visit the place in her childhood. She always thought that the place would be perfect for such a type of meeting. She sat down on the lonely bench and began to wait for Danny Casey.
She waited, picturing Casey approaching and her resultant excitement. When she didn't see Casey for a while, she imagined how she would live with the burden.
The thought of his not coming started making her sad. Sophie got miserable at the thought that Danny had not come, and thus it would be difficult for her to face others.
She thought Geoff would be disappointed and others would doubt her. Still, she didn't want to give up her dream.
Q. Where did Sophie go and why?
Ans. To the wharf to meet Danny Casey.
Q. What did she imagine?
Ans. She imagined that Danny Casey was coming and her resultant excitement.
Q. What made Sophie sad?
Ans. She imagined that he did not arrive and that how she would prove all those people wrong who doubted her.
Q. How was Geoff's reaction when he knew that Danny Casey had not arrived despite making a promise?
Ans. Geoff was so disappointed that he entered the house slamming the door.
“Excuse me, but aren't you Danny Casey?”..................... the sudden thunderous eruption of exultant approbation.
Sophie once again imagined how she had met with Casey at Royce’s Window. She asked for an autograph. But neither Danny Casey nor she had a pen or paper. She imagined his presence. She failed to differentiate her dream from reality. She kept waiting in the arcade for a long time, remembering Casey's soft melodious voice and the shimmer of his eyes.
As Casey was quite young, Sophie idolised him as her hero. She saw him in a match and, in fact, this was the only occasion when she had seen him. She remembered the scene in the football ground when Danny Casey was running with the ball. The crowd of fifty thousand people held their breath. Then he pushed the ball into the goalpost. Suddenly the whole atmosphere was filled with cheering.
Q. What was the only occasion when Sophie saw Danny Casey?
Ans. When she went to the football ground along with her father and brothers to watch the match on Saturday.
Q. What did Sophie imagine about Danny Casey?
Ans. She imagined how she saw him at Royce's window and also how she started the conversation.
Q. How did Danny Casey feel when he looked at Sophie?
Ans. Danny Casey got a little nervous while looking into her eyes. She also observed the shimmer of his eyes like those of gazelles.
Q. Why couldn't Sophie get the autograph?
Ans. Neither Danny Casey nor she had a pen or paper.
Q. What did Sophie remember about the football ground?
Ans. Sophie remembered how Danny Casey dodged the defenders and scored the goal.
Q. What happened when Danny Casey struck the ball into the goal?
Ans. There was complete silence while Danny Casey was running towards the goalpost. But the next moment the ground was filled with cheering.
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