Class 12 English - HARYANA
Prose: Going Places
Going Places by A.R. Barton is a poignant story focusing on the theme of adolescent hero-worship and daydreaming. It revolves around a young teenage girl named Sophie, who belongs to a lower-middle-class family. Sophie lives in a world of fantasy, often escaping her harsh socioeconomic reality by concocting elaborate stories about meeting the famous Irish footballer, Danny Casey. Her friend Jansie, who is more grounded, tries to bring her back to reality. This chapter is very important for Haryana (BSEH) board exams as it tests students' understanding of teenage psychology, escapism, and the importance of practical life perspectives.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Escapism and Fantasy
Sophie's tendency to build castles in the air and escape her dull, working-class reality into an imaginative world of glamour and success.
Adolescent Hero-Worship
The intense fascination and idealization of famous personalities, particularly seen through Sophie's obsession with the young Irish football prodigy, Danny Casey.
Class Consciousness and Reality
The stark contrast between Sophie's dreamy aspirations and the harsh financial reality of her family, where her father is a manual laborer and her brother Geoff is an apprentice mechanic.
The Foil Character (Jansie)
Jansie represents a sensible, realistic approach to life, serving as a contrast to Sophie's impractical dreams and trying to ground her in reality.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Haryana (BSEH) Class 12 English board exam, this chapter frequently features in long-answer questions (carrying 5 or 6 marks) focusing on character sketches of Sophie and Jansie, or short-answer questions (2 marks) about Sophie's daydreaming and her relationship with Geoff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Sophie's father get angry with her?
Her father gets angry because he knows her wild stories about meeting Danny Casey are pure fantasies that could invite unwanted gossip and distract her from their harsh financial reality.
What was the difference between Sophie and Jansie?
Sophie was an incurable dreamer who lived in a fantasy world, whereas Jansie was practical, realistic, and accepted their destined working-class future.
Did Sophie actually meet Danny Casey?
No, Sophie never met Danny Casey. She made up the entire encounter in her imagination and eventually started believing her own lie.
Learn Prose: Going Places with Your AI Tutor
10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.
Lecture
Key Points
Interactive
Quiz
Flashcards