Class 12 English - KERALA
Prose: Going Places
Going Places by A.R. Barton is a poignant story about adolescent hero-worship and escapism, focusing on a teenage girl named Sophie who lives in a lower-middle-class family. Sophie dreams of achieving big things and fantasizes about meeting an up-and-coming Irish football player, Danny Casey, eventually convincing herself and her friend Jansie that the meeting is real. This chapter is significant for Kerala SCERT Class 12 board exams because it tests students' understanding of character psychology, adolescent imagination versus grim reality, and thematic depth, frequently appearing in short-answer questions, character sketches, and reference-to-context essay questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Adolescent Escapism
The psychological tendency of teenagers to escape the drabness of everyday reality through elaborate fantasies and hero-worship.
Sophie's Character
An ambitious, imaginative dreamer who lives beyond her means and social standing, constantly craving sophistication and glamour.
Jansie's Character
Sophie's realistic and grounded friend who acts as a foil to Sophie, trying to bring her back to the harsh financial reality of their working-class lives.
Geoff's Character
Sophie's quiet elder brother who is an apprentice mechanic, representing a world outside the family that Sophie desperately tries to break into.
The Motif of Danny Casey
A young Irish football prodigy who serves as a catalyst for Sophie's romanticized fantasies and ultimate heartbreak.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Kerala (SCERT) Class 12 English board examinations, this chapter typically contributes around 4 to 8 marks. Common question types include paragraph-level answers on character comparison (Sophie vs. Jansie), critical appreciation of Sophie's daydreams, and essay questions focusing on the theme of adolescent fantasy versus reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Sophie actually meet Danny Casey?
No, Sophie never met Danny Casey. The entire encounter was a figment of her overactive imagination and desire to escape her ordinary life.
Why does Jansie represent realism in the story?
Jansie is grounded in reality and is well aware of their working-class background and destiny of working in biscuit factories, acting as a contrast to Sophie's unrealistic ambitions.
What role does Sophie's father play in the story?
Sophie's father represents the harsh, practical working-class reality and domestic burden that Sophie is trying so hard to escape through her fantasies.
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