12th standard GOING PLACES

 12th standard GOING PLACES

Q1. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?

Ans: Jansie was very interested in things that did not concern her. She wanted to know other people’s affairs. She would spread the news in the whole neighbourhood. So, Sophie didn’t want Jansie to know about her story with Danny. It may also be mutual rivalry and one-up manship on her part. Sophie was startled to learn that Geoff had told Jansie about her story with Danny.

Q2. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?

Ans: No, Sophie did not really meet Danny Casey. She was very fascinated by the young Irish footballer. She imagined his coming. She sat in the park, waiting for Casey and knowing that he would not come. She felt sad. Sadness was a hard burden to carry. She was always lost in a dreamy world where she imagined Casey meeting her.

Q3. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?

Ans: The only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey in person was when the family went to watch United on Saturday. Sophie, her father and little Derek went down near the goal. Geoff went with his mates higher up. United won two-nil. Her idol Casey drove in the second goal. She saw the Irish genius going round two big defenders on the edge of penalty area. He beat the hesitant goal keeper from a dozen yards. Sophie glowed with pride. She was very happy.

Extra questions:

1. Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?

Ans. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends, but they couldn’t have been more different. Sophie was a daydreamer who was ambitious, had a lot of fantasies, and was not realistic. Sophie aspired to make a lot of money and become famous. Jansie, on the other hand, was realistic, grounded, and aware of her fate.

2. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?

Ans. Sophie’s father is a very practical person who becomes enraged when she tells him about her fantasy dreams. He was characterized as a plum-faced, sweaty man with no refined behavior or appropriate food patterns. He was a football fan who went to a pub to celebrate his team’s victory.

3. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolise?

Ans. Sophie liked her brother, Geoff, more than anyone else because he didn’t talk much and was often lost in his thoughts. She envied his silence and imagined that he had access to a mysterious world. She wished to be a part of that world, and she imagined herself dressed up and welcomed by everyone. For Sophie, Geoff symbolized liberty from the monotonous life they had been living. Geoff represented freedom from the monotonous life they had been living for Sophie.

4. What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?

Ans. Sophie came from a lower-middle-class family. While describing the setup of the house, which was small with a cluttered sink and a pile of dirty dishes, and while Jansie considers working in the biscuit factory after school, their financial situation is revealed. Furthermore, Geoff’s occupation as a mechanic and Sophie’s dream, the desire to become famous and earn good money; another scene in the story in which her father rides his bicycle to the pub indicates their financial background.