CONTENTS

S.NO. TOPICS PAGE NO.

1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 1

2 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 2

3 SUMMARY 3

4 THEME DEPICTED 4

5 CHARACTER ANALYSIS 5,6,7,8

6 ADOLESCENT AND THEIR 9,10
FANTASY WORLD

7 MY ROLE MODEL AND 11,12

QUESTIONS FOR
INTERVIEW

8 MOVIES THAT COMPLEMENT 13

THE THEME

9 FAMILY BONDING 14

10 REFLECTIONS 15
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to

our English teacher Mrs. H Jayashree for
giving me the wonderful opportunity of
doing an interesting project on the topic
‘Going Places’.

I would like to express my gratitude to the

Principal Mrs. Lakshmi Arulaalan and
Vice-Principal Mrs. C Kala for their support
and guidance.

I would also like to thank my parents for

providing me with all the facilities and
favourable environment resulting in timely
completion of the project.

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A R Barton is a modern writer , who lives

in Zurich and writes in English . In the
story Going Places , Barton explores the
theme of adolescent fantasizing and hero
worship

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 SUMMARY
Going Places by A.R. Barton is a short story about
adolescent daydreaming and fantasizing. It outlines
the story of Sophie, a teenage girl with a wild
imagination and unrealistic expectations in life. She
finds a confidant in her brother Geoff and tells him
about her meeting with a famous football player
named Danny Casey. Geoff does not believe her, nor
does her father. She gives more appealingly realistic
descriptions of Danny while talking to her brother
hoping to gain his trust. Her fantasy peaks when she
tells Geoff that Danny has asked her on a date. Since
Geoff does not believe her, she decides to prove
everyone wrong. She goes to meet Danny only to
realize later that she has unreal expectations.
Sophie goes into a state of worry and despair – she
would not be able to prove to Geoff or the others that
she is telling the truth about Danny. However,
Sophie still fantasizes about her hero, Danny Casey
and believes he would definitely come to meet her.

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THEMES DEPICTED IN ‘GOING PLACES’
The two themes depicted by the short story “Going
Places” are the hopes and desires of young people and
the anguish of broken dreams and unfulfilled promises.
Along with the teenage fantasizing and hero-worship,
it deals with the intricacies of human relationships.

This story’s central theme is hero worship and teenage

fantasies. Teenagers often have irrational expectations,
especially if their families are struggling. This is due to
the fact that a young person’s socio-economic
background has a significant impact on the job they
choose to pursue. If the fantasy is too far-fetched for a
person, it might result in misery. It has been very
beautifully brought out by the author in the story

HERO WORSHIP MISERY

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 CHARACTER ANALYSIS

SOPHIE

Sophie is innocent,
childish and impractical.
She is an escaper who
does not like to face reality and instead believes in
dreaming about things she aspires to have, be it
her love life or her career. She ignores the fact
that she has to work in a biscuit factory and
instead dreams of becoming a manager, actress,
and shop owner. She does not even understand
what it takes to be any of these and this is
impractical and innocent. She likes to daydream
and live in her fantasy world. She is a hero
worshiper and is thus obsessed with Danny Casey.
She is a liar since she knows that she has lied to
Geoff and the rest of the family members about
Danny Casey, previously as well.
.

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JANSIE
She is a practical kid who
understand things. She knows
that it takes money to start
a business and time to reach
the position of a manager. She
knows that working in the
biscuit factory is the most
realistic work they can do. Unlike Sophie, she is
realistic, does not look for escapes, and is not a
daydreamer. She is a good friend because despite
her innocence Sophie listens to her and tries to
correct her.

GEOFF

He is the eldest in the family and

works as a mechanic. He is an
introvert . Although he spoke less,

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He was extremely diligent and looked at things
with practical knowledge and did ot dwell in
fantasy.

DANNY CASEY

Danny Casey is a famous football star

who is greatly admired, most
importantly by Sophie’s
older brother Geoff. He is
described as a young, bright,
beloved “prodigy.”

The version of Danny Casey that

Sophie creates is gentle, has soft
eyes, and is kind towards her.
She says that Casey plans to open a boutique (which
is also Sophie’s ambition), and she describes Casey
as being her own height and “no bolder” than her.
Clearly, then, the Danny Casey of Sophie’s fantasy is
meant as a stand-in for her, someone living
Sophie’s own dreams of success and popularity.

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SOPHIE’S FATHER
He is not named in the story,
but the writer describes him
as a drunkard and a grim
person. He is very cold in his
attitude toward her daughter and doesn’t pay any
heed to her dreams and illusions. He always
reprimanded her for telling cock and bull stories;
his attitude scared the readers and children. He
doesn’t spend time with his family except on
Saturday evenings when he takes them to watch
United. He comes home after work, eats dinner,
washes himself and then watches TV.

SOPHIE’S MOTHER
Sophie’s mother is a pleasant
and hardworking woman, who
shares none of her daughter’s
interest in fashion and football.
She is the homemaker . She worked hard to improve
the family’s financial situation. She is very tired from
doing all the household chores.

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 ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR
FANTASY WORLDS

WHAT IS ADOLESCENT STAGE??

Adolescence is the stage of transition between

childhood and adulthood , where many changes take
place mentally , physically and emotionally. This stage
is where the innocence of childhood slowly sheds away
and prepares the kid for adulthood.

FANTASIES, CAN THEY BE CONTROLLED?

There are a wide range of fantasies and they cannot be
classified into a fixed category or a topic. A single
person can have a wide spectrum of fantasies ranging
from a variety of topics. It's an ocean of mysteries and a
place where something can be made out of nothing.
Some of the greatest stories in the world were only
possible by the best day dreamers as it was their
imagination that sparked the flame of inspiration in the
souls of millions of voracious readers worldwide

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Pros of adolescence having their fantasy worlds :-
● Provides a means to reach higher ambitions and
dreams.
● Sparks more creativity.
● Serves as a coping mechanism against
loneliness and other degrading factors.

Cons of adolescence having their fantasy worlds :-

● Can't differentiate between fantasy and
optimism.
● The gap between what one dreams and what one
can do to his/her maximum potential
sometimes can be painful.
It's a waste of time for many people .

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 MY ROLE MODEL
Anjali Gopalan , a prominent
Indian human right and animal
a rights activist is my role model.
She is the founder and executive
director of the Naz Foundation(India) Trust,
which has been instrumental
in addressing health, gender, and rights issues in India.
Born on September 1, 1957, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Anjali
Gopalan was raised in a family that valued education and
service. In 1994, Anjali founded the Naz Foundation
(India) Trust, focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention and
care. The foundation provides a range of services,
including prevention, support, and care programs for
underserved populations. She established Delhi’s first
HIV clinic and later opened India’s first care home for
orphaned and vulnerable HIV-positive children and
women. In 2013, humanist and social worker Anjali
Gopalan decided to volunteer at a shelter for destitute dogs.
But she was appalled, when she saw the deplorable
conditions in which these dogs were kept. She decided that
she could provide better care for these animals and started
her own shelter at Selakhari, a village in Faridabad district
of Haryana about an hours drive from Delhi.but soon took
in other animals mostly from her rural surroundings. From

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a shelter for dogs, it became a sanctuary for a disparate
group of animals.In 2012, Time magazine named her one
of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her work
exemplifies the power of compassion, resilience, and
unwavering commitment to making the world a better
place for all . Her love for animals, all her orderals and her
achievements have deeply influenced me and continues to
inspire me .

QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEW

1. What inspired you to start the animal sanctuary ,

all creatures large and small and focus on helping
abandoned and distressed animals ?
2. What are the biggest challenges you face in
running a sanctuary for abandoned and abused
dogs?
3. What motivated you to establish The Naz
Foundation, and what were the initial challenges
you faced?
4. What advice would you give to someone who wants
to start up their animal rescue or sanctuary ?
5. What personal philosophy guides your work and
life?

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 ADDITIONAL STORIES AND MOVIES
THAT COMPLEMENT THE THEME
Additional stories and movies that complement the
theme of hero worship and fantasizing about film or
sports icons which complement “ Going Places” are:

Stories;

1.“The Idol of the Flies” by Jane Rice: This short story

revolves around a young boy who idolizes a famous
entomologist, leading to unexpected and eerie
consequences..

Movies;

1.“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (2013): This film

follows Walter Mitty, a daydreamer who escapes his
mundane life through vivid fantasies where he is the
hero. His journey to find a missing photograph negative
leads him to real-life adventures.

2.“Secret Superstar” (2017): This Bollywood film

follows a young girl who dreams of becoming a famous
singer, idolizing a popular musician while overcoming
personal and societal challenges.

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FAMILY BONDING - ITS IMPACTS AND
IMPORTANCE

Family bonding is essential for creating a supportive and

nurturing environment, significantly impacting emotional
well-being and mental health. Strong family bonds provide
emotional support, reduce stress, and foster resilience,
helping individuals navigate life’s challenges. They build a
foundation of trust and security, creating a sense of
belonging where everyone feels valued.Healthy family
relationships teach vital skills like communication and
empathy, while shared values and traditions preserve
cultural heritage and promote personal growth. Engaging
in regular family activities, maintaining open
communication, and establishing family traditions are
effective ways to strengthen these bonds,ensuring a
harmonious and resilient family life.By prioritizing family
bonding we lay the groundwork of happiness and resilience

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 REFLECTIONS

Working on this project ‘Going Places’ was a

good experience for me . It involved a lot of
learning and innovation. Along with the
teenage fantasizing and hero-worship, it deals
with the intricacies of human relationships.
How these feelings take an intense change is a
take away from this story . The message I take
from this story is that it's okay to dream but we
have to dream with limits. Moreover this story
has awakened me to stop daydreaming and to
work hard in reality. I will carry with me the
lessons that I have absorbed from this project
and appeal it in the upcoming activities. .

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