Memories of Childhood-Important Long Answer-Type Qs-Ans

Memories of Childhood by Zitkla Sa and Bama

Q1. “ I felt like sinking to the floor,” says Zidkala-Sa. When did she feel so and why? 2011

 Zidkala-Sa was a native American girl.

Ans. In her community, it was thought to be wrong if the girl did not cover her shoulders with some cloth. That day, she was marching in a line towards the dining room. But all of a sudden, her blanket was removed from her shoulders. She felt so much insulted that she felt like sinking to the floor.

Q2. What did Judewin tell Zidkala-Sa? How did she react to it? OR  Why was Zidkala-sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short?

Ans. Judewin was the narrator’s friend and she  told Zidkala-Sa that her hair would be cut and she would have to submit (surrender/accept what they liked). She was very much terrified. She refused to submit and ran up the stairs to hide herself under a bed.  2011

Q3. What did Zidkala-Sa do when she heard that they were going to cut her long heavy hair?   Or How did Zidkala-Sa try to prevent the shingling of her hair? 2009

Ans. As she came to know that they would cut her hair, she ran upstairs. She entered a room. It was quite dim because there were dark curtains in it. She crawled down under a bed and hid herself. But they made a search and found her. Then they dragged her out to cut her hair.

Q4. Why was the girl tied to a chair in ‘Memories of Childhood’? ( Sample Paper)

Ans. She was Zidkala-Sa. She was tied to a chair because they were going to cut her hair. She had long and heavy hair which she loved most. She kept shaking her head all the time they were cutting her hair. She cried a lot but of no use. At last her hair was cut. Then she was untied from the chair.

Q5. How did  Zidkala-Sa feel after her hair had been cut. 2011

Ans. She felt very much shocked. She loved her hair very much. She could not understand why they had cut her hair. She kept weeping for a long time. She missed her mother, but no one was there to comfort her. She felt as if she were one among the herd of animals being driven by their masters.

Q6. Why did Bama take thirty to one hour to cover the distance from her school to home? Give reasons.

Ans. The way from her school to home was hardly of ten minutes. But the attractions on the way made her stay for some time to enjoy them. She would stay to see street play, puppet or snake charmer’s show, etc. That’s why she took much time to reach home.

Q7. When did Bama come to know the social discrimination (untouchability) faced by the people of her community?

Ans. One day, she saw an elder of her community carrying food packet holding it by its strings. She was amused to see that, but her brother told her that the people of the upper caste believed that the food packet would be polluted if it was touched by them. He also told her that they belonged to lower caste. That was the incident when she came to about untouchability.

Q8. What advice did Annan offer Bama?

Ans. Annan advised Bama to work hard in her studies. In this way she would be highly education. Then she could progress and live a life full of respect and dignity.

Q9. Why did the landlord’s man ask Bama’s brother as to which street he lived in? What did he want to know from him?

Ans. The landlord’s man wanted to know the caste of Bama’s brother. He did not ask him directly, but asked him indirectly as to which street he lived.  People of a particular caste or community lived in particular streets.

Q10. Why was the pale face woman staring at the narrator in the dining hall? Do you think it was her fault?

Ans. The pale-faced woman was staring at the narrator because she committed a mistake in sitting on the chair because she did not know the rules that were to be followed at the dining table. It was her first day.

Why did  the narrator not want to get her hair tonsured?

Long Answer-Type Qs

Q1. What oppression and discrimination did Zitkala-sa and Bama experience during their childhood? How did they respond to their respective situations?

Or  What kind of discrimination did Bama and Zitkala experience? How did they respond to their respective situations?

                                                                 Or

What are the similarities in the lives of Bama and Zitkala though they belong to different cultures?

Ans. Bama and Zitkala-sa were the victims of social discrimination, though at different places. Zitkala-Sa was a native of America. The European settlers treated the natives of America very badly. They had made set rules which the natives had to follow. Zitkala-Sa was forced to get her hair cut. The blanket from her shoulders was also removed. She was not allowed to wear loose dress. In Zitkala-Sa’s tribe, it was a part of their culture to have long and heavy hair, to wear loose dress and to cover shoulders with some cloth. She was helpless when her long and heavy hair were cut. She resisted hard, but of no use.

Bama was a victim of untouchabitlity in Tamil Nadu. The people of her community were not allowed to touch the food of the upper caste people. They were not allowed to take water from their well, to enter the temple also. One day, she saw an elder of her community carrying food packet holding it by its strings. She was amused to see that, but her brother told her that the people of the upper caste believed that the food packet would be polluted if it was touched by them. He also told her that they belonged to lower caste. That was the incident when she came to about untouchability.

 

 

 

Going Places-A. R. Barton-Summary-Important Long Answer-Type Qs-Ans

Summary of "Going Places" by A.R. Barton

1. Introduction to Sophie and Her Dreams:

   The story revolves around Sophie, a young girl from a working-class family who has big dreams of escaping her modest lifestyle.

   Sophie’s aspirations include opening a boutique, becoming a manager, or working as an actress. However, her dreams are unrealistic given her family’s financial situation.

2. Contrast Between Sophie and Jansie:

   Sophie’s friend, Jansie, is practical and grounded, aware of the limitations they face due to their socio-economic background.

 Jansie tries to bring Sophie back to reality, reminding her that they will likely end up working in the local factory, but Sophie refuses to accept this outcome.

 

3. Sophie’s Admiration for Danny Casey:

 Sophie idolizes Danny Casey, a famous Irish football player, and has a deep crush on him.

  She fantasizes about meeting him and escaping her life by somehow being associated with him, which becomes an obsession.

 

4. Imaginary Encounter with Danny Casey:

 Sophie concocts a story about meeting Danny Casey in person while out shopping, describing their supposed encounter in detail.

 She tells her family about this encounter, filling them with intrigue. Although her father is skeptical, her younger brother, Derek, is excited by her tale.

 

5. Family’s Reaction to Sophie’s Story:

 Sophie’s father dismisses her story as wishful thinking and scolds her for daydreaming. He warns her not to indulge in unrealistic fantasies.

  Sophie’s mother and brother are more sympathetic but still find it difficult to believe her account.

 

6. Sophie’s Escapist Imagination:

  Sophie’s longing to meet Danny Casey symbolizes her desire to escape the mundane life she is bound to.

 She often retreats into her fantasies to cope with her reality, dreaming of a future that includes wealth, fame, and excitement.

 

7. The Awaited Meeting: Sophie convinces herself that Danny Casey promised to meet her at a secluded spot near the canal. She goes to the meeting place alone, waiting in anticipation.

   Time passes, and Casey doesn’t show up, which deepens Sophie’s disappointment, though she clings to the illusion that her story could still come true.

8. Realization and Heartbreak:

  Though she half-realizes her story was just a fantasy, Sophie doesn’t entirely give up on her dream. She returns home disillusioned but still internally clings to the hope of meeting Casey someday.

 The story ends with Sophie feeling a mix of sorrow and the lingering excitement of her fantasy.

 

9. Themes of Fantasy vs. Reality:

 The story highlights the conflict between dreams and harsh realities. Sophie’s unrealistic aspirations underscore the limitations of her socio-economic class and the struggles of working-class youth.

 It explores (discovers) escapism as a coping mechanism, showing how dreams can both uplift and hurt when they are unattainable.

 

10. Youthful Idealism and Disillusionment:

   Sophie’s character illustrates the innocence and idealism of youth, along with the inevitable disillusionment that comes with facing reality.

   Barton captures the poignancy of growing up and learning to balance dreams with the constraints of one’s environment.

 

11.Socio-economic Commentary:

   The story subtly (delicately) criticises societal structures that limit social mobility, highlighting how economic constraints often confine individuals to specific roles or jobs.

   Through Sophie’s journey, the author sheds light on the ambitions of working-class youth and the often unattainable dreams they nurture due to lack of opportunities.

 

Conclusion:

 

A.R. Barton’s “Going Places” is a story that brings out the vulnerability (helplessness) of youthful dreams, contrasting them with the often harsh realities of life. Sophie’s journey underscores (highlights) the importance of balancing ambition with reality, suggesting that dreams can offer comfort but can also lead to disappointment if not grounded in practicality. The story is a gentle reminder of the dreams we nurture and the lessons we learn as we grow.

6. Going Places  by A. R. Barton: From Flamingo for Class XII) (Notes made by Shish Pal Chauhan)

 

(I) Short Answer-type Questions

Q.1. Do you think Sophie had really met Danny Casey?

Ans. No, Sophie had never met Danny Casey in reality. She was a dreamer. The story of her meeting Danny Casey was one of the wild stories invented by her. It was totally a concocted (made-up) one.

Q.2. In what way was Jansie different from Sophie in ‘Going Places’?

Or   What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?

ANS. Sophie was a dreamer. She had dreamed of becoming an actress, a fashion designer, a manager or the owner of a boutique. She belonged to a poor middle class family. Jansie knows that she and her friend are destined to work in a biscuit factory. Therefore she discourages her.

Q.3. What kind of world did Sophie dream of? Or What were Sophie’s plans after school?

Ans. Sophie dreamed of a world that is full of name and fame. She wanted to buy a boutique shop. She had other options also and those were: to be a fashion designer, an actress or a manager. She even dreams of having met with Danny Casey, a great football player.

Q.4. Where was it most likely that Sophie and Jansie would find work after school?

ANS. Sophie and Jansie were destined for working in a biscuit factory after school. Both of them belonged to lower middle class families.

Q. 5. How can you say that Jansie is the voice of reason in the story ‘Going Places’?

ANS. Jansie is really the voice of reason in the story. She warns Sophie not to dream of big things in her life. She asks her to be practical. She knows her limits of lower middle class family. So she never tries to cross them. Sophie is disappointed at the end only because she does not listen to Jansie.

Q. 6. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny Casey?

Ans. Sophie knew that Jansie was very inquisitive (the person who asks so many questions). She feared that Jansie would spread it in the whole neighbourhood. That is why, Sophie did not want that Jansie should come to know about it.

Q.7. What was Sophie’s father’s reaction to her story regarding her meeting with Danny Casey? Or  How did Sophie’s father react when he learns of Sophie’s meeting with Danny Casey? Did he believe her story?

ANS. Sophie’s father did not believe the information of Sophie’s meeting with Danny Casey. He knew it was another of her wild stories. He ignored her and went on to discuss with his son about foot-ball and footballers.

Q.8. How did Sophie come to know that her dad was not at home? Why was she glad to know it?

ANS. Sophie came to know that her father was not at home when she passed by the pub. She saw her father’s bicycle placed against the wall of the pub. She was glad because she would not have to face her father when she reached home disappointed.

Q. 9. What sort of personality does Sophie’s brother have?

Ans. Geoff is a reserved type of person. He is a motor mechanic under training. He is a hard worker. He is a great fan of Danny Casey. He has the coloured photographs of the Irish Footballer on his bedroom wall. Sophie wants to share her secrets with him.

Q10.  What did Sophie imagine about her meeting with Danny Casey? (2008)

Ans.: Sophie imagined that she had met Danny Casey, a famous Irish league player, in a shop. She also imagines that both of them had a long intimate (close) talk. She even imagines that he had promised to meet her in near future.

Q11. Which was the only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey in person?

Ans. On one Sunday, Sophie went to see a match along with her father and brothers. She was very much impressed to see Danny Casey scoring a brilliant goal for his team. It was the only occasion when Sophie saw Danny Casey in person.

Q12. Write a charact er sketch of Jansie?

Ans. Jansie is a girl, who is full of practical wisdom. She remains in reality unlike her friend, Sophie.  Like a true friend, she gives proper advice to Sophie not to run after her fantasies. She also keeps her secret of Sophie’s lie about Danny Casey from others.

Q13. Why did Jansie discourage Sophie from entertaining thoughts about the sports star, Danny Casey?

Ans. Jansie is a girl who is full of practical wisdom. She remains in reality unlike her friend, Sophie.  Like a true friend, she gives proper advice to Sophie not to run after her fantasies about the sports star Danny Casey. She knows very well that Sophie’s dreams would not become reality.

Q14. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?

Ans. Sophie’s father often visits pubs to entertain himself. He seems to be a carefree type of person. He understands his daughter very well that she often cooks wild stories. He warns her that she can fall in trouble because of them.

Q15. Why was Sophie jealous of her brother’s silence?

Ans. There were two reasons for Sophie to feel jealous of her brother. First, she knows that he has seen a lot of places. Second, he never tells her about those places to her. He remains silent. So she feels jealous of her brother’s silence.

Q16. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolize?

Ans. She likes her brother Geoff more than any other person. She had no one to tell about her secrets. She was sure that her brother would never disclose them to anyone. That’s why she trusted him most. She also imagines visiting along with her brother Geoff on his bike the places she has never seen. He symbolized trust for her.

Q17. What thoughts come to Sophie’s mind as she sits by the canal?

Ans. While sitting by the canal, Sophie had some peculiar thoughts in her mind. In the beginning, she imagined his coming. In a way she was hoping against hope.  When he did not come, she became afraid of facing her father and the neighbourhood. She felt broken hearted.

Q18. Did Geoff keep his promise to Sophie? How do you know?

Ans. Geoff did not keep his promise of keeping Sophie’s secret. We come to know about this when Jansie asked Sophie about her meeting with Daney Casey. She also told Sophie that Geoff had told her brother Frank about it. The following sentence proves that Sophie believed that Geoff had not kept his promise. “Damn that Geoff, this was a Geoff thing, not a Jansie thing” 

Q19. “Damn that Geoff, this was a Geoff thing, not a Jansie thing.”  Why did Sophie say so?

Ans. Sophie had told Geoff about her secret meeting with sports star Danny Casey. But he told that secret to Frank, Jansie’s brother, who. then, told it to Jansie. Sophie did not like all that. So, in anger, she remarked : “Damn that Geoff, this was a Geoff thing, not a Jansie thing” 

Q20. How can you say that Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind?

Ans. Sophie is a young girl who is still at school. She belongs to a poor background. She is a victim of her own dreams. She ignores reality. That’s why her dreams bring disappointment to her. She makes wild stories. Even her family members know that. So her hopes and fears are always in her mind.

(II) Long Answer-type Questions (Essay Type Qs & Ans. )

Q1. Make a character sketch of Sophie?

                                    Or

Contrast Sophie’s real world with her fantasies. 2009

Ans. Sophie is such a young girl who dreams high without thinking about her real economic status. She is born of poor parents and is still in her school. She thinks of opening a boutique, which needs a lot of money. Her friend, Jansie, tells her that it will need a long time to save the needed money. But, Sophie says that she would become a manager and start earning money. She is told that nobody would make her a manager easily. She counters the logic by saying that she would become an actress. Since an actress has not to do work for the full time, she would run boutique side by side. She also thinks of becoming a fashion designer. She also cooks the story of meeting Danny Casey, a sports star. That also brings disappointments to her. Thus we see that Sophie does not have practical wisdom. She believes in fantasies which are not going to be true because of certain limitations. That is the reason she faces frustration and disappointment in life.

Q2. How would you form the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?

Ans. Sophie’s father belongs to labouring class. That’s why, he has an old bicycle. He is fond of visiting pubs for entertaining himself. He is a carefree type of person and seems to be careless about children. He is also fond of watching football matches. He is full of high praise for Danny Casey, a sports star. He has deep insight also. He understands his daughter’s nature that she often cooks wild stories. He does not believe Sophie when he comes to know about her meeting with Danny Casey.

His calculation about Sophie proves to be true. One day, when Sophie keeps on repeating her story of meeting Danny Casey, he loses his control. He remarks in anger: “This is another of your wild stories....” He means to warn his daughter that one day she would get a lot of disappointment due her fake stories.

Q3. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story? Or Describe the contrast between these two friends Sophie and Jansie?

Ans. Both the characters are poles apart although both of them go to school and come back from there together. We know that Sophie is a dreamer. She has dreamed of becoming an actress, a fashion designer, a manager or the owner of a boutique. Her dreams are impractical as she belongs to a lower middle class family. Jansie, on the other hand, is a realist. She knows that she and her friend are destined to work in a biscuit factory. She is sensible and wise. Therefore she discourages her.

Jansie is really the voice of reason in the story. It is she who warns Sophie not to dream of big things in her life. She asks her to be practical. She reminds her of the poor condition of her house. It is all because of her wisdom that she knows her limits as a member of lower middle class family and never tries to cross them. Sophie is disappointed at the end only because she does not listen to Jansie. Sophie father also reads her minds clearly. That’s why he rebukes her from time to time not to cook such stories as they may lead her to troubles.

Q4. Discuss Sophie’s Hallucinations versus Reality in Going Places.

In “Going Places” by A. R. Barton, the contrast between Sophie’s hallucination (fantal world) and reality forms the central theme of the story. Sophie is a young girl belonging to a lower-middle-class family, but she is unhappy with the dullness of her life. To escape from this harsh reality, she creates a dream world of glamour and success. She imagines herself owning a boutique, becoming a fashion designer, or achieving fame. The most striking example of her hallucination is her imagined meeting with the famous footballer Danny Casey. Sophie not only invents the meeting but also convinces herself that Danny has promised to meet her again. She even waits for him at the canal, fully believing in her fantasy. However, reality soon shatters her illusion when Danny does not appear. Sophie then realizes that her dreams cannot change her actual circumstances. Through Sophie’s hallucination and its collision with reality, the author highlights how unfulfilled desires and social limitations push young people into living in a world of imagination.