Table of Contents
Are you searching for important question answers for Chapter 3, “Deep Water,” from the CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo textbook? You’ve come to the right place! Our detailed collection of key questions will aid you in reinforcing your understanding of the topic. Practicing these Class 12 English question answers can greatly enhance your performance in the board examinations.
Our solutions offer clear guidance on effectively structuring your responses, boosting your chances of achieving high scores. Dive into our question answers for Chapter 3: Deep Water today! The questions provided align with the latest CBSE exam format and include NCERT solutions for extract-based questions, short answer queries, and long answer inquiries.
Moreover, engaging with a variety of questions can expose students to different problem-solving methods they may not have encountered before. This approach fosters a deeper comprehension of the subject and contributes to improved exam results.
Deep Water Questions and Answers – Short Answer Type Questions (3-4 Marks)
Question 1. How did Douglas finally get rid of the fear he had of water? (Delhi 2009)
Answer: The terror that seized Douglas because of his misadventure with water twice was so intense that he sought professional help to overcome this fear. He engaged a swimming instructor who gave him intensive training for six months to ensure he overcame his fear of water which he eventually did.
Question 2. How did the incident at the YMCA pool affect Douglas? (All India 2009)
Answer: Douglas, a ten year old boy, was standing alone at the YMCA pool when a big bully of a boy picked him up and tossed him into the deep end and at once he was at the bottom of the pool. Though he did manage to come up with extreme difficulty, he could never again go back to the pool. He started fearing and avoiding water. Whenever he went near water a haunting terror would seize him.
Question 3. Why was Douglas keen to overcome his fear of water? (All India 2009)
Answer: Douglas was determined to overcome his fear of water because this phobia had ruined his fishing trips. Moreover, he had also never been able to enjoy water sports like canoeing, boating, and swimming. He was determined to get an instructor and learn swimming to get over his fear of water.
Question 4. When Douglas realised that he was sinking, how did he plan to save himself? (Delhi 2010)
Answer: When Douglas realised he was sinking he was frightened out of his wits and it was then that he decided to make a big jump and come up to the surface. He thought of lying flat on water for some time and then to paddle to the edge of the pool.
Question 5. What did Douglas experience as he went down to the bottom of the pool for the first time? (Delhi 2010)
Answer: When Douglas is pushed into the pool, he at once goes to the bottom of the pool. The nine feet deep pool appears like ninety feet to him. He feels a sense of acute uneasiness and as if his lungs are ready to burst. Despite feeling absolutely suffocated he makes desperate efforts for survival.
Question 6. What sort of terror seized Douglas as he went down the water with a yellow glow? How could he feel that he was still alive? (Delhi 2010)
Answer: When Douglas went down the water with a yellow glow it was a nightmarish experience for him. His legs were almost paralyzed, his lungs were aching and his head was throbbing. He felt the thumping of his heart and the pounding in his head and these made him realize that he was still alive.
Question 7. Why did William Douglas develop aversion to the water when he was three or four years old? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer: William Douglas developed an aversion to water when he was three or four years old. He stood at a beach with his father when a wave Swept over him and knocked him down. He was buried under water and became breathless. He was petrified and developed a permanent fear for water.
Question 8. What misadventure did William Douglas experience at the YMCA pool? (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer: A misadventure at the YMCA pool wherein Douglas was thrown into the deeper end of the pool by a big boy made Douglas afraid of water. He went down into the water three times but failed to come up. Though he was ultimately saved, a terror of water developed in him as his lungs filled with water. His head throbbed and his legs felt paralysed thus making him fear water permanently.
Also Check: NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Maths | NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics | NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry | NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology
Question 9. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water? (Delhi 2011)
Answer: Douglas was determined to overcome his fear of water because this phobia had ruined his fishing trips. Moreover, he had also never been able to enjoy water sports like canoeing, boating, and swimming. He was determined to get an instructor and learn swimming to get over his fear of water.
Question 10. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire? (Delhi 2011)
Answer: Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire to test whether he still had any fear of water. After his vigorous swimming practice he was still not very sure if his terror for water had left him. So he wanted to try out his swimming skills at Lake Wentworth. He dived into the lake and only after swimming across the shore and back did he feel certain his terror of water had fled.
Question 11. Which factors led Douglas to decide in favour of YMCA pool? (All India 2011)
Answer: When Douglas decided to overcome his childhood fear of water he preferred to go to YMCA swimming pool to learn swimming because it was safe. It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end; and although it was nine feet at the other end, the drop was quite gradual.
Question 12. What did Douglas learn from his experience at the YMCA pool? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer: His experience of drowning at the YMCA pool had a very deep impact on Douglas. He became extremely terrorised and fearful of death. He had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear of it can produce. So his will to live grew in intensity. He learnt slowly to become a swimmer brushing aside his fear gradually.
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Question 13. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water? (Delhi 2012)
Answer: Douglas was determined to overcome his fear of water because this phobia had ruined his fishing trips. Moreover, he had also never been able to enjoy water sports like canoeing, boating, and swimming. He was determined to get an instructor and learn swimming to get over his fear of water.
Question 14. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire? How did he make his terror flee? (All India 2012)
Answer: Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire to test whether he still had any fear of water. After his vigorous swimming practice he was still not very sure if his terror for water had left him. So he wanted to try out his swimming skills at Lake Wentworth. He dived into the lake and only after swimming across the shore and back did he feel certain his terror of water had fled.
Question 15. What efforts did Douglas make to get over his fear of water? (All India 2012)
Answer: Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water. He engaged a professional instructor who understood the intensity of his fear and decided to not just teach him how to swim but ‘build’ a swimmer out of him slowly and steadily.
Question 16. Which two frightening experiences did Douglas have in water in his childhood? (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer: Douglas’ first frightening experience in water was when he was three or four years old. He was knocked down by waves while surfing at California beach. He had been terror-struck at that time. Years later, his experience at the YMCA pool revived unpleasant memories when an eighteen year old boy had hurled Douglas into the deep end of the pool. Both these experiences led Douglas to develop a fear of water.
Question 17. How did the instructor turn Douglas into a swimmer? (Delhi 2013)
Answer: To ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas, the instructor began his training with extreme caution. He attached a rope to a belt and put it around Douglas. The rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. Supported by the cable, they went to and fro in the pool and practiced for weeks together. The instructor taught Douglas to put his face underwater and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. He then taught him to kick in water for many weeks. Finally after seven months, the instructor told him to swim the length of the pool and Douglas’ persistent fear started fading.
Question 18. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror? (All India 2013)
Answer: Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire to test whether he still had any fear of water. After his vigorous swimming practice he was still not very sure if his terror for water had left him. So he wanted to try out his swimming skills at Lake Wentworth. He dived into the lake and only after swimming across the shore and back did he feel certain his terror of water had fled.
Question 19. How did William Douglas’s aversion to water begin? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer: William Douglas developed an aversion to water when he was three or four years old. He stood at a beach with his father when a wave Swept over him and knocked him down. He was buried under water and became breathless. He was petrified and developed a permanent fear for water.
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Question 20. Why did William Douglas use the YMCA pool and not Yakima river to learn swimming? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer: Douglas used the YMCA pool and not the Yakima river to learn swimming because the river was treacherous His mother continually warned him against it and kept the details of each drowning in the river fresh in his mind. On the other hand the YMCA pool was safe, only two or three feet deep at the shallow end.
Question 21. What happened when ‘a big bruiser of a boy’ tossed Douglas into the YMCA pool? How did Douglas plan to come out? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer: Douglas landed inside the pool in a sitting position, swallowed water and went at once to the bottom. He was frightened but on the way down he planned how he would come out. When his feet would hit the bottom, he would make a big jump, come to the surface, lie flat on it and paddle to the edge of the pool.
Question 22 Which two incidents in Douglas’ early life made him scared of water? (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Answer: Douglas’ first frightening experience in water was when he was three or four years old. He was knocked down by waves while surfing at California beach. He had been terror-struck at that time. Years later, his experience at the YMCA pool revived unpleasant memories when an eighteen year old boy had hurled Douglas into the deep end of the pool. Both these experiences led Douglas to develop a fear of water.
Question 23. Why did Douglas prefer to go to YMCA swimming pool to learn swimming? (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Answer: When Douglas decided to overcome his childhood fear of water he preferred to go to YMCA swimming pool to learn swimming because it was safe. It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end; and although it was nine feet at the other end, the drop was quite gradual.
Question 24. What did Douglas feel and do when he was pushed into the swimming pool? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer: Douglas landed in the pool in a sitting position, swallowed water and went at once to the bottom. Though he was frightened, on the way down he planned that when his feet would hit the bottom he would make a big jump and come to the surface.
Question 25 How did his swimming instructor ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer: To ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas, the instructor began his training with extreme caution. He attached a rope to a belt and put it around Douglas. The rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. Supported by the cable, they went to and fro in the pool and practiced for weeks together. The instructor taught Douglas to put his face underwater and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. He then taught him to kick in water for many weeks. Finally after seven months, the instructor told him to swim the length of the pool and Douglas’ persistent fear started fading.
Question 26. Why did Douglas’ mother recommend that he should learn swimming at the YMCA swimming pool? (Delhi 2015)
Answer: Douglas’ mother recommended that he should learn swimming at the YMCA pool because it was safe. It was only two to three feet deep at the shallow end; and while it was nine feet deep at the other end, the drop was gradual.
Question 27. How did Douglas remove his residual doubts about his fear of water? (Delhi 2015)
Answer: To remove his residual doubts about his fear of water, Douglas went up the Tieton to Conrad Meadows, up the Conrad Creek Trail to Meade Glacier. He camped in the high meadow by the side of the warm lake. There he dove into the warm lake, swam across to the other shore and back just as Doug Corpron used to do.
Question 28. How did Douglas’s experience at the YMCA pool affect him? (Delhi 2015)
Answer: The drowning experience left Douglas weak and trembling. He was unable to eat that night and was haunted by extreme fear for days. The slightest exertion would upset him, making his knees wobble and his stomach sick. He developed a complete aversion to the swimming pool and this aversion stayed with him for years.
Question 29. What lesson did Douglas learn when he got rid of his fear of water? (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
Answer: After getting rid of his fear of water Douglas realized that ‘what one has to fear is fear itself’ and if he is able to overcome that fear he can achieve anything he wants.
Question 30. How did the instructor turn Douglas into a swimmer?
Answer: To ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas, the instructor began his training with extreme caution. He attached a rope to a belt and put it around Douglas. The rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. Supported by the cable, they went to and fro in the pool and practiced for weeks together. The instructor taught Douglas to put his face underwater and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. He then taught him to kick in water for many weeks. Finally after seven months, the instructor told him to swim the length of the pool and Douglas’ persistent fear started fading.
Question 31. How did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool affect Douglas? (Delhi 2016)
Answer: The drowning experience left Douglas weak and trembling. He was unable to eat that night and was haunted by extreme fear for days. The slightest exertion would upset him, making his knees wobble and his stomach sick. He developed a complete aversion to the swimming pool and this aversion stayed with him for years.
Question 32. What deep meaning did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool have for Douglas? (All India 2016)
Answer: After his experience at the YMCA there was a haunting fear in Douglas’ heart. The experience of fear and death and its conquest made him live intensely. Conquering fear made him realise the true value of life and helped him enjoy every moment.
Question 33. ‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’ When did Douglas learn this lesson? (All India 2016)
Answer: Douglas learnt this lesson after he had conquered his fear of water completely. He went to Lake Wentworth, dived into the warm lake, and swam across to the other shore and back. He shouted with joy at finally having con¬quered his fear of water and realized the meaning of Roosevelt’s words.
Also Read: Deep Water Summary Class 12 English
Question 34. When did Douglas first become afraid of water? (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
Answer: Douglas first became afraid of water when he was three years old and had gone to the California beach with his father. He went under a wave for a few seconds and though he was not in any kind of danger, yet he developed a fear of water.
Question 35. When did Douglas’ dislike of water first begin? (Comptt. All India 2016)
Answer: Douglas’ dislike of water first began when he was three years old and had gone to the Cali-fornia beach with his father. He was knocked down by the waves which swept over him and he was buried under the water. His breath was gone and he developed a fear of water.
Question 36. How did his experience at the YMCA pool make Douglas feel scared of water? (Comptt. All India 2016)
Answer: A misadventure at the YMCA pool wherein Douglas was thrown into the deeper end of the pool by a big boy made Douglas afraid of water. He went down into the water three times but failed to come up. Though he was ultimately saved, a terror of water developed in him as his lungs filled with water. His head throbbed and his legs felt paralysed thus making him fear water permanently.
Question 37. What shocking experience did Douglas have at YMCA pool? (Delhi 2017)
Answer: A misadventure at the YMCA pool wherein Douglas was thrown into the deeper end of the pool by a big boy made Douglas afraid of water. He went down into the water three times but failed to come up. Though he was ultimately saved, a terror of water developed in him as his lungs filled with water. His head throbbed and his legs felt paralysed thus making him fear water permanently.
Question 38. Why did Douglas fail to come to the surface of the pool as he hoped to? (All India 2017)
Answer: Douglas had hoped that when his feet hit the bottom of the pool, he would make a big jump and come to the surface but before he touched the bottom his lungs were ready to burst. Then when his feet hit the bottom and he summoned up all his strength to spring upwards, he came up slowly and saw nothing but water.
Question 39. How did Douglas’ introduction to YMCA pool revive his childhood fear of water? (All India 2017)
Answer: Douglas’ introduction to the YMCA swimming pool revived unpleasant memories and stirred his childish fears when he was knocked down and swept over by the waves in a beach in California and had been buried in water. Thereafter he had an aversion to water when he was near it.
Question 40. When did Douglas first start fearing water? (Comptt. All India 2017)
Answer: Douglas first became afraid of water when he was three years old and had gone to the California beach with his father. He went under a wave for a few seconds and though he was not in any kind of danger, yet he developed a fear of water.
Question 41. What was the deep fear in William Douglas’ mind? How did he get over it? (Comptt. AI 2017)
Answer: William Douglas had a deep fear of water. Douglas had to resort to professional assistance to overcome his fear of water. He employed an instructor to teach him how to swim. He practiced five days a week, an hour each day with the instructor and piece by piece the instructor built a swimmer out of Douglas.
Question 42. What happened to Douglas at the YMCA pool?
Answer: As Douglas was sitting on the side of the YMCA pool waiting for others, a boy who was around eighteen years old came there and yelled, ‘Hi, Skinny! How’d you like to be ducked?” saying this, he picked up Douglas and tossed him into the deep end of the pool.
Deep Water Questions and Answers – Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 MARKS)
Question 43. ” There was terror in my heart at the overpowering force of the waves.” When did Douglas start fearing water? Which experience had further strengthened its hold on his mind and personality? (All India 2010)
Answer: As a child of three or four years, Douglas had been knocked down by the waves at California beach. The waves swept over him and he was buried under them. The overpowering force of water terrorized him and he developed an aversion for water. This aversion to water resurfaced once again when Douglas was eleven years old and further strengthened its hold on his mind and personality. An eighteen years old boy tossed little Douglas into the deep end of the pool. This downward journey into water for the second time was a nightmarish experience. His legs were almost paralysed, his lungs ached, his head throbbed and he felt suffocated. Keeping his wits intact, he pushed himself up to the surface of the swimming pool but all his efforts proved futile. Finally when he came to his senses he was lying on his stomach beside the pool. Now the haunting fear of water gripped his heart and he continued to be mortally scared of water for a very long time.
Question 44. How did Douglas develop an aversion to water? (Delhi 2011)
Answer: When Douglas was three or four years old, his father had taken him to the beach in California. As he and his father had stood together in the surf, the waves had knocked him down and swept over him. He was buried in water. His breath was gone and he was frightened. Then, when he was about ten or eleven years old and had decided to learn to swim, he had gone to the YMCA pool. There an eighteen year old boy picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the pool. After this incident he never went back to the pool. He developed a fear of water and avoided it whenever he could. Even when he went wading or boating in water the terror that had seized him during these experiences would come back and take possession of him completely. His legs would become paralysed and icy horror would grab his heart.
Question 45.How did Douglas try to save himself from drowning in the YMCA pool? (Delhi 2011)
Answer: When his feet hit the bottom of the pool Douglas summoned up all his strength and made a great spring upwards thinking he would bob to the surface like a cork. But when nothing like that happened Douglas tried to yell but no sound came out. Now a great force was pulling him under. He was paralysed under water stiff and rigid with fear. Then in the midst of the terror came a touch of reason that he should remember to jump when he hit the bottom. As soon as he felt the tiles under him he reached out his toes towards them and jumped again with all his strength. Yet again the jump did not make any difference. The water was still around him. Stark terror took an even deeper hold on him and he shook and trembled with fright. He could not move his arms and legs. He tried to call for help but nothing happened. Finally he ceased all his efforts and decided to relax as blackness swept over his brain.
Question 46. How did the instructor make Douglas a good swimmer? (All India 2011)
Answer: The instructor put in serious efforts to ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas. He understood Douglas’ mortal water-phobia and practiced five days a week, an hour each day, with him. He devised a unique way to teach him how to swim. He attached a rope to Douglas’ belt that went through a pulley which ran over an overhead cable. Holding the end of the rope in his hand, he made Douglas move back and forth in the pool without causing him much fear. Douglas was taught how to exhale under water and raise his nose to inhale.
This exercise was repeated numerous times and they went to and fro across the pool week after week. The instructor then taught Douglas to kick with his legs. At first his legs would not work but finally he was able to control and command them. Finally he was transformed into quite a perfect swimmer by his instructor.
Question 47. What horrific experiences did Douglas have in his childhood? What impact did they have on him? (Comptt. All India 2011)
Answer: When Douglas was three or four years old, his father had taken him to the beach in California. As he and his father had stood together in the surf, the waves had knocked him down and swept over him. He was buried in water. His breath was gone and he was frightened. Then, when he was about ten or eleven years old and had decided to learn to swim, he had gone to the YMCA pool. There an eighteen year old boy picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the pool. After this incident he never went back to the pool. He developed a fear of water and avoided it whenever he could. Even when he went wading or boating in water the terror that had seized him during these experi¬ences would come back and take possession of him completely. His legs would become paralysed and icy horror would grab his heart.
Question 48. What misadventure did Douglas experience at the YMCA swimming pool? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer: As the timid Douglas sat alone at the side of the YMCA swimming pool waiting for other people to come, a big bruiser of a boy, probably eighteen years old came there. He asked Douglas whether he would like to be ducked. Saying this he picked up Douglas and tossed him into the deep end of the pool. Douglas landed inside the pool in a sitting position, swallowed water and went at once to the bottom of the pool. Though Douglas was extremely frightened he had his wits intact so on his way down he started to plan. He decided that when his feet would hit the bottom he would make a big jump, come to the surface, lie flat on it and then paddle to the edge of the pool. At that moment the nine feet deep pool seemed like ninety feet to him and before he touched the bottom he felt his lungs were ready to burst.
Question 49. Describe the efforts made by Douglas to save himself from drowning in the YMCA swimming pool. (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer: Douglas was picked up and tossed into the deep end of the YMCA swimming pool. At that time those nine feet seemed a long way down. As his feet hit the bottom he summoned all his strength and made an upward spring. He came up slowly, opened his eyes and saw only water. He reached up as if to grab a rope and his hands clutched only at water. He flailed at the surface of the water, swallowed and choked. He tried to bring up his legs but they hung as if paralysed. He again started on a journey back to the bottom of the pool.
Then he remembered the strategy —he would spring from the bottom of the pool and come like a cork to the surface. He would lie flat on the water, strike out with his arms and thrash with his legs. Then he would get to the edge of the pool and be safe. Yet again the jump made no difference and finally Douglas ceased all efforts and relaxed as blockness swept over his brain.
Question 50. How did Douglas’s experience at the YMCA pool affect him and how did he overcome his fear of water? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer: The big bully of a boy found Douglas alone at the pool. He picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the pool. Douglas was thrown at the bottom of the pool and feared that he would be drowned. This ‘misadventure’ caused Douglas a lot of trouble and agony. He developed an aversion to water as he experienced a series of fears and emotions. Icy horror grabbed his heart and made him panicky. This experience had a lasting effect on Douglas. It deprived him of the joys of boating and swimming. This fear of water ruined his fishing trips. He never went back to the pool. This fear of water stayed with him as the years rolled by.
Whenever he tried to enter water, he was seized by fear. Wherever he went his joys of fishing, boating and swimming were ruined. This fear of deep waters stayed with him for years and firmly held him in its grip. Douglas had to resort to professional assistance to overcome his fear of water. He employed an instructor to teach him how to swim. He practiced five days a week, an hour each day with the instructor and piece by piece the instructor built a swimmer out of Douglas.
Question 51. The story “Deep Water” has made you realize that with determination and perseverance one can accomplish the impossible. Write a paragraph in about 100 words on how a positive attitude and courage will aid you to achieve success in life. (Delhi 2014)
Answer: Douglas was afraid of water from a very young age. His misadventure at the YMCA pool further increased his water phobia. He was unable to enjoy fishing and boating trips. Finally he decided he had to overcome his fear. He could not do it without seeking professional help, so he appointed an instructor who gradually made him an excellent swimmer. Still Douglas was not satisfied. He made use of every opportunity to swim and dive in water thus challenging his fear. He was able to overcome his fear completely and this led him to make the statement that what one is afraid of is fear itself and if we are able to overcome that fear then we can achieve anything in life.
Question 52. Desire, determination and diligence lead to success. Explain the value of these qualities in the light of Douglas’ experience in “Deep Water”. (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer: Determination and perseverance is a combination of attributes and abilities that drive people to set goals for themselves and then to take the initiative to achieve these goals. Douglas was able to overcome his fear of water by the values of positive attitude and courage. Initially he was afraid of water but his grit and determination made him get an instructor and overcome his fear. Determination today leads to our success tomorrow. It is that innate quality in our soul, which comes to surface when an incident irks it. It is a reflection of our values taught to us by society and circumstances and enables us to overcome all obstacles.
There is always admiration for heroes like William Douglas who face challenges courageously and finally emerge successful. For years the fear of water haunted him. It deprived him of the joy of canoeing, swimming, fishing and boating. However, it was deliberate, planned and continuous efforts that enabled Douglas to get over his fear. He was absolutely determined to get rid of his fear and it was due to his perseverance and resoluteness that he emerged victorious.
Question 53. “All we have to fear is fear itself.” Describe Douglas’s experiences which led to the making of this statement. (Comptt. Delhi 2015
Answer: Douglas was afraid of water from a very young age. His misadventure at the YMCA pool further increased his water phobia. He was unable to enjoy fishing and boating trips. Finally he decided he had to overcome his fear. He could not do it without seeking professional help, so he appointed an instructor who gradually made him an excellent swimmer.
Still Douglas was not satisfied. He made use of every opportunity to swim and dive in water thus challenging his fear. He was able to overcome his fear completely and this led him to make the statement that what one is afraid of is fear itself and if we are able to overcome that fear then we can achieve anything in life.
Question 54. With the help of courage one can achieve a lot. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water? (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
Answer: Douglas was afraid of water from a very young age. His misadventure at the YMCA pool further increased his water phobia. He was unable to enjoy fishing and boating trips. Finally he decided he had to overcome his fear. He could not do it without seeking professional help, so he appointed an instructor who gradually made him an excellent swimmer. Still, Douglas was not satisfied. He made use of every opportunity to swim and dive in water thus challenging his fear. He was able to overcome his fear completely and this led him to make the statement that what one is afraid of is fear itself and if we are able to overcome that fear then we can achieve anything in life.
Question 55. We always admire those as heroes who face challenges bravely in different phases of life and emerge successfully. Elaborate on this statement with reference to William Douglas. (Comptt. Delhi 2017)
Answer: Determination and perseverance is a combination of attributes and abilities that drive people to set goals for themselves and then to take the initiative to achieve these goals. Douglas was able to overcome his fear of water by the values of positive attitude and courage. Initially he was afraid of water but his grit and determination made him get an instructor and overcome his fear. Determination today leads to our success tomorrow. It is that innate quality in our soul, which comes to surface when an incident irks it. It is a reflection of our values taught to us by society and circumstances and enables us to overcome all obstacles.
There is always admiration for heroes like William Douglas who face challenges courageously and finally emerge successful. For years the fear of water haunted him. It deprived him of the joy of canoeing, swimming, fishing and boating. However, it was deliberate, planned and continuous efforts that enabled Douglas to get over his fear. He was absolutely determined to get rid of his fear and it was due to his perseverance and resoluteness that he emerged victorious.
Deep Water Class 12 English FAQs
What is the main theme of 'Deep Water'?
The main theme of 'Deep Water' is overcoming fear and the journey of self-discovery. It emphasizes the importance of courage in facing challenges.
Who is the author of 'Deep Water'?
The chapter 'Deep Water' is written by William Douglas, an American author, and mountaineer.
What personal experience does Douglas share in the chapter?
Douglas shares his childhood experience of learning to swim and the fear he faced when nearly drowning in a deep pool.
How does Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Douglas overcomes his fear by gradually exposing himself to water and seeking the help of an instructor, who teaches him to swim confidently.
What role does the instructor play in Douglas's life?
The instructor plays a crucial role in helping Douglas build his confidence and learn to swim, demonstrating the value of guidance and support.
What lesson does the author convey about fear?
The author conveys that fear can be conquered through determination and practice. Facing fears head-on can lead to personal growth and confidence.
How does Douglas describe his feelings during the drowning incident?
Douglas vividly describes feelings of panic, helplessness, and the terror of being submerged underwater during the drowning incident.
What is the significance of the title 'Deep Water'?
The title signifies both the literal depth of the water and the metaphorical depth of fear and anxiety that one must confront to overcome challenges.
What literary devices are used in 'Deep Water'?
Douglas employs vivid imagery, personal anecdotes, and descriptive language to convey emotions and create a compelling narrative.
How does 'Deep Water' relate to the broader themes of resilience and self-empowerment?
The chapter illustrates the journey of resilience, showing how individuals can empower themselves by confronting fears and embracing challenges.
