CBSE Class 12 English Deep Water VBQs Set 04

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Douglas (1893-1980) was an American born in Maine Minnesota. He graduated in English and Economics and then later advanced his career in law. He remains the longest-serving justice in the history of court, serving a term of thirty six years. He became the adviser of the President Franklin D Roosevelt. The excerpt “Deep Water” is taken from an autobiography ‘Of Men and Mountains’ written by William Douglas. In this excerpt he has narrated the incidence which was the reason of developing hydrophobia and his strategies through which he braved his fear.

SUMMARY

The author recollects his first encounter with his fear of water as a three or four year old child. His father had taken him to a beach in California. He held his father tightly. However, a wave knocked him down. He felt smothered and scared. When the writer was ten years old he planned to learn swimming but this time he took caution. He chose YMCA pool as it was safer than Yakima river. The pool was 2 feet at its shallow end and 9 feet at the deeper end.

He got a pair of water wings. He mustered courage and paddled aping others. He started regaining his confidence. But, this newly found courage was soon lost. An 18 year old boy hurled him into deep side of the pool. There was nobody close to the pool. Douglas went to the bottom of the pool. He was alert. He planned to push himself up on touching the bottom of the pool, then lie flat and paddle to the edge of the pool. But that seemed to be a never ending fall. These nine feet appeared to him like ninety feet. He felt acute uneasiness and his lungs seemed to burst. As soon as he touched the bottom, he tried to jump but much to his disappointment it was very slow and all he could see was water. He felt extremely terrified and suffocated. Douglas started making desperate efforts for survival. He looked for a rope but could not find it. He could see only water all around. His legs got stiff like lifeless objects. He again sank back to the bottom of the pool. Breathless, he hit at the bottom with all his strength. His screams were lost in water. He got a throbbing pain in his head, his lungs almost gave up and he started filling dizzy. However, his mind was still planning to escape this drowning. He was panic-stricken. He was going down endlessly. There was water all around. He was extremely frightened but his limbs gave up. He tried calling for help but it was in vain. Then fortunately he saw light. His eyes and nose came to the surface but then he sank again for the third time as this success was momentary. The writer gave up all his efforts. He accepted this as his destiny and went into oblivion.

When he regained his consciousness, he found himself vomiting next to the pool. The boy who hurled him was saying that he was fooling around. Douglas had a close meet up with death. This incident had a deep-seated impact on him. He reached home and was feeling weak and trembling. He could not eat anything that night. For days he was terrified. Consequently, he avoided water whenever he could. This fear of childhood followed him. This did not let him relish the joy of fishing, canoeing, boating or swimming.

Once Douglas grew old he was determined to overcome this fear. Finally, he decided to get an instructor to learn swimming. He went to the pool and practiced five days a week, one hour each day. The instructor put a belt around him which was attached to a rope. So he practised swimming forward and backward. For weeks he practiced. It took almost three months for the tension to release. The instructor taught him the breathing techniques of exhaling underwater and inhaling by raising his nose. He practised it hundreds of times. Then the instructor taught him to kick with his legs in water. Initially, his legs got stiff but gradually he developed complete control on them. Soon Douglas could swim across the length of the pool. But he was still scared when left alone in the pool. His childhood fear petrified him. Therefore, he thought of conquering his fear. He went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs island, and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. For once did the terror return but he continued to swim. For his own reassurance, he went up the Tieton to Conrad Meadows, up the Conrad Creek trail to Meade Glacier and camped at the side of Warm Lake. He swam across the other shore and back. He was thrilled that he had finally overcome his fear. The narrator felt victorious that he had finally conquered his fear. He quoted that the death is full of peace, but the fear of death terrorises. In this excerpt Douglas has narrated his near-death experience and the way fear of death intensifies his will to live.

Question. Which two incidents in Douglas’ early life made him scared of water? 
Answer: The very first incident was the one at the beach with his father when Douglas was three or four year old. A wave had knocked him over and engulfed him in it completely. The next incident was at YMCA when an eighteen year old boy pushed Douglas into the swimming pool.

Question. Why did Douglas prefer to go to YMCA swimming pool to learn swimming? 
Answer: Douglas’ mother recommended that he should learn swimming at the YMCA pool because unlike the Yakima river, which was treacherous and had drowned many, the pool was safe. It was only 2-3 feet deep at the shallow end and nine feet deep at the other end. There too, the fall was gradual.

Question. How did the instructor turn Douglas into a swimmer? 
Answer: Bit by bit, the instructor turned Douglas into a swimmer. Initially, he put a belt around Douglas and the attached rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. He held on to the rope and went back and forth across the pool until Douglas began to relax in water. Next, the instructor taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. They practised this until Douglas stopped panicking on putting his head under water. Then Douglas learnt to kick in the water. At first, he was terror-stricken but continuous practice with his instructor made Douglas lose his fear of water and emerge as a confident swimmer.

Question. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Answer: To make sure that he conquered the old terror, his fear of water, he decided to go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire. There he dived off a dock at Triggs Island and swam two miles across the lake. Even though he swam with minimum anxiety, a little doubt remained within him. Next, he dived into Warm Lake and swam across to the other shore and back. Having swam in the lake without any fear or panic attack, Douglas realised that he had finally conquered his fear.

Question. Narrate the childhood experience of Douglas.
Answer: William Douglas wanted to learn swimming. He went to YMCA pool as it was safe. But an eighteen years old came and tossed Douglas into the deep end of the pool. He was frightened but planned a strategy. He decided that the moment his feet 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. However, because of too much depth, Douglas could not resurface. He tried more than a couple of times. He tried to yell, but no sound came out of his mouth.

Question. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Answer: When Douglas was a child, he had two near drowning experiences, which left in him a deep seated fear of water. This phobia of water often ruined his fishing trips and deprived him of the joy of all water related activities, such as canoeing, boating and swimming. He felt handicapped due to this fear and it bothered him. This is why Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water.

Question. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire? How did he make his terror flee? 
Answer: Douglas went to lake Wentworth in New Hampshire because he wanted to be sure that the old terror of water had left him for good after the swimming lessons. Douglas swam two miles across the lake. The terror returned only once when he was in the middle of the lake. But, he laughed at his fear and brushed it aside. His terror fled away and he swam on.

Question. What efforts did Douglas make to get over his fear of water? 
Answer: To get over his fear of water, Douglas hired a swimming coach. Though it took him a lot of time, the instructor showed a great amount of patience and kindness towards Douglas. Bit by bit he taught him to swim and at the same time helped Douglas to overcome his fear. To be sure that he was completely free of his fear of water, Douglas went to Lake Wentworth to swim across the lake.

Question. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water? 
Answer: Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water because it had ruined his fishing trips. Also, could not enjoy water sports like canoeing, boating or swimming.

Question. What did Douglas experience when he went down to the bottom of the pool for the first time?
Answer: Douglas experienced panic and suffocation. He was frightened but he was not out of his wits.

Question. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire?
Answer: Refer to answer 7. Douglas went to lake Wentworth in New Hampshire because he wanted to be sure that the old terror of water had left him for good after the swimming lessons.

Question. Which factors led Douglas to decide in favour of YMCA pool?
Answer: The YMCA pool was an ideal place for Douglas to learn swimming. It was safe. It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end. Though it was nine feet deep at the other end, the drop was gradual.

Question. When Douglas realised that he was sinking, how did he plan to save himself?
Answer: Refer to answer 5. He decided that the moment his feet 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. 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? 
Answer: As Douglas went down the water with a yellow glow, he was seized by a sheer, stark terror, which knew no understanding and no control. He was paralysed under water-stiff, rigid with fear. Although he was shrieking under water, it seemed frozen. Only his heart and the pounding in his head made Douglas feel alive.

Question. How did the incident at the YMCA pool affect Douglas?
Answer: His experience at the YMCA pool left Douglas haunted by fear of water. He became extremely weak physically and never went back to the pool again. He felt handicapped for years as he couldn’t enjoy any water sport like swimming, fishing, boating, etc.

Question. How did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool affect Douglas? 
Answer: At YMCA swimming pool, when Douglas was thrown into the water, it affected him quite deeply. The experience scared him so much that he was unable to eat due to the haunting fear. He become wobbly in the knees and sick in the stomach and the slightest up set him. Eventually, he developed fear of water. Since he could not go near the water for many years, he was deprived of the joy of various water related activities, such as canoeing, boating, fishing, etc.

Question. What deep meaning did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool have for Douglas?
Answer: Douglas developed a fear of getting into the water at a very young age due to two severe water related accidents. However, later when he realised that he was missing out on a lot of fun because of his fear, he decided to face it. The experience of fear and death and its conquest made him live intensely. It made him realise true value of life and helped him enjoy every moment of it.

Question. ‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’ When did Douglas learn this lesson? 
Answer: Once the writer realised that his fear of water was keeping him from enjoying any of the water related sports and activities, he decided to engage a swimming instructor, who gradually helped him face his fear. However, it was after his successful swimming attempts in Lake Wentworth and Warm Lake that the writer understood the real meaning of conquering one’s fear in order to truly value life and enjoy every moment of it. This revelation made the writer confident and determined.

Question. How did the feeling of terror return to Douglas at Lake Wentworth? How did he react? 
Answer: Refer to answer 7. Douglas went to lake Wentworth in New Hampshire because he wanted to be sure that the old terror of water had left him for good after the swimming lessons. Douglas swam two miles across the lake. The terror returned only once when he was in the middle of the lake. But, he laughed at his fear and brushed it aside. His terror fled away and he swam on.

Question. Why did Douglas’ mother recommend that he should learn swimming at the YMCA swimming pool? 
Answer: Refer to answer 2. Douglas’ mother recommended that he should learn swimming at the YMCA pool because unlike the Yakima river, which was treacherous and had drowned many, the pool was safe. It was only 2-3 feet deep at the shallow end and nine feet deep at the other end. There too, the fall was gradual.

Question. How did Douglas remove his residual doubts about his fear of water? 
Answer: Douglas removed his residual doubts by diving into the Warm Lake and swimming across to the other shore and back. He shouted with joy when he was able to achieve this feat. He had finally conquered his fear of water.

Question. How did Douglas’ experience at YMCA pool affect him? 
Answer: His experience at the YMCA pool left Douglas haunted by fear of water. He became extremely weak physically and never went back to the pool again. He felt handicapped for years as he couldn’t enjoy any water sport like swimming, fishing, boating, etc.

Question. What lesson did Douglas learn when he got rid of his fear of water?
Answer: When Douglas finally got rid of his fear of water, he realised that all one has to fear is fear itself. Once the fear is conquered or overcome, one can achieve anything one wants.

Question. The story “Deep Water” has made you realise 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. 
Answer: In the story Deep Waters, we see Douglas overcoming his childhood fear of water, through determination, perseverance and hard work. Thus, this story shows that with positive attitude and strength of will, we can accomplish almost anything. All of us may fear something or the other. But fear, when conquered through courage, becomes victory. The victory, emerging from the bitterness of failures and hardships of enduring them for a long period of time, has its own significance and joy. It might appear to be a long and arduous journey, but it will definitely culminate in success.

Question. Desire, determination and diligence lead to success. Explain the value of these qualities in the light of Douglas’ experience in “Deep Water”. 
Answer: Douglas’ experience in ‘Deep Water’ is a great example of how desire, determination and diligence lead to success. When Douglas was just a child, he had major water-related misadventures and (he almost drowned), which affected him badly and he was left with a deep rooted fear of water. This fear stayed with him as he grew older. As the fear lingered on, Douglas realised that it prevented him from enjoying all the activities related to water, such as boating, canoeing, swimming, etc. It was no longer acceptable to Douglas. Therefore, his strong desire to overcome his fear of water made him take swimming lessons. Even though, the old fear kept coming back, weakening him initially, however, his determination kept him going. Eventually, with rigorous training, vigorous practice and perseverance, he was able to get rid of his fear of water.

Question. What happened at the YMCA swimming pool which instilled fear of water in Douglas’ mind?
Answer: Refer to answer 5. William Douglas wanted to learn swimming. He went to YMCA pool as it was safe. But an eighteen years old came and tossed Douglas into the deep end of the pool. He was frightened but planned a strategy. He decided that the moment his feet 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. However, because of too much depth, Douglas could not resurface.

Question. How did Douglas’ experience at the YMCA pool affect him ? How did he get over this effect? 
Answer: Refer to answer 8 and 15. To get over his fear of water, Douglas hired a swimming coach. Bit by bit he taught him to swim and helped Douglas to overcome his fear. His experience at the YMCA pool left Douglas haunted by fear of water. He became extremely weak physically and never went back to the pool again. Eventually he hired an instructor and trained for months to overcome the effect.

Question. Describe the efforts made by Douglas to overcome his fear of water. 
Answer: Refer to answer 3, 4, 7 and 8. Bit by bit, the instructor turned Douglas into a swimmer. Douglas removed his residual doubts by diving into the Warm Lake and swimming across to the other shore and back. Douglas went to lake Wentworth in New Hampshire because he wanted to be sure that the old terror of water had left him for good. To get over his fear of water, Douglas hired a swimming coach.

Question. “All we have to fear is fear itself.” Describe Douglas’ experiences which led to the making of this statement. 
Answer: Refer to answer 4 and 7. To make sure that he conquered the old terror, his fear of water, he decided to go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire. Douglas went to lake Wentworth in New Hampshire because he wanted to be sure that the old terror of water had left him for good after the swimming lessons. Douglas swam two miles across the lake. The terror returned only once when he was in the middle of the lake. But, he laughed at his fear and brushed it aside. His terror fled away and he swam on.

Question. How did Douglas develop an aversion to water? 
Answer: Douglas was merely three or four years old when he had his first water related accident. His father had taken him to the beach in California where they stood together in the surf. The waves knocked young Douglas down and swept over him in such a way that he was buried in water and felt suffocated. That was the first time he felt the pangs of terror at the overpowering force of the water set in his heart. When he was ten or eleven years old he decided to learn to swim at the Y.M.C.A. pool. It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end and nine feet at the deep end where the drop was gradual. Yet, when the eighteen year old boy tossed Douglas into the deep end of the pool, it strengthened his aversion to water. An unsuspecting victim, Douglas landed in a sitting position, swallowed water and went at once to the bottom. Even after multiple attempts, he was unable to resurface, because of too much depth. Gradually, he grew tired and suffocated; he was paralysed with fear and almost drowned. Douglas would not have survived if someone had not dove into the water to save him.

Question. How did Douglas try to save himself from drowning in the YMCA pool? 
Answer: William Douglas wanted to learn swimming. He went to YMCA pool as it was safe. But an eighteen year old tossed Douglas into the deep end of the pool. He landed in a sitting position, swallowed water and went at once to the bottom. He was frightened, but planned a strategy to come to the surface. He decided that the moment his feet 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”. However, because of too much depth, Douglas could not resurface. When his feet hit the bottom of the pool Douglas made a jump. However, instead of springing back to surface, he came up slowly. His attempts to grab onto something and bring his legs up proved to be futile. He tried to come to surface more than a couple of times. He yelled but no sound came out of his mouth. He felt tired and suffocated; he was paralysed with fear and almost drowned. Douglas wouldn’t have survived if someone hadn’t dove into the water to save him.

Question. How did the instructor make Douglas a good swimmer? 
Answer: Bit by bit, the instructor turned Douglas into a swimmer. Initially, he put a belt around Douglas and the attached rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. He held on to the rope and went back and forth across the pool hour after hour, day after day till he began to relax in water. Next, the instructor taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. They practised this until Douglas stopped panicking on putting his head under water. Then Douglas learnt to kick in the water. At first, he was terror-stricken but continuous practise with his instructor, made Douglas lose his fear of water and emerge as a confident swimmer.

Question. 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? 
Answer: Refer to answer 30 and 5. Douglas was merely three or four years old when he had his first water related accident. The waves knocked young Douglas down and swept over him in such a way that he was buried in water and felt suffocated. Later an eighteen years old came and tossed Douglas into the deep end of the pool. He was frightened but planned a strategy.

Question. What was Douglas’ fear? How did he overcome that fear?
Answer: Refer to answer 3, 4, and 8. Bit by bit, the instructor turned Douglas into a swimmer. To get over his fear of water, Douglas hired a swimming coach. To make sure that he conquered the old terror, his fear of water, he decided to go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire.

Question. How did the swimming instructor ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas? 
Answer: Refer to answer 32. Bit by bit, the instructor turned Douglas into a swimmer. Initially, he put a belt around Douglas and the attached rope went through a pulley. Next, the instructor taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. Then Douglas learnt to kick in the water.

Question. A big boy threw Douglas into the swimming pool. How did this experience affect Douglas? 
Answer: Refer to answer 5 and 14. Douglas was frightened but planned a strategy. He decided that the moment his feet hit the bottom, he would make a big jump. He was seized by a sheer, stark terror, which knew no understanding and no control. He was paralysed under water-stiff, rigid with fear.