CBSE Class 12 English Deep Water Notes Set A

Deep Water Class 12 English Summary of the Story

SUMMARY OF THE STORY

“Deep Water” is an extract taken from the book, ‘Of Men and Mountains’ written by William Douglas. In this extract, the author talks about his fear of water and thereafter, how he finally overcame it.

The writer begins the story by informing us that he had decided to learn swimming at the Y.M.C.A in Yakima when he was ten or eleven years old. The Y.M.C.A pool was not dangerous as it was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end and nine feet deep at the other. The author reveals his first fearful experience in the water when he was barely three or four years old and his father took him to the beach in California. He hung on to his father but still the powerful waves knocked him down and swept over him, leaving him breathless. Terror of the overpowering force of waves was inflicted in his heart.

The second incident happened when he was 11 years old. He was at YMCA pool sitting by the pool side. A big bully boy threw him into the deep end of the pool. The narrator nearly drowned. These two incidents developed fear of water in the narrator’s mind. He had to work very hard to overcome his deeply ingrained fear of water that he had got infected with at the YMCA pool after the tragic incident. The fear spoilt all his excursions with his friends. Whenever he accompanied his friends to Cascades, Tieton, Warm lake, the fear of water seized him, his legs paralysed and icy horror clutched his heart.

Finally, one October, he decided to learn swimming from an instructor. He practised in a pool five days a week, an hour each day.

The instructor put a belt around him and attached a rope to it. He held on to the end of the rope as the author swam across the pool.

The terror returned to the author every time his instructor relaxed his hold on the rope.

Gradually, he learnt to exhale under water and then raise his nose and inhale. Eventually, the fear of putting his head under water left him and then the instructor taught him to kick with his legs. At first, his legs didn’t work properly, but then bit by bit he could command them. Finally, in April, the instructor was convinced that he could swim the length of the pool. He had created a swimmer.

Despite the approval of his instructor, the author was dubious whether he would still be traumatised when he was alone in the pool. The fear did come back when he tried swimming alone but he fought it by swimming longer. He was still not fully satisfied and decided to go to Wentworth in New Hampshire. He dived off a dock and Triggs island and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. Only once he felt the terror return when he was in the middle of the lake. But he paid no heed to it. At his first opportunity, he went up the Tieton to Comrad Meadows, up the Conrad Creek Trail to Medade Glacier and camped in the high meadow by the side of Warm Lake. The next morning, he swam across to the other shore and back. For the first time, he was sure that he had conquered his fear.

This experience gave Douglas great perspectives. He felt that only those who have known terror and conquered it can understand how he felt. He realized that there is peace in death and that the terror is only in the fear of death. He experienced both the feeling of dying and the terror that the fear of death can produce. Now that he had conquered his fear, he felt absolutely free and released.

DEEP WATER: Summary of William Douglas’s Journey

William Douglas’s aversion to water was a deep-seated fear that began in childhood and intensified through a traumatic near-drowning experience. The following notes detail his struggle, the training he underwent to overcome his phobia, and his ultimate triumph.

The Author - William Douglas

• Suffered from Hydrophobia (fear of water) since childhood.
• The Initial Incident: At 3 or 4 years old, he visited a beach in California with his father. A huge wave knocked him down and buried him; he felt suffocated and frightened. The terror of the overpowering waves gripped his heart.

Introduction to the Y.M.C.A Pool

• At the age of 10 or 11, Douglas decided to learn swimming at the YMCA pool in Yakima.
• Yakima River vs. Y.M.C.A Pool: The Yakima River was considered treacherous with many drowning incidents, whereas the YMCA pool was seen as safe (2-3 feet deep at the shallow end and 9 feet at the deep end with a gradual drop).
• He used a pair of water wings to start learning.
• Initially, unpleasant memories of the beach incident filled his mind, but he gradually began to feel at ease by imitating other boys.

The Misadventure at the Pool

• One day, arriving early at the pool, a "big, well-built boy" picked him up and tossed him into the deep end.
• Douglas, though terrified, remained alert and planned a strategy: he would hit the bottom, jump with all his force to the surface like a cork, and swim to the side.
• The Drowning Experience:
  • The 9-foot depth felt much deeper; his lungs felt ready to burst.
  • He came up slowly and saw only water. He tried to scream, but no sound came.
  • He thrashed at the surface, swallowed water, and felt his legs become paralyzed and rigid.
  • After a second unsuccessful attempt to jump, he grew dizzy and stiff with fear.
  • During the third attempt, he stopped struggling. A blackness swept over his brain, and he felt peaceful, drowsy, and fearless.

The Rescue and Aftermath

• He was rescued and woke up lying on his stomach by the pool, vomiting.
• On reaching home, he felt weak, cried endlessly, and could not eat that night.
• The fear stayed with him for years, causing him to avoid water whenever possible.
• The phobia ruined his social life, depriving him of the joy of fishing trips, canoeing, boating, and swimming in places like the Cascades, Tieton, or Bumping River.

How the Instructor "Built a Swimmer Inch by Inch"

Realizing how much he was missing, Douglas hired an instructor to learn swimming systematically. The training was divided into three phases:

The Training Phases

• First Phase: The instructor used a belt and rope attached to a pulley on an overhead cable. Douglas practiced five days a week for an hour. After three months, his tension began to reduce.
• Second Phase: He was taught to put his face under water to exhale and raise his nose to inhale. This exercise was repeated hundreds of times until the panic disappeared.
• Third Phase: The instructor held him to the side of the pool, and he practiced kicking his legs. Initially, his legs refused to work, but eventually, he gained control over them.
• Result: "Piece by piece, the instructor built a swimmer out of him by meticulously perfecting each phase."

The Final Conquest of Fear

• Though the instructor was finished, Douglas still wondered if the terror would return when he was alone.
• To test himself, he swam the length of the pool alone.
• He then went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs Island, and swam two miles to Stamp Act Island.
• When the old terror returned in the middle of the lake, he laughed and challenged it. It fled, and he continued swimming.
• Finally, at Warm Lake, he swam across to the other side and back. He realized with joy that he had finally conquered his fear of water.

The Impact and Realization

• The experience held deep meaning: only those who have known stark terror and conquered it can appreciate the value of being free.
• He recalled President Roosevelt’s words: “All we have to fear is fear itself.”
• Having experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear produces, his will to survive grew in intensity.
• He emerged confident and ready to face the challenges of life.

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• It also spoilt his time with his friends and his vacations as he felt uncomfortable when they went for Canoeing on Maine Lakes or Salmon or Bass fishing in New Hampshire or fishing for trout on the Deschutes or while fishing for salmon on Columbia, at Bumping Lake or in the Cascades
• Thus the fear of water ruined his fishing trips, deprived him of the joy of Canoeing, boating or swimming

Decision to overcome the fear

• Got an instructor to learn swimming
• First phase-
  • Practiced in pool five days a week and an hour everyday
  • The instructor put a belt around him. A rope attached to the belt went through a pulley on an overhead cable
  • The instructor held one end of the rope and he swam back and forth
  • After 3 months his tension reduced
• Second phase –
  • The instructor taught him to put his face under the water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale
  • This exercise was repeated hundreds of time
  • The panic slowly disappeared
• Third phase –
  • The next step was to relax the legs inside water. For that the instructor held him to the side of the pool and had him kick with his legs inside water.
  • For several weeks he did just that and finally he relaxed and could control his legs
  • Thus piece by piece the instructor built a swimmer out of him by meticulously perfecting each phase.

The instructor was finished but Douglas was not

• Douglas was not confident and wondered whether the terror would return if he was alone in the pool or if he is in unfamiliar waters.
• To get over it he swam the length of the pool alone and talked back to the terror.
• He was sure of himself in the pool but was not sure if the terror would return if he swam in unfamiliar waters.
• To test himself:
  • He went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire.
  • Dived off a dock at Triggs Island.
  • Swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island.
  • Laughed and talked back to the terror which fled away seeing his willpower and determination.
  • Went to Warm lake, swam across to the other side and back.
  • Was no longer afraid – realized with joy that he had finally managed to conquer his fear of water.

The impact on Douglas

• The experience had a deep meaning for him
• Douglas felt only those who have known fear know how it feels to be free of it
• Recalled Roosevelt’s words that one must be afraid of fear only
• Understood that as he experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror the fear of it can produce, the will to survive and live life to its fullest had grown in intensity
• Felt confident of facing challenges of life ahead

MCQ AND ONE WORD ANSWERS

My breath was gone. I was frightened. Father laughed, but there was terror in my heart at the overpowering force of the waves. My introduction to the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool revived unpleasant memories and stirred childish fears. But in a little while I gathered confidence. I paddled with my new water wings, watching the other boys and trying to learn by aping them. I did this two or three times on different days and was just beginning to feel at ease in the water when the misadventure happened.

I. Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: The author’s father laughed to mock his son’s inability to swim.
Statement 2: The author wanted to swim just to prove to his father that he can swim.
(a) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.
(b) Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
(c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.
(d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred.
Answer: (c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

II. “My introduction to the Y.M.C.A swimming pool revived unpleasant memories and stirred childish fears.” It can be inferred that this was a clear case of:
(a) suppression
(b) oppression
(c) depression
(d) repression
Answer: (d) repression

III. The misadventure that took place right after the author felt comfortable was that:
(a) the author slipped and fell into the swimming pool.
(b) a bully tossed him into the pool for the sake of fun.
(c) his coach forgot to teach him how to handle deep water.
(d) his father couldn’t help him from drowning into the water.
Answer: (b) a bully tossed him into the pool for the sake of fun

IV. The passage suggests that the narrator's fear of water is:
(a) Completely irrational
(b) Based on a specific past event
(c) Unrelated to his current experience
(d) Caused solely by his father's reaction
Answer: (b) Based on a specific past event

Practice Questions (Passage 2)

It happened when I was ten or eleven years old. I had decided to learn to swim. There was a pool at YMCA in Yakima that offered exactly the opportunity. The Yakima River was treacherous. Mother continually warned against it and kept fresh in mind the details of each drowning in the river. But the YMCA pool was safe. It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end; and while it was nine feet deep at the other, the drop was gradual. I got a pair of water wings and went to the pool.

1. Mother always warned the author against the river Yakima. But she recommended the Y.M.C.A pool. Why?
(a) Because it was shallow.
(b) Because she liked the pool.
(c) Because it was near her house.
(d) Because it was shallow and safe.
Answer: (d) Because it was shallow and safe.

2. Complete the sentence appropriately.
‘Mother continually warned against it and kept fresh in my mind the details of each drowning in the river’ suggests that ________.
Answer: she was extremely protective and wanted the author to be aware of the dangers of the river.

3. Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that the narrator was as concerned about his safety as was his mother.
Answer: The narrator chose the YMCA pool because it was "safe," had a "gradual" drop, and he used "water wings" to learn.

4. Which of the following is the correct form of Y.M.C.A?
(a) Young Men’s Christian Association
(b) Young Male Care Association
(c) Youth Mentoring Christian Association
(d) Young Male Christian Association
Answer: (a) Young Men’s Christian Association

Practice Questions (Passage 3)

Then all effort ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs felt limp; and a blackness swept over my brain. It wiped out fear; it wiped out terror. There was no more panic. It was quiet and peaceful. Nothing to be afraid of. This is nice... to be drowsy... to go to sleep... no need to jump... too tired to jump... it’s nice to be carried gently... to float along in space... tender arms around me... tender arms like Mother’s... now I must go to sleep... I crossed to oblivion, and the curtain of life fell.

1. Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: The author tried his best to jump out of water.
Statement 2: After a while, the author was not anxious in water.
(a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.
(b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause.
(c) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause.
(d) Both the statements are the effects of independent causes.
Answer: (a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.

2. The ‘curtain (of life) fell’ corresponds to an aspect of:
(a) Geometry.
(b) History.
(c) Sports.
(d) Drama.
Answer: (d) Drama.

3. The purpose of using “…” in the above passage is to:
(a) show omission.
(b) indicate pauses.
(c) shorten a dialogue.
(d) replace an idea.
Answer: (b) indicate pauses.

4. Which option indicates that the poet lost consciousness?
(a) ‘It was quiet and peaceful.’
(b) ‘I crossed to oblivion.’
(c) ‘Tender arms like Mother’s.’
(d) It wiped out fear
Answer: (b) ‘I crossed to oblivion.’

Short Answer Questions

Q1. How did the near drowning experience at the pool affect him?
Answer: The experience left him physically and emotionally drained. He felt weak and trembling as he walked home and shook and cried as he lay on his bed. He couldn't eat that night, and a haunting fear gripped him for days. Even slight exertion tired him, his knees felt wobbly, and he had a constant sick feeling in his stomach.

Q2. Why did Douglas determine to get over his fear of water when he grew older?
Answer: Douglas realized the fear had gripped him firmly and was ruining his life. It deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating, swimming, and fishing. He could no longer enjoy holidays with friends or relatives. His desire to experience the waters of the Cascades was thwarted by the terrorizing memories of the pool, which would cause his legs to become paralyzed. He felt uncomfortable and decided to systematically learn swimming to reclaim his life.

Long Answer Questions

Q1. How did Douglas know that he had finally conquered his fear? What was the lesson that the writer learnt during his lessons in swimming and his conquest of the fear of it?
Answer: Douglas tested his progress by swimming in challenging environments like Lake Wentworth and Warm Lake. Despite residual doubts and moments where terror struck again in the middle of the lake, he learned to laugh it off and persevere. When he swam the length of Warm Lake and back without fear, he realized he had finally conquered it. The profound lesson he learned was that "one should not fear death but fear the fear of it." He understood that having experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear produces, his will to survive grew in intensity, making him feel free to face life's challenges.

Q2. “There is terror only in the fear of death”. Comment with reference to Deep Water.
Answer: This statement emphasizes that the actual ordeal of dying is often peaceful, as Douglas experienced when he "crossed to oblivion," but the anticipation and fear of facing such challenges are what truly cripple a person. Overcoming this requires sheer grit and determination to realize one's potential. People who are strong internally can defeat hurdles. Terror resides in the unknown; once that fear is confronted and surpassed, one becomes truly free. Douglas’s journey proves that once you overcome the fear of fear itself, you can defeat any obstacle.