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Deep Water: MBOSE Class 12 English Core notes, answers
Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF of Class 12 English Core textbook (Resonance), Deep Water by William Douglas, which is part of the syllabus of students studying under MBOSE (Meghalaya Board). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
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Summary
The story “Deep Water” is an autobiographical account of a fearful experience William Douglas had with water, and how he eventually overcame his fear.
William Douglas decided to learn to swim when he was ten or eleven years old. He chose the YMCA pool in Yakima for his lessons because the Yakima River was considered dangerous. His mother frequently warned him about the river, recounting drowning incidents to emphasize her point. The YMCA pool seemed safe, with its shallow and gradually deepening ends. Despite his initial reluctance to show his skinny legs, he began practicing with water wings at the pool.
Douglas had always had an aversion to water, dating back to an incident when he was three or four years old. His father took him to the beach in California, where a wave knocked him over and buried him underwater, causing him to panic despite his father’s amusement. This early experience left a lasting fear of water in him.
As Douglas began to practice swimming at the YMCA pool, he gradually gained some confidence. However, one day, when he was alone at the pool, an older, more physically imposing boy came in and, seeing Douglas’s skinny frame, decided to tease him. The boy picked Douglas up and threw him into the deep end of the pool. Douglas, who had never been in the deep end before, was terrified.
He hit the water sitting down and quickly sank to the bottom. Trying to remain calm, he planned to push off from the bottom and float to the surface. However, when he tried, he did not rise quickly as he had hoped. He panicked as he struggled to reach the surface, his lungs burning for air. He managed to get his nose out of the water momentarily but then sank again. This cycle repeated, and with each attempt, his fear and exhaustion grew.
In his final attempt, Douglas felt an overwhelming sense of terror and then a strange calmness as he neared unconsciousness. He experienced a sense of peace and drowsiness, as if he was floating into oblivion. When he regained consciousness, he was lying on the poolside, vomiting, with the older boy who had thrown him in expressing his regret.
The incident left Douglas deeply traumatized. He avoided water for years, and whenever he tried to engage in water-related activities, such as fishing or canoeing, the old terror would resurface. This fear significantly impacted his enjoyment of these activities, as his legs would become paralyzed with fear, and his heart would race with icy horror.
Determined to overcome this debilitating fear, Douglas eventually decided to take professional swimming lessons. He practiced rigorously under the guidance of an instructor, who used a systematic approach to help him build confidence in the water. The instructor used a pulley system to ensure Douglas’s safety while he practiced various swimming techniques and gradually got used to being underwater.
Over several months, Douglas’s fear began to diminish. He learned to exhale and inhale properly while swimming, kick with his legs, and coordinate his movements. By April, he could swim the length of the pool using different strokes. However, he was still not entirely free from his fear and decided to test himself further.
Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire, where he swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. During this swim, he only briefly felt the old terror, which he managed to dispel by confronting it directly. He continued to test himself in various bodies of water, eventually feeling completely at ease.
Reflecting on his experience, Douglas recognized the profound impact it had on him. The ordeal taught him that the real terror was not in the water itself but in the fear of it. He realized that fear of death could be more paralyzing than death itself, and overcoming this fear gave him a new sense of freedom and a stronger will to live. This understanding echoed Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous statement, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Textual questions and answers
Fill in the blanks
1. The YMCA pool was safe because ______
Answer: 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.
2. William sat at the side of the pool to wait for the others because ______
Answer: he was timid about going in alone.
3. The handicap of ______ stayed with the author for many years.
Answer: the haunting fear of the water
4. When the old sensation of fear returned the author ______ and said ______
Answer: laughed; ‘Well, Mr Terror, what do you think you can do to me?’
Answer these questions briefly
1. From what age did William Douglas have an aversion to water? Describe the impact the waves had on him.
Answer: William Douglas had an aversion to water from the age of three or four. The waves knocked him down, swept over him, and buried him in water, leaving him breathless and terrified.
2. Why did William hate to walk up to the pool?
Answer: William hated to walk up to the pool because he had to show his skinny legs, which made him feel embarrassed.
3. Who was the cause of the misadventure in the YMCA pool?
Answer: The cause of the misadventure in the YMCA pool was a big bruiser of a boy who picked William up and tossed him into the deep end.
4. What plan did William make to stop himself from drowning in the pool?
Answer: William planned to make a big jump from the bottom when his feet hit it, come to the surface, lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool.
5. How did his swimming pool experience affect his later life, especially his experiences in his hobbies of fishing and canoeing?
Answer: His swimming pool experience caused a haunting fear of water that followed him, ruining his fishing trips and depriving him of the joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming.
6. What positive action did William take to overcome his fear of water?
Answer: William took the positive action of getting an instructor and practising five days a week to learn to swim, which helped him gradually overcome his fear of water.
7. How did the swimming instructor help Douglas gain confidence in swimming?
Answer: The swimming instructor helped Douglas gain confidence by using a belt and pulley system, gradually relaxing the hold on the rope, and teaching him to exhale under water and kick with his legs until he could command them effectively.
Answer these questions in detail
1. Describe the different emotions William felt as he was drowning.
Answer: William felt a mix of emotions as he was drowning. Initially, he felt fear and panic when he was thrown into the pool. As he sank deeper, he experienced a sense of terror and suffocation, coupled with a desperate struggle to reach the surface. This escalated into sheer, stark terror as he realized he was losing control and could not save himself. Eventually, a sense of peace and resignation washed over him as he gave up the struggle and felt himself crossing into oblivion.
2. What qualities do you perceive William to have had? Reinforce your answer with examples from the text.
Answer: William exhibited qualities of determination, resilience, and courage. Despite his initial fear and traumatic experience, he showed determination by deciding to learn to swim and overcoming his fear of water. His resilience is evident in his persistent practice and gradual progress under the instructor’s guidance. Courage is highlighted when he faced his fear head-on by swimming in lakes and conquering the terror that had haunted him for years.
3. ‘The experience had a deep meaning for me… All we have to fear is fear itself.’ What is the deep meaning that you draw from the experience related by William Douglas?
Answer: The deep meaning from William Douglas’ experience is that fear itself is often more debilitating than the actual danger. His journey from terror to overcoming his fear illustrates that confronting and conquering fear can lead to personal growth and freedom. The experience taught him that the fear of death is more terrifying than death itself, and overcoming such fear can strengthen one’s will to live and face life’s challenges with greater confidence.
Appreciating language
The title of the story ‘Deep Water’ is an idiomatic expression. This expression means that someone is in serious trouble-and this is the central theme of the story.
The story is written in the first person narrative style. Employing this narrative style lends more drama to the recounting of personal experiences, arousing the interest of the reader.
Write about a fear-filled incident you have experienced. Follow the same style as that used by the author.
One summer afternoon, I found myself standing on the edge of a cliff, heart pounding, as the wind whipped around me. I had always been terrified of heights, and now, staring down at the abyss below, that fear gripped me with icy fingers. My friends, already at the bottom, encouraged me to jump. They had taken the plunge with ease, their laughter echoing up to me. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, but my legs felt like lead. I could feel the panic rising, the dizzying fear making my vision blur. Memories of past failures and fears flashed through my mind, but then I remembered the advice a mentor once gave me: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” Summoning all my strength, I closed my eyes, took a leap of faith, and jumped. The fall felt endless, but as I hit the water below, a sense of exhilaration washed over me. I had faced my fear and emerged victorious.
Examples of some figures of speech used in the story are: a. Simile ‘bob to the surface like a cork’ b. Metaphor ‘curtain of life fell’
Explain the meaning of these phrases in context.
Answer:
a. Simile ‘bob to the surface like a cork’: This simile compares the action of rising to the surface of the water to a cork’s buoyant and effortless movement upwards. It emphasizes how quickly and naturally William expected to return to the surface after hitting the bottom of the pool.
b. Metaphor ‘curtain of life fell’: This metaphor illustrates the moment William felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. It compares the onset of unconsciousness or death to a curtain falling, symbolizing the end of a performance or, in this case, the end of his awareness and struggle.
Writing
1. Imagine you are William Douglas. Write a letter to your best friend describing your emotions as you were thrown into the water by an older boy. Mention the effect this incident had on you once you got home and the ‘haunting’ fear it left in you.
Answer:
Dear Ron,
I hope this letter finds you well. I must share with you an incident that shook me to my core and left a lasting impact on my life. It happened at the YMCA pool in Yakima. I was there alone, feeling a bit nervous but determined to learn how to swim. Suddenly, an older boy, much bigger and stronger than me, approached and without warning, threw me into the deep end of the pool.
As I hit the water, panic set in. I tried to remember my plan to push off the bottom and reach the surface, but the nine feet felt like an eternity. My lungs burned, my head throbbed, and terror overwhelmed me. I struggled and flailed, but it was no use. I felt myself sinking deeper and deeper, and for a moment, I was convinced I would drown. It was only by sheer luck and the intervention of others that I was pulled out in time.
When I got home, I was a mess. I couldn’t stop trembling, and tears flowed uncontrollably. That night, I couldn’t eat or sleep. The fear that gripped me was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and it haunted me for days. The mere thought of water made my knees weak, and I avoided it at all costs. This incident left a scar that I struggled with for many years, affecting my ability to enjoy activities like fishing and canoeing. The fear of drowning became a shadow that loomed over me, refusing to let go.
Take care, and I hope to see you soon.
Best regards,
William
2. ‘Mother continually warned against it and kept fresh in my mind the details of each drowning in the river.’ ‘Father laughed, but there was terror in my heart at the overpowering force of the waves.’ Could his mother’s personal fear of the water have been the cause of the author’s fear too? Or, could it have been his father’s careless attitude on the beach with his son? Write a paragraph in about 100 words stating your opinion.
Answer:
In my opinion, both his mother’s warnings and his father’s careless attitude contributed to William’s fear of water. His mother’s constant reminders about the dangers of drowning likely planted a seed of fear in his young mind, making him cautious and anxious around water. On the other hand, his father’s nonchalant attitude during a frightening experience at the beach, where he laughed while William was overwhelmed by the waves, could have reinforced this fear. The lack of comfort and understanding from his father during a moment of vulnerability likely intensified his sense of helplessness and fear, creating a lasting impact on his psyche.
Extra fill in the blanks
1. The YMCA pool was safe because it was only ______ feet deep at the shallow end. (two/three)
Answer: two
2. William sat at the side of the pool to wait for the others because he was ______ about going in alone. (timid/scared)
Answer: timid
3. The handicap of ______ stayed with the author for many years. (fear of water/poor swimming skills)
Answer: fear of water
4. When the old sensation of fear returned, the author ______ and said, “Well, Mr. Terror, what do you think you can do to me?” (laughed/cried)
Answer: laughed
5. William was buried in water, his breath was gone, and he was ______. (frightened/excited)
Answer: frightened
6. William got a pair of water ______ and went to the pool. (wings/fins)
Answer: wings
7. He hated to walk naked into the pool and show his ______ legs. (skinny/muscular)
Answer: skinny
8. The big bruiser of a boy who threw him into the pool was probably ______ years old. (eighteen/sixteen)
Answer: eighteen
9. On the way down to the pool’s bottom, William planned to ______ to the surface. (jump/swim)
Answer: jump
10. William flailed at the surface of the water and ______. (choked/giggled)
Answer: choked
11. The water had a dirty ______ tinge to it. (yellow/blue)
Answer: yellow
12. William screamed, but only the ______ heard him. (water/boy)
Answer: water
13. He had lost all his breath, his lungs ached, and his head ______. (throbbed/hurt)
Answer: throbbed
14. In the midst of the terror, a touch of ______ came to him. (reason/panic)
Answer: reason
15. He tried to call for help, to call for ______. (mother/father)
Answer: mother
16. After the incident, William walked home ______ and trembling. (weak/strong)
Answer: weak
17. For days, a haunting ______ was in his heart. (fear/joy)
Answer: fear
18. The swimming instructor taught William to put his face under water and ______. (exhale/sing)
Answer: exhale
Extra true or false
1. William Douglas had an aversion to water from the age of ten or eleven.
Answer: False
2. The Yakima River was considered safe by William’s mother.
Answer: False
3. The YMCA pool had a gradual drop from the shallow end to the deep end.
Answer: True
4. William was thrown into the deep end of the pool by a boy who was around sixteen years old.
Answer: False
5. William’s father laughed when William was knocked down by waves at the beach.
Answer: True
6. The first time William went to the pool, he was immediately comfortable in the water.
Answer: False
7. William planned to jump from the bottom of the pool to reach the surface when he was thrown into the deep end.
Answer: True
8. William’s fear of water did not affect his hobbies later in life.
Answer: False
9. The swimming instructor used a pulley system to help William practice swimming.
Answer: True
10. William overcame his fear of water in just a few weeks.
Answer: False
11. The swimming instructor taught William to exhale underwater and inhale with his nose.
Answer: True
12. Even after learning to swim, William never experienced any return of his old fear.
Answer: False
13. William swam across Lake Wentworth to prove he had conquered his fear.
Answer: True
14. William felt completely confident in his swimming abilities immediately after the instructor declared he could swim.
Answer: False
15. William’s fear of water started because of an incident at the beach in California.
Answer: True
16. William’s mother encouraged him to swim in the Yakima River.
Answer: False
17. William never went back to the pool after his initial misadventure.
Answer: True
18. The big bruiser of a boy called William “Skinny” before throwing him into the pool.
Answer: True
19. William found peace in death and terror only in the fear of death.
Answer: True
Extra question and answer
1. What was the depth of the deep end of the YMCA pool?
Answer: The deep end of the YMCA pool was nine feet deep.
Q. What caused William’s initial aversion to water?
Answer: William’s initial aversion to water was caused by a frightening experience at the beach when he was three or four years old.
Q. How did William plan to reach the surface after being thrown into the pool?
Answer: William planned to jump off the bottom of the pool, come to the surface, and paddle to the edge.
Q. What physical reaction did William experience due to his fear in the pool?
Answer: William experienced paralysis in his legs due to fear.
Q. What did William decide to do to overcome his fear of water?
Answer: William decided to get an instructor and learn to swim.
Q. How did the instructor help William initially?
Answer: The instructor helped William by putting a belt around him and using a rope through a pulley to support him while he practiced swimming.
Q. How long did William practice swimming with the instructor before the tension began to slack?
Answer: It took three months of practice before the tension began to slack for William.
Q. What did William do to test if he had fully conquered his fear of water?
Answer: William swam across Lake Wentworth and later swam in Warm Lake to test if he had fully conquered his fear of water.
Q. How did William’s fear of water impact his outdoor activities in the years following the incident?
Answer: William’s fear of water ruined his fishing trips and deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming. He constantly felt haunted by the fear whenever he was near water, and it took possession of him completely, making his legs paralyzed and his heart filled with icy horror.
Q. Describe the sensation William experienced when he first jumped into the pool and reached the bottom.
Answer: When William first jumped into the pool and reached the bottom, he felt a great force pulling him under, making him suffocate and panic. He tried to grab onto something but found only water, and he experienced sheer, stark terror, unable to move his limbs due to the overwhelming fear.
Q. What was the turning point for William in overcoming his fear of water?
Answer: The turning point for William in overcoming his fear of water was when he decided to get an instructor and systematically learned to swim. The instructor’s methodical approach, breaking down the swimming process into manageable parts and gradually building confidence, helped William face and diminish his fear.
Q. How did William feel after he had successfully swum across Warm Lake?
Answer: After successfully swimming across Warm Lake, William felt a sense of joy and triumph. He shouted with joy, feeling that he had conquered his fear of water, and this achievement had a deep, liberating meaning for him, making him feel free to walk trails and climb peaks without the burden of fear.
Q. What did William do each time the old terror returned while practicing swimming?
Answer: Each time the old terror returned while practicing swimming, William confronted it by mentally challenging the fear. He would frown and say to the terror, “Trying to scare me, eh? Well, here’s to you!” and then continue swimming, gradually reducing the power of the fear over him.
Q. How did the experience of nearly drowning affect William’s approach to life and fear?
Answer: The experience of nearly drowning had a profound impact on William’s approach to life and fear. It made him realize the importance of conquering fear, as fear itself was more terrifying than death. This realization intensified his will to live and freed him from many of his fears, allowing him to embrace life with greater courage and confidence.
Q. Describe the process through which William’s swimming instructor helped him overcome his fear of water.
Answer: The swimming instructor employed a systematic approach to help William overcome his fear of water. Initially, the instructor placed a belt around William and attached a rope that ran through a pulley on an overhead cable. This allowed William to practice swimming with the instructor’s support. Over time, the instructor gradually relaxed his hold on the rope, helping William get used to the water and control his panic. The instructor also taught William to exhale underwater and inhale above it, repeating this exercise hundreds of times until William could do it without fear. Additionally, William practiced kicking at the side of the pool until he could control his legs. Piece by piece, the instructor built William’s confidence and swimming skills until he could swim independently.
Q. What did William do to ensure he had completely conquered his fear of water after finishing his lessons with the instructor?
Answer: After finishing his lessons with the instructor, William wanted to ensure he had completely conquered his fear of water. He tested himself by swimming alone in the pool and then took on more challenging environments. William swam across Lake Wentworth, employing different swimming strokes and facing the old sensation of fear head-on. Finally, he went to Warm Lake, where he swam across to the other shore and back, reliving the experience in an open, natural water body. These tests helped him verify that he had indeed overcome his fear.
Q. How did William’s childhood experience at the beach in California contribute to his fear of water?
Answer: William’s childhood experience at the beach in California significantly contributed to his fear of water. When he was three or four years old, his father took him to the beach, where the waves knocked him down and buried him underwater. Although his father found the situation amusing, William was terrified by the overpowering force of the waves. This early experience planted a deep-seated fear of water in his heart, which resurfaced later in life and affected his ability to enjoy activities involving water.
Q. In what ways did William’s fear of water affect his fishing trips and enjoyment of water-related activities?
Answer: William’s fear of water severely affected his fishing trips and enjoyment of water-related activities. Whenever he went fishing or canoeing, the haunting fear of water would return, paralyzing his legs and filling his heart with icy horror. This fear overshadowed his outdoor experiences, depriving him of the joy and relaxation that fishing and boating typically bring. It also ruined his trips to various lakes and rivers, making it difficult for him to fully engage in and enjoy these activities.
19. What was the significance of William’s final triumph over his fear of water, and how did it change his outlook on life?
Answer: William’s final triumph over his fear of water had profound significance, changing his outlook on life. By confronting and conquering this deep-seated fear, he experienced a newfound sense of freedom and confidence. The experience taught him that the terror of fear was more debilitating than the actual danger, a lesson that reinforced the idea that overcoming fear was crucial for living fully. This realization allowed him to embrace life more courageously, feeling released from the limitations that fear had previously imposed on him. The triumph gave him a greater appreciation for life and a stronger will to live, enabling him to face other challenges with renewed strength.
