Chapter in Detail

Character's Mood
Class
Douglas Enrolls for Swimming decided
Douglas was nine or ten years old, he Terrorized; Panic; agitated; frustrated.
When family near
swimming. He lived with his
to learn
Yakima River in Washington,
USA. His mother always
that Douglas is Rescued but Develops
him about the river so Douglas thought
would be MortalL Fear of Water
warned swimming pool at the Y.M.C.A
leaming in a
showing his skinny legs at Douglas was rescued. He remembered woli
safer choice. He felt shs it.
by the side of the pool vomiting. The older bou
the beginning but soon got over threw him into the water confessed that o
supposed to be a joke. He was taken
Character's Mood
room. Hours later, he went home. The next fewN
the locker
Shy: unomfortable. Douglas was weak and cried alot. The fear dous.
Incident at him, He could not do anything strenuous withe houunted
Douglas Remembers the feeling unsteady and queasy.
California Beach
could be traced back The Misadventure Leaves a Dean
Douglas dislike water which
years old. His father
when he was three or four Impact on Douglas
California. As he stood bu
took him to the beach in to evnl.
holdinghim, the waves A few uyears later, when Douglas wanted
his fother's side in the surf
washed over him. He couldn't
breathe and was the waters of the Cascades and wade along a river
terrified as a result The swimming lessons
at the the old familiar terror paralysed him and he could
YMCA pool made him remember that
stressful time. A few more years rolled by. but the situation didnt
the change. Even trout fishing and salmon fishina
An Older Boy Throws Douglas in activities which require him to stand shallow
Water water, were clouded by his childhood trauma. Al
With proctice ot the Y.M.CA. pool, Douglas
eased into water-connected activities were slowly being wiped
Swimming. That was when tragedy struck. One day. out from his life be it fishing. boating, canoeing or
when he was alone at the pool waiting for people to swimming.
join in, an older boy of about eighteen years, threw Example 1. How did this experience affect him?
him into the deep end of the pool for fun. Explain.
Douglas Fights for His Life Underwater Ans. After Douglas brush with drowning, he was
At first, he was scared but not terrified.
He knew deeply affected. The incident left him weak and
then
that he would hit the bottom of the pool and not emotional A few days immediately after the
he would jump up to the surface. But that did misadventure, he cried a lot and was unable
His knees
time. Slowlu.
work He tried this technique for the firstsuffocating to do anything that required effort. feeling
the panic started to build. He started
so
were wobbly, and he had a sickeningalso not go
heard in the
he tried to shout but nothing could be at the pit of his stomach. He could water. In
yellow-tinged water. His legs felt heavy like lead. swimming because he was afraid of
participate in any
When his second ottempt of jumping from the bottom the long term, he could not dreadtu.
of the pool didn't work, he was petrified. He was still water-related activitu because of his
in the water with nothing around him that he could experience.
He
grob. He grew agitated and thrashed about a lot.
tried his technique of jumping for the third time. This Douglas Hires a Swimming Instructor
time, he felt no panic but rather slid into calm and October, Douglas hilev
blissful state. Finalls, he became unconscious in the Ihings got to a point when in one hour a
doy
an instructorto help him. He practised
water.
 Be dous a week. Ihe instructor made Doualas
r weor obeltt attached to a rope, which connected him Itried to yell but no sound came out. Then my eyes
and nose came out of the
coble which went over a pulley on an overhead water-but not my mouth.
cOble The instructor held on the rope while they (4) my lungs were reads to burst.! Which
co back and forth in theoldpool. Gradually, his feor
receded Sometimes, the fear
iterary device has been used here?
returned making
legs go nigid, It took three months before his legs (a) Hyperbole
(c) Aliteration (b) Analogy
Ooperated Then the instructor taught him () Metaphor
o breathe inside and outside the water. Next, how
the
(8) Cho0se the meanina of the line, "bob to the
nstructor mode him kick his legs in the water.
weeks Finally. the instructor joined all these
This surface like a cork.
(a) Dive into
4duol actions to made Douglas into a swimmer the
A Apnil the instructor was done. (b) Sink to the water
(c) Splash in bottom
Douglas Pushes Himself to Conquer (d) Float on
the water
the
His Fear (C) Which of the water
The instructor finished his job, but Douglas didn't He reason for thefollowina can be inferred as the
ienced himself to swim alone. The fear (a) Yellow water's dirts yellow tinge?
WOS diluted. He was not satisfied thotreturned
he had leaves were flogtina in the pool.
smpletely conquered (b) There are
self to
his tfear, so he
swim in bigger waters. In July, challenged (c) The contaminants in the pool
(d) The swimming pool had yellow tles.
he went to
skeWentworth, New Hampshire, to dive off a rock
ond swim across to Stamp Act lsland. During this
sunshine
(D) Which point of reflected too brightly.
Swim the terror turned up once. This view does the
Douglas that he had completely faceddidn't convince (a) The first extract use?
person point of view
went up the Tieton River in his fear, He (b) The second
person
Meadows and camped next to Yakimathe lake.
up to Conrad
The next dau.
(c) The third person point of vievw
point of view
he dived into the lake as (d) The
well crossing it back and omniscient point of view
for This was his
ngd conquered his oldcrowning
terror.
achievement. Douglas Ans. (A) (a) Hyperbole
Explanation: The expression is far-fetched and
Character's Mood extravagant. Hence, option
answer. Options (b), (c) and (o)(d)is are
the correct
determined: focused. literary devices used in the not the
Example 2. How did Douglas make sure that he are not correct answers. expression and so,
conquered the old terror? (B) (d) Float on the water
[NCERT]
Ans. Douglas ensured that
he conquered his od Explanation:
up and
To bob on the surface to dip
is
terror by pushing himself to take on down. Hence, the correct
bigger Options (a). (b) and (c) are ll answer is (d).
Swimming risks. First. he swom in a pool, then
o loke, then in a river and then in
finally in a large
there is no evidence for them inincorrect because
the extract.
Lake. (C) (b) There are
contaminants in the pool
Example 3. Extract Based: Explanation: The dirty-yellow tinge in
Peod the extract given below and answer the
swimming pools is
So, option (b) is theusually due to contaminants.
questions that follow. options are
correct answer. The other
t
seemed a way down. Those nine feet were incorrect
mentioned in the extract.because they are not
nore like long and
lungs were ninety. to before I touched bottom my (D) (o) The first person point of viw
ready allburst.
bottom Isurnrnoned But when
my strength
hit
and mymadefeetwhat Exolanation: The extract uses T, which is a
thought Was agreat spring upwards. Iimagined fogture of the first person point of
view. Hence,
would bob to the surface like a cork. Instead, Icame the correct answer is option
(a). Option (b) uses
ip slowly. I but uou. Option (c) uses 'he' or 'she. Option (d)
opened my eyes and saw nothingtoit. I
water- water that hada dirtu uyellow tinge llknowing god-like perspective. Therefore,uses
gew they are incorrect.
my panicky. I reached up as if to grab a rope
hands clutched only at water. I was suffocating.
 30. ewhat problem made Douglas se k au
difficult
Getting rid of fear is an extremely chapter instructor?
22. reference to the
task Elucidate with Question Bank 2021] qualities of the
31. Infer the
"Deep Water". [CBSE
Ans. William Douglas once nearls drowned
he hod a terror
child so
ofwater. He
as
overcame
undergoing extensive
a Douglas narration.
answer like this:
The instructor was
You may
instrucbteOgjtin to
y
his fear of water ofter So, getting rid of patient
physical and mental training.task.
fear is an extremels difticult
because......
Ans. The instructor was a patient person
perva
to get over
23.Whot efforts did Douglas make[CBSE he taught Douglas day after day for
2012] He was also clever to device the
focusing puloney
his fear of water?

indimee,vdy
remove his residual doubts and the method of
24. How did Douglas [CBSE 2015] actions and then integrating them.
about his fear of water?
doubts, Douglas swam 32. After his instructor declared
Ans. To remove his residual the other shore and
does the terror return?
Douglas read
to and fro Warm Lake to
at what he had
back Then, he shouted with joy Ans. After being declared | ready by his
OCComplished.
the tiny remnants of the terror did instruretCsAur,
made Douglas
25. Which incidents in his life [CBSE 2014] twice. Once when he was alone in the pool n
developa fear of water? another time when he put his face
he and his
Ans. The first incident happened while beach in
in Lake Wentworth. underwater
father were standing the surf on a 33, How does Douglas address his foe, the
Colifornia ond a wave enveloped him leaving
when terror? Why?
him breathless. The second incident was
an older boy threw him into the swimming Ans, Douglas addresses his old foe, the terror as M
pool Both incidents lead him to fear water. Terror. Sometimes, there is no direct address
26. How did the instructor turn Douglas into a but he 'speaks' to the terror to make it go away
swimmer? [CBSE 2019, 13]
34. Validate why is Douglas' will to live quit
Ans. The instructor made a step-by-step plan for intense?
Douglos. First he asked Douglas perfect
each individual swimming action separately. Ans. Douglas' will to live is very intense because he
Then, he asked him to combine them together came close to death once. Having encountered
and practise them. death, he has discovered the terror it can
produce. So, his will to live becomes stronger
27. While underwater, what was Douglas' plan as a result.
and why didn't it work? Rationalise.
Ans. Dougias' plan was to woit till he hit the bottom 35. According to Douglas, where can peace and
of the pool and jump up to the surface. But he terror be found?
tried that three times and each time, he didn't
make it it didn't work probably because the Ans. Douglas says that since he was acquainted
According
pool was too deep. with sheer terror, he appreciotes life.
him, there is peace in death and there i5
28. Validate Douglas' struggles underwater. terror only in fear of death.
Ans. Douglas's legs refused to cooperate. He also
Swallowed woter and choked on it. His lungs 36. How is Roosevelt's quote particulariy op
ached, his head throbbed and he felt faint. He Douglas? Explain.
thrashed his arms but that didn't help. fear is fe
Ans. RoOsevelt said. 'All we hove to
itself: This is apt for Douglas's case becou by
29. Why did/didn't Douglas go back to yerars
swimming in the pool after the incident? faced his fear many times over the defeat
riversto
Explain. swimming in various lakes and
Ans. After the drowning incident at the pool, it for good.
was
Douglas never went back to it. The terror was when he
too raw and parolysing for him to even think of 37. OHow did Douglas feel
continuing swimming at the YMC.A pool. released from his fear?

Self-Practice Questions. Detailed solutions accessible here

 LONGANSWER Type Questions (LA)
[5 marks]
the following questions in 120-150 words:
Answer him from swimming, fishing or canoeing. Then
Imaginethat the bully who threw Douglas' he took the help of an instructor to help him.
18, reads this
thepool,
into chapter and realises He practised daily for months to eliminate the
hismistake. fear that was dominating his life. Then he went
As the bully, write a dairy entry penning to swim in Lake Wentworth, New Hanpshire,
down your response to Douglas's dived off the rock in Triggs Island, swarn two
perseverance and your own feelings of guilt miles to Stamp Act Island. Even then sorme
remnants of fear remained with him. It did
ond regret. [CBSE Question Bank 2021] not deter him. He swam to and fro Warm Lake
Ans. From, which was a large lake. Finally, the sheer terror
Mr. John Smith Was gone.
234. Oak Avenue,
Imagine you are Douglas' mother. Write a
Yokima. Washington letter of complaint to the Manager of the
23 September 2021 Y.M.C.A regarding your son's incident at the
swimming pool. Write your answer in about
To 120- 150 words.
Mr. Willianm Douglas,
Ans. From,
121, Acorn Street,
Mrs. Julia Douglas,
Yokima, Washington
121, Acorn Street,
Subject: lamsorry. Yakima, Washington
Dear William, 22 Septenmber 2021
My name is John. Iwrite to apologise for my To.
mistake committed many years ago. Recently, Mr. Jack Doe
Iread about the challenges that you overcame The Manager,
in the story 'Deep Water. Iam that eighteen Y.MCA. Yakima
year-old boy who threw you into the deep end 5, Park Avenue,
of the pool Iwrite this with deepest regret that
because Yakima, Washington
had no idea of what you suffered
of me. It was not my intention to hurt you or Subject: Complaint regarding the swimming
am aware. pool incident
onyone. t sounds very callous
was not
But I truly was an idiot and what I did Mr. Doe,
excusoble. Your efforts to get rid of your fear complain about the
are truly commendable. You are an inspiration | am writing to you to
me. Please treatment that my son received recently at
Tor many., believe it or not, including the Y.M.CA.
find it in your heart to forgive me. the premises of your institution,
pool
Last Tuesday, my son was alone near the
threw him
With sincere apologies, when an eighteen-year-old boy totallu
This was
John Smith into the deep end of the pooL
uncalled for. While in the water, my son says
3. What can determingtion and perseverance
to he couldn't breathe and kept
moving his arms.
dccomplish? Explain with reference move. He passed
[CBSE 2014] His legs were tOo heavy to
William Douglas's story. out. He was rescued after a long time. This
lot of My son could
Ans, William Doualas exhibited was an extremely close call
and perseverance
in his fight that this was
determination swimming. It hove died that day. I am appalled
0 dbolish the terror he felt while I request
allowed to happen at your institution. address
unfortunate skirmish with my complaint and
Sne result of an you to take note of
pool when he
drowning in a YM.CAswimminga while, Douglas it at the earliest.
WOS nine or ten years old. For Was
to the pool because he
avoidedandgoingupset Regards,
ured Years later, he noticed that Julia Douglas
preventing
was still around. It was
 178 Ans.
Ans. 43. Ans. 42. 41.
resolved made the For night vornited os were Douglos byswimmingdidhe How because of wasteeHeand was bu and
knew followed he of showingpool the Wiliam statement. bookandleft story.
your by Like
the
problem, and pool worning to Examine"Where nothing the echIIwent
reached imogined osked had wth the into and WOs YesNarrote
Ireluctantlu
terror the o a the learn a
heresult.shortyoung qet
followed a whenogain didn'tbeing
fear by timid becouseYakima ights step. many mu
me
lights whata six had I Wi
dark fearl iam
him did terror hardworing.
to in yeors
uCart themselves couldn'
next t ond was over he it Douglas and Douglas to the parents for it a
of ond pool panic
dropped himself. his boy Deep there be I
todark and
boy. did roon
I theanyway,
exhausted. Immediately completely. also of to to He
reach skinny River. swim had grew get
drowning. few felt thrown thisDouglas' the water, seek it end ogreed
room me
contoineddebiitatng Doualas.
old ,
long-term He in all was is overcomeafraid corners a then
a He I
because was didn't was
days, eat weak thot help. the always He He Wate r a more
of book in At until
was effect? instructor's
Y.M.C.A perseverantdedicated he a
suddenly When legs safe. try onthot was
nglish in as into formulated
surfacefighter chose listened a will; of the Nothing thickWhen been have
experience was found When he shy in I confident. from One oldsomeone that sofear
aThe Even he heand out rescued
the had and learning ms room with I
few was effects confronted felt Hethe the there realised. house. time I
afraid releosed
of you
was affect required an for did wos boy.
to went the das,
physical the emotiona.L ofswimming
days,
and he of into a fear.
happened. refused
I
Core still the in 2015] andadviceinstructor. was the uncomfortable to monsters. used darkness
of been
haunted
least that time. [CBSE him ? determined trying athe plan. not also
local to his He light is
I
There
By there,corner myTheswitched
shocked. water, at dedicated to water, plan Y.M.C.A. swimother' s a took switch the tothe from
but
effects get to affected Inwith use m wanted of mother to gripped
Class effort he
There How again water, a way. room.
I house
That pool the the spite the shy this the was on time With But first live onwalk dork Til it?
the by hefelt rid He He and in
a
XI
Ans. 45. Ans.
46. Emerson
said,4 .
trauma. with systernatic ina anhecause
Explain
Water' their
Should
in ATtesomething safe,
r awent overhead parts
Was whichwas the laterswimming to to inWiliam He Imagine
paragraph hard has ond Swim an of he or water
bodyterror
not forpulled
abreathe, himyoung Back lookthe not notRalph his didn'psychological
lalorgke.e disappear t taught Tocouldn'
fishing,
good a
breathe the faced learnt worked lake conquer Douglasthis
According learned fear psychol ogithecalones
get
connected andovercame get to reference learnedevery instructor
and
six pulley I and terror deep
put instructor.
inalsoHe
without boy whensecret
by
reference
lives? Douglas more into water of him go a again Over his
children student.
months, I a youpersevered the
on and fear to "HWal
e do
William cable. the bå end
childhood
ofand on of This
knew connectedsystemperfecting are this
out
a underwater,
tossed he Emerson, conquering
some
the day ffect,heswimming
the old go
water. how secret his and his life. to and
is manner, himwho fear
beingnatural
like and legs t Was and
be I He when This to parts dividing blacked theof hired Douglas' fear. fear. Continued Let' s text. secret howcompletelu
hfu
againtill
Douglas.taughtI gave you to of more haunted he
him only surfacedlingered
on.
wrong.prasovedensuredpulles a for
practisedDougl to
together. trauma
pool me So into nine he
with to De him to each the I overcome
childhood
his life He Someore
couldn'
move.
Was
t then a
ahim. decided trained challenged
himselft person secret? ofOvercane Even
. to because yes,riskier got where or atrogs
swarm he
So.Dougas
rope outwhere instructor. o
the pull 1that He part actions be saved pooL ten helshe at life! then,
terthe
William help byyears. hos Yeorsl
how golong
to him th at I toThis beingof his him. environmertr Douglas
years Substantny
which also he inthis he
This his
he This has leor to feor
workedDoudles the feor He tertes
lea, Wi
swim ohe and out in went inwore odeise first into teoch gavestruglet thrcninstructou Writea
Douglos cA
ed l smal him nst fom B. coud led t
cose fit
 .e
children
Younger
Douglaseosils con
Swimmers. forearlu Yes,
be life.children
trained taught in
had To
their
as
Babiesbegin
should
his as to
lives
introduction
studiesages swim with,
young as be
three with trained
have children this
adult as
to to prepares
shown. six to
the four
months are
supervision. swim
water could natural
William
them quite
at be old

as just orshown
Swimming So, ifthis
experiences
four, had
early age.
swam
Douglas
then to His
as
isout build
possible a it experience
life of is are
confidence
learnt
skillpossible
the pleasant
is
swimming
aand deep was
good
teaching that in not
idea. end then
boys
he pleasant.But
of at they
this thmight
e age and
to three have
kids pool have girls.