NCERT Solutions - Deep Water

Table of Contents
1. Think As you Read
2. Understanding the Text
3. Talking about the text
4. Talking about Language
5. Writing
6. Things to Do
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Q1: Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

• treacherous: unpredictable danger; not dependable or trustworthy
• subdued my prid: to lower or restrain the intensity of self-respect and confidence
• flailed at the surface: to strike or lash out vigorously at the surface of the water in trying to come out
• fishing for landlocked salmon: to go fishing for a specific variety of salmon available in certain lakes
• misadventure: an incident that turns out to be a disaster
• bob to the surface like a cork: to float or show the characteristics of buoyancy as a cork in water
• curtain of life fell: to indicate that life has ended or a near-death experience
• back and forth across the pool: to swim across the swimming pool from one side to the other

Think As you Read

Q1: What is the "misadventure" that William Douglas speaks about?
Ans: William O. Douglas had only just learned to swim when, one day at the Y.M.C.A., an older boy lifted and tossed him into the deep, nine-foot end of the pool. He struck the water in a sitting position, swallowed water and sank straight to the bottom. He lost consciousness and nearly drowned - this near-fatal incident is the misadventure Douglas describes.

Q2: What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
Ans: When Douglas was tossed into the deep end he felt intense fear but remained conscious enough to form a plan. As he sank he resolved that when his feet found the bottom he would push vigorously upward and burst to the surface like a cork. He intended to lie flat once at the top and paddle to the pool edge. Although panic gripped him and his limbs felt weak, he kept this strategy in mind and tried repeatedly to carry it out.

Q3: How did this experience affect him?
Ans: The near-drowning left a lasting psychological scar. Douglas became deeply shaken and developed a persistent fear of water that affected him physically and emotionally for many years. This fear prevented him from enjoying activities involving water, such as swimming, boating and canoeing, and influenced his confidence whenever he was near water.

Q4: Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Ans: Douglas realised that his fear deprived him of pleasures and pursuits he loved - fishing, canoeing, boating and swimming. The fear followed him into adulthood and limited his life. To regain those activities and to remove a constant handicap, he engaged an instructor and committed to regular practice, determined to overcome the terror.

Q5: How did the instructor "build a swimmer" out of Douglas?
Ans: The instructor taught Douglas gradually and systematically. For months Douglas was secured by a belt and rope and made to traverse the pool repeatedly. The instructor calmly guided him to put his face under water and breathe out, then rise and inhale, and to kick steadily. These exercises were repeated until the actions became less frightening and more automatic. Over roughly seven months, with patient, progressive practice, the instructor helped Douglas regain control and swim the full length of the pool.

Q6: How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Ans: Even after lessons, Douglas sometimes felt panic alone in the pool. To prove to himself that the fear was truly overcome, he pushed his limits: he swam two miles across Lake Wentworth, dove at Meade Glacier and swam in open, cold water, and challenged himself repeatedly. These demanding feats confirmed that he had broken the hold of his old terror.

Understanding the Text

Q1: How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned? Describe the details that have made the description vivid.
Ans: Once Douglas was sitting alone at the Y.M.C.A pool waiting for others to come. Then there came a big bruiser of a boy. He tossed him up and threw him into the deep end of the pool. Douglas went deep and swallowed water. He was at the sitting position at the bottom. He was frightened but was not out of his wits. On the way down, he had a strategy in his mind. When his feet touched the bottom, he would make a great spring upward. Then he would paddle to the edge of the pool, but he came up slowly. He opened his eyes and saw dirty water. He was deeply frightened. His legs seemed paralysed. A great force was pulling him down. A stark power overpowered him. He shrieked in the water but only the water heard him. After feeling the tiles under his feet, he jumped withal his might but it made no difference. His lungs ached and heart throbbed. Stark terror took him in its grip. His legs and arms could not move. He again tried for the third time. He searched for air but swallowed water. He felt drowsy and ceased all efforts. He was crossed to oblivion. The curtain of his life fell and he lay unconscious.

Q2: How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Ans: Douglas overcame his fear by choosing systematic, sustained practice under a patient instructor. He trained five days a week and was secured by a belt and rope so he could repeat movements without the danger of drowning. He practised putting his face under water and exhaling, then raising his nose to inhale, and he worked on kicking until the actions became natural. After months of this gradual exposure he tested himself in open water - swimming long distances and diving in lakes - which finally confirmed his recovery from fear.

Q3: Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from his experience?
Ans: Douglas experienced two significant childhood events that filled him with terror. The first occurred at a beach in California, where powerful waves knocked him down. The second incident happened at the Y.M.C.A. pool, where a larger boy threw him into the deep end, overwhelming him with fear. This fear haunted him, affecting his enjoyment of activities like fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Recognising the impact of his fear, Douglas sought help from an instructor who taught him how to swim. Through this training, he was able to conquer his fear of water. This experience held a profound meaning for him; having faced the sensation of dying and the accompanying terror, he developed a strong will to live. Douglas understood that true peace comes with death, while fear resides only in the anticipation of it. He realised that what truly matters is the will to live, echoing Roosevelt's sentiment that "all we have to fear is fear itself." Thus, Douglas's journey illustrates how overcoming fear can empower individuals to reach the highest peaks of life.

Talking about the text

Q1: "All we have to fear is fear itself". Have you ever had a fear that you have now overcome? Share your experience with your partner.
Ans: Roosevelt's line captures how fear can become a self-fulfilling barrier. Those who have overcome a deep fear understand how limiting it can be. William O. Douglas turned his life around by confronting his fear of water. I too once had a frightening experience at a small stream near our village. Villagers warned us of a deep hole, but as children we ignored the warning. During a summer swim two friends and I were caught by a strong current and pulled into that deeper hole. We struggled and thought we might drown. A boy ran to fetch villagers, who rescued us. That episode left me shaken, yet later it helped me face other risks with greater caution and courage.

Q2: Find and narrate other stories about conquest of fear and what people have said about courage. For example, you can recall Nelson Mandela's struggle for freedom, his perseverance to achieve his mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor as depicted in his autobiography. The story 'We're Not Afraid To Die,' which you have read in Class XI, is an apt example of how courage and optimism helped a family survive under the direst stress.
Ans: In his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela describes his long struggle against apartheid, his role in the African National Congress, and the Rivonia Trial of 1964 that led to life imprisonment. During twenty-seven years in prison he endured hardship but never abandoned his principles. His perseverance, faith in justice and willingness to forgive were crucial in ending apartheid and achieving national reconciliation. Mandela's life shows how courage, persistence and moral strength can transform both the oppressed and the oppressor and bring lasting change.

Talking about Language

Q1: If someone else had narrated Douglas' experience, how would it have differed from this account? Write out a sample paragraph or paragraphs from this text from the point of view of a third person or observer to find out which style of narration would you consider to be more effective? Why?
Ans: A third-person narration would remove the immediacy and inward feeling of Douglas's account. An observer could report what happened but could not fully convey the sensation of panic, the internal strategy he formed while sinking, or the precise mental state that accompanied each effort to rise. For example, a third-person version might read: "He flailed at the surface, swallowed and choked. His legs hung like dead weights and a great force pulled him under. He cried aloud, but only the water heard him." While accurate, this distance reduces the reader's direct empathy. First-person narration is more effective here because it places the reader inside the mind of the narrator, making the fear, the small tactical decisions and the eventual triumph vivid and immediate.

Writing

Q1: Doing well in any activity, for example a sport, music, dance or painting, riding a motorcycle or a car, involves a great deal of struggle. Most of us are very nervous to begin with until gradually we overcome our fears and perform well.
Write an essay of about five paragraphs recounting such an experience. Try to recollect minute details of what caused the fear, your feelings, the encouragement you got from others or the criticism.
You could begin with the last sentence of the essay you have just read: "At last I felt released-free to walk the trails and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear."
Ans: MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF RIDING A MOTORCYCLE
At last I felt released, free to walk the trails and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear. The fear of falling and being injured had followed me since childhood. As a toddler I fell off a tricycle; later I lost control of small bicycles and had a few painful crashes. These incidents made me uneasy about riding on roads, and I avoided vehicles whenever I could. After my tenth class examinations my father gave me a Hero Honda motorcycle. My uncle agreed to teach me and began with the basics: he showed me how to start the bike, how to use the clutch and gears, and how to control the throttle. He first held the bike steady while I practised on the playground. Those first attempts were nerve-racking; my hands trembled and I felt sweat on my palms. With gentle encouragement he let me try a few short runs while he stayed behind to steady me. Each successful turn raised my confidence. We then moved to quieter roads, and he taught me how to negotiate traffic and make safe stops. After repeated practice and his calm guidance I completed a long ride into the city and returned safely. That day I felt I had truly conquered my fear and gained a new independence.

Q2: Write a short letter to someone you know about your having learnt to do something new.
Ans: 23, King John's Lane
Westbury (UK)
12 March, 2007
Dear Dolly,
You will be pleased to learn that at last I have learnt to play tennis. You know how I have admired the players at Wimbledon and dreamed of playing on the centre court. Well, I have taken the first step. After months of practice and steady training I now play regularly and this year I am taking part in the Junior County Championship. I must thank you for your encouragement; your advice and support have helped me greatly on and off the court. I hope soon to tell you more about my matches and any successes I achieve.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
Angela

Things to Do

Q1: Are there any water sports in India? Find out about the areas or places which are known for water sports. 
Ans: India provides exciting opportunities for the following watersports: 
(i) White Water Rafting,
(ii) Water Skiing,
(iii) Canoeing and Kayaking,
(iv) Scuba Diving,
(v) Snorkelling,
(vi) Angling and Fishing.
Areas or places known for watersports: 
(i) White Water Rafting and Kayaking: The Ganges (from Rishikesh); the Beas (from Manali); the Indus (in Ladakh); the Zanskar (in Zanskar); the Teesta (in Sikkim).
(ii) Water Skiing: The Ganges, the Beas.
(iii) Sailing, Yachting and Wind-surfing: Goa, Kovalam Beach in Kerala.
(iv) Scuba Diving: Andaman and Lakshadweep, Goa.
(v) Snorkelling: Andaman and Lakshadweep, Goa.
(vi) Angling and Fishing: Balukpung (Assam), Beas (Kullu Valley).