Deep Water: Question and Answer
The following are the answers to the textbook questions for Chapter 3: Deep Water from the NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo textbook, as applicable to the Chhattisgarh (CG) Board syllabus. These are based on the standard NCERT questions for this chapter, as the CG Board typically aligns with the NCERT curriculum for English Flamingo. The questions are divided into sections as they appear in the textbook: Think as You Read (Page 27), Think as You Read (Page 29), Understanding the Text, Talking about the Text, Thinking about Language, and Writing (Page 30).Think as
Answer: The “misadventure” William Douglas speaks about is the incident at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool where he nearly drowned. When he was ten or eleven years old, an eighteen-year-old boy picked him up and threw him into the nine-foot-deep end of the pool. Unable to swim, Douglas sank to the bottom, struggled, and nearly died, leaving him with a deep fear of water.
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?
Answer: When thrown into the pool, Douglas experienced intense fear but was not completely panicked. As he sank, he felt terror and helplessness, struggling to breathe as water filled his mouth. His lungs ached, and he was paralyzed by fear of drowning. He planned to make a big jump when his feet hit the bottom, hoping to spring to the surface like a cork, lie flat on the water, and paddle to the edge of the pool. However, this plan failed as he could not reach the surface.
How did this experience affect him?
Answer: The near-drowning experience had a profound impact on Douglas, instilling a haunting fear of water that affected him physically and emotionally for years. He became terrified of being near water, which prevented him from enjoying activities like swimming, boating, or fishing. This fear shook his confidence and lingered as a psychological burden until he decided to overcome it.
Think as You Read (Page 29)
Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Answer: Douglas was determined to overcome his fear of water because it deprived him of enjoying water-related activities like canoeing, boating, swimming, and fishing. The fear, rooted in his childhood trauma, held him in its grip even as an adult, and he wanted to regain his confidence and enjoy these activities.
How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas?
Answer: The instructor built a swimmer out of Douglas systematically. For three months, he used a rope and belt to hold Douglas while he practiced swimming back and forth across the pool. He taught Douglas to exhale underwater and inhale above the surface, and to kick with his legs until they relaxed. After seven months, the instructor had Douglas swim the length of the pool, gradually building his skills and confidence.
How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Answer: To ensure he had fully overcome his fear, Douglas swam alone in the Y.M.C.A. pool and practiced various strokes. He also visited Lake Wentworth, where he dived and swam across the lake without assistance. Finally, at Warm Lake, he swam and dived, confronting any remaining fear. These efforts confirmed that he had conquered his terror, as he no longer felt panic in water.
Understanding the Text (Page 30)
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.
Answer: Douglas vividly conveys his panic by detailing his physical and emotional struggle during the near-drowning incident. He describes the shock of being thrown into the deep end, the suffocating sensation of water filling his mouth, and the aching of his lungs. His heart pounded, and his body was paralyzed by fear. He recounts his desperate attempts to jump to the surface, only to sink repeatedly, and the terror of feeling that “the curtain of life fell.” These sensory details—his aching lungs, pounding heart, and the vivid imagery of sinking like a cork—make the description gripping and relatable.
Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from this experience?
Answer: As an adult, Douglas recounts his childhood trauma and triumph to highlight its profound impact on his life. The experience taught him that “all we have to fear is fear itself,” a quote attributed to Franklin D. Roosevelt. This lesson underscores the idea that fear can be a paralyzing force, but with determination and effort, it can be overcome. His journey reflects broader themes of resilience, courage, and the power of willpower, showing that confronting fears can lead to personal growth and freedom.
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