DEEP WATER- THEME, SUMMARY, VALUE POINTS-CLASS XII ENGLISH CBSE

THEME

The author William Douglas talks about his fear of water and how he finally overcomes it. He narrates an autobiographical incident that occurred when he was ten or eleven years old and almost drowned in the Y.M.C.A swimming pool. In result he developed a fear of water, which he was able to conquer after several years because of sheer determination. The lesson conveys the message that is not death but fear of death that creates terror and anxiety in our mind so the fear needs to be shaken off.

 

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER:

1. Developed aversion to water

(i) 3 to4 years old: father took him to the beach in California.

(ii) waves knocked him down.

(iii) swept over him.

(iv) fear of water sets in

 

2. Yakima River :

(i) dangerous

(ii) mother-warned him against it.

(iii) kept fresh in his mind - each drowning in the river.

 

3. Misadventure at Y.M.C.A.(safe pool)

(i) Y.M.C.A. pool-shallow end is 2-3 feet deep; 9 feet at the deep end

(ii) An 18 yr old bully tossed him into the deep end

(iii) Douglas' plan (strategy)-when he hits the bottom of the pool-he would jump &come

to the surface.

(iv) went 9 feet down

(v) failed to rise, suffocated, lungs ached, head throbbed. fear-stricken

(vi) became unconscious, nearly died.

4. Effect/Impact of Fear :

(i) ruined his fishing trips

(ii) deprived him of the joy of canoeing , boating & swimming.

 

5. HIRED AN INSTRUCTOR TO OVERCOME FEAR OF WATER :

(i) practised 5 days a week-1hour each day

(ii) used belt& rope to teach swimming

(iii) Taught to exhale under water &inhale above water

(iv) Taught Limb coordination

(v) Taught different strokes-crawl stroke, breast stroke, side stroke& back stroke

 

6. TESTED HIMSELF :

(i) Went to Lake Wentworth in Hampshire-swam 2 miles to Stamp Act Island

(ii) Went up to Meade Glacier to swim in warm lake near Gilbert Peak.

 

CHARACTER SKETCH OF DOUGLAS

*adventurous by nature.

*had a zest for life.

*courageous/bold.

*indomitable spirit-to overcome his fear.

*not frightened by crisis-accepted it as a challenge.

DEEP WATER

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