CBSE ,class XII ,English

1. DEEP WATER
BY WILLIAM DOUGLAS
Prepared by
Preeti Shaw
PGT English

2. Introduction-
The excerpt “Deep Water” by William Douglas
is an autobiographical account of a childhood
misadventure which left an indelible impression
on the narrator’s mind. All details, particularly
,the feeling of fear, remained etched on his mind
for years together.
Later in his adulthood, he made a deliberate
effort to shake off the terrifying memory and get
over the phobia of water bodies.
It is a first a person account of the event that the
readers can feel being reconstructed right in
front of their eyes.

3. The story --

4. A childhood venture-
- Douglas plans to learn swimming
- Y.M.C.A pool chosen for the venture because
it was safe ;
Only 9 feet deep and 2 feet at shallow ends.
- Yakima river out of question because it had
claimed many lives.

5. Equipped to learn the sport-
- Gets a pair of water wings
- Conscious of exposing skinny legs
- Curbs his complex and overcomes
pride

6. Aversion for water resurfaces-
- aversion: the result of a childhood experience
-had got knocked down by waves at California Beach
-father had taken it lightly but terror struck Douglas’
Heart
-years later Y.M.C.A. pool revived unpleasant memories
-childish fears of water stirred once again

7. Beginning to feel comfortable in water-
- practice helps shaking off fear
-the feeling of uneasiness begins to
Disappear
-gradually builds up confidence

8. Douglas’ misadventure in the
swimming pool-
- all alone at the pool, silence all over
- water in the pool absolutely still
- has no courage to plunge into the pool alone
- sits on the side of the pool and waits
- soon an 18 year old boy arrives, he has a hairy
chest ,bulging muscles and an impressive
physique
- boy fools Douglas ; hurls him into deep side of
the pool
- Douglas falls into water in a sitting position

9. Douglas’ plan to manage the crises-
- Douglas at once goes to the bottom of
the pool
- Is frightened but alert
- Plans to push himself upward on
touching the bottom
- Next to lie flat on the back and to paddle
towards safety

10. The never ending fall-
Douglas goes down to the bottom
- nine feet appear like ninety feet
-acute uneasiness
- lungs ready to burst

11. At the bottom-
- Douglas hits the bottom
-summons up all his strength
- strains to heave up
- contrary to expectation of springing
to the surface,starts coming up
slowly

12. Desperate efforts for survival-
- Tries to clutch a rope
- Only water runs through the fingers
- Feels suffocated
- Though eyes and nose out of water
mouth still inside
- Water swallowed
- Legs stiff like lifeless objects

13. An irresistible downward pull-
- Sucked to the bottom again
- Desperate screaming, lost in water
- A futile struggle
- Dizziness with aching lungs and throbbing
head
- Acute physical discomfort
- Mind still retains the plan to avoid drowning

14. Terrified out of his wits-
- Water all around
- Going down endlessly
- Seized by terror
- Unable even to scream
- Absolutely incapacitated
- The thumping heart and pounding head
only signs of life in him

15. Another futile effort-
- Mind clouded with fear
- Still doesn’t give up
- Takes a leap with all the strength
- Success evades
- Comes out of water momentarily
- Starts going down for the third
time

16. The comfort of rescuing arms-
- Douglas now gives up all efforts
- Surrenders to the rescuing arms
- Fear ,panic, anxiety : all
forgotten
- Total relaxation
- Passes into oblivion

17. Consciousness regained-
- Finds himself next to the pool,
vomiting
- The big bully makes a lame
excuse,”But i was only fooling”
- Douglas has a close brush with
death

18. After effects of the unpleasant
experience-
- Hours later : weak and trembling, reaches
home
- Cannot eat that night
- Fear haunts him for days together
- Feels wobbly in the knees and sick to his
stomach
- Develops phobia of water
- Never revisits the pool

19. A few years later-
- Haunting fear of childhood
followed him
- Joy of fishing, canoeing, boating,
swimming marred by the same fear
- Every way to overcome this fear
failed

20. Determined to finally defeat fear-
- Engaged an instructor to teach
swimming
- A rope attached to a belt put around him
- Rope went through a pulley that ran on
an overhead cable
- Supported by the cable; went to and fro
on the pool
- Practised for weeks together

21. Relentless practice bore fruit-
- Persistent fear started fading after three months
combined efforts of self and instructor
- Learnt exhaling and inhaling while swimming
- For weeks made to kick with his legs
- Initially legs were stiff but gradually they relaxed and
he could command them
- Finally given ‘clean chit’ by the instructor
- Douglas able to dive and swim the length of the pool
- Instructor relieved

22. Incessant efforts continued-
- Douglas again tried swimming while alone in the pool
- All fears shed off
- Still continued experiments in Lake Wentworth
- Successfully tried crawl, breaststroke, side stroke and
backstroke

23. Yet another test to build confidence-
- Went to Warm Lake
- Dived and swam across the lake
- Back from the other shore
- Experiment conducted successfully
- Fear of water conquered

24. A larger meaning drawn from the
experience-
- Death is full of peace
- Fear of death terrorizes
- Near death experience and the fear of death intensified
Douglas’ will to live

25. Message-
The lesson conveys the message that it’s not
death but the fear of death that instils terror
and anxiety in our minds. Yet another message
that the lesson gives is that clinging to past
fears can spoil one’s present, hence intensive
and persistent efforts are needed to shake off
the fears of past.

26. Thank You