Deep Water
By
William Doughlas
Think as you read
(Page 27)
1. What was the "misadventure" that William Douglas speaks about!
Ans William Douglas traumatic experience in the sea, as a child, made him afraid of water .
However, as he was learning to swim in the YMCA pool, he was thrown into the deep end by an
older boy. The experience terrified him as he had almost drowned and finally lost
consciousness before being hauled out of the water.
2. 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 thrown into water, he landed in a sitting position, swallowed water, and
went at once to the bottom. He was frightened, but planned to jump, as his feet touched the
bottom, and bounced to the surface, and paddle to the edge of the pool. His repeated failed
attempts left him terrified and exhausted, till he slipped into unconsciousness and was pulled
out of the pool. The author went from fear to exhaustion and finally submission. He showed
courage when he planned to reach the surface, however the repeated attempts drained his
strength and he was gripped by terror. He eventually gave up and felt resigned before losing
consciousness.
3. How did this experience affect him?
Ans The writer's experience of near drowning affected him greatly. He felt weak and trembled on
his way back home from the pool. He spent many more days in unrest. He never went back to
the pool. He feared water and avoided it whenever he could.
(Page 29)
1. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Ans Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water as he wished to get into the water of
Cascades. He felt terrorised by the memories of the pool and regretted being deprived of the
pleasures of fishing, canoeing, boating, and swimming.
2. How did the instructor "build a swimmer" out of Douglas?
Ans The instructor put a belt around Douglas to which a rope was attached. The rope went
through a pulley fixed on an overhead cable. He held on to the end of the rope, and made
Douglas swim for weeks. Three months later, he taught Douglas to exhale under water, and to
raise his nose and inhale, and made him overcome his fear of putting his head under water.
Next, the instructor held him at the side of the pool and made him kick with his legs. Gradually,
after weeks of practice, his legs relaxed. When Douglas had perfected each hurdle, the
instructor coordinated his efforts and gradually built a swimmer out of Douglas.
3. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Ans To make sure he had conquered fear, Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire,
dived in and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. Only once when he was in
the middle of the lake, did the terror return. But he confronted it and swam on. He also swam
across Warm Lake to the other shore and back, to make sure that he had conquered his fear of
water.
Additional Questions
1. What was the writer's misadventure in the pool at YMCA?
Ans The writer was still battling with his complexes in order to learn swimming when another
misadventure befell him. He was sitting on pool side waiting for others when a boy of about
eighteen years old came up to him and asked him if he wanted to be "ducked". Before the writer
could react the older boy picked him up and, tossed him into the deep end of the pool.
2.. What were the emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the
pool? How did he plan to come to the surface?
Ans Douglas experienced a series of emotions and fears when he was thrown into the pool.
When the older boy threw him into water, Douglas landed in a sitting position. Almost
instantaneously he seemed to swallow water and sank to the bottom. He was terrified and
planned to jump to the surface and paddle to the edge of the pool. However, his repeated
attempts to rise to the surface of water went in vain. He lost consciousness and had to be pulled
out of the pool.
3. The instructor was satisfied but not the writer. Why?
Ans The instructor was satisfied with Douglas's progress . but Douglas was still apprehensive
about facing his fears alone although after about six months of training, the instructor felt he had
succeeded in teaching Douglas the technique, Douglas felt differently. He wondered how he
would react when alone in water. He thus attempted to swim alone but his old terror kept coming
back. He decided to practice some more to overcome the fear.
Long Question
What misadventure did Douglas experience at the YMCA swimming pool?
Answer: As the timid Douglas sat alone at the side of the YMCA swimming pool waiting for other
people to come, a big bruiser of a boy, probably eighteen years old came there. He asked
Douglas whether he would like to be ducked. Saying this he picked up Douglas and tossed him
into the deep end of the pool. Douglas landed inside the pool in a sitting position, swallowed
water and went at once to the bottom of the pool. Though Douglas was extremely frightened he
had his wits intact so on his way down he started to plan. He decided that when his feet would
hit the bottom he would make a big jump, come to the surface, lie flat on it and then paddle to
the edge of the pool. At that moment the nine feet deep pool seemed like ninety feet to him and
before he touched the bottom he felt his lungs were ready to burst.
2. We always admire those as heroes who face challenges bravely in different phases of life and
emerge successfully. Elaborate on this statement with reference to William Douglas.
Answer: Determination and perseverance is a combination of attributes and abilities that drive
people to set goals for themselves and then to take the initiative to achieve these goals.
Douglas was able to overcome his fear of water by the values of positive attitude and courage.
Initially he was afraid of water but his grit and determination made him get an instructor and
overcome his fear. Determination today leads to our success tomorrow. It is that innate quality in
our soul, which comes to surface when an incident irks it. It is a reflection of our values taught to
us by society and circumstances and enables us to overcome all obstacles.
There is always admiration for heroes like William Douglas who face challenges courageously
and finally emerge successful. For years the fear of water haunted him. It deprived him of the
joy of canoeing, swimming, fishing and boating. However, it was deliberate, planned and
continuous efforts that enabled Douglas to get over his fear. He was absolutely determined to
get rid of his fear and it was due to his perseverance and resoluteness that he emerged
victorious.