Deep Water by William Douglas - Class 12
Summary of Deep Water, class 12, CBSE English, Flamingo, written by William Douglas. Deep Water by William Douglas is an autobiographical account. It tells us how a near-drowning experience terrified him and how he overcame that fear.
Deep Water by William Douglas is an autobiographical account. It tells us how a near-drowning experience terrified him and how he overcame that fear. From exam's point of view let’s break down the chapter for easy understanding.
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His views about swimming
He decides to learn swimming when he was around 10 or 11 years old. He had an inherent fear of water as his mother kept telling him about the drowning incidences in river Yakima.
His experience when he was three or four years old
He had gone to the beach in California. He had been knocked over by waves. He felt suffocated and the fear of water took its grip on him.
Being thrown in the pool
Around 10 or 11 years of age he decided to learn swimming at the YMCA pool. He tried to learn by copying others. But one day when he reached before everyone else, he decided to wait. At this time a boy who was around 18 years old came and threw the author in the deep end just for fun.
Struggle to come out
First Attempt
Second Attempt
Third Attempt
Rescue & the feeling after that
He was taken out & was lying near the pool & vomiting. The boy who had thrown him was being scolded. He felt scared for days. Even the slightest exertion upset him.
Problems on account of this fear
He could no longer enjoy any water sport. He wanted to enjoy the sport but every time the terror seized him. It ensured that he never enjoyed canoeing boating & swimming
Efforts to overcome the fear
He decided to get an instructor & learn to swim
Practiced 5 days a week
Instructor tied a belt around his waist which passed through a pulley & he held on to the end of the rope
He went back & forth
Terror gripped him for at least 3 months
Taught him to exhale under water & to inhale after raising his knees
Bit by bit he learnt to kick his legs & relax in water
Learnt to swim after piecing all information together
Self Challenges
Swam alone in the pool
Went to Lake Wentsworth in New Hampshire, dived & went to many other places to challenge himself
Conquered his fear of the water
Thank You!
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