Class 12 English - RAJASTHAN
Prose: Deep Water
Deep Water by William Douglas is an autobiographical excerpt from his book Of Men and Mountains. It narrates the author's lifelong fear of water, stemming from two near-drowning incidents in his childhood at the Yakima River and the California YMCA pool. The chapter details his relentless determination, psychological struggle, and ultimate triumph over hydrophobia through the guidance of an instructor. For Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 12 board exams, this chapter is crucial as it tests students' comprehension of perseverance, overcoming fear, and coping mechanisms. Examiners frequently ask value-based questions and text-based comprehension questions from this piece.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Childhood Misadventures
Two terrifying incidents at age three/four at the beach in California and later at the YMCA pool created a deep-seated fear of water in Douglas's mind.
Impact of Fear
The fear of water ruined Douglas's fishing trips, canoeing, and swimming joys, ultimately dominating his adult life and keeping him away from water bodies.
Hiring an Instructor
Determined to conquer his phobia, Douglas hired a swimming instructor in October who used a pulley and rope system to build his confidence stroke by stroke.
Self-Testing and Overcoming
Even after training, Douglas swam alone in various lakes to test his psychological endurance, finally realizing that 'all we have to fear is fear itself.'
Theme of Perseverance
The chapter highlights the importance of mental grit, courage, and systematic effort in transforming deep-rooted weaknesses into strengths.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 12 English Board Exam, 'Deep Water' generally carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include short answer questions (SAQs) testing details of the pool incidents, long answer/essay-type questions (LAQs) on the theme of overcoming fear and perseverance, and extract-based reading comprehension questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Douglas develop an aversion to water?
Douglas developed a fear of water due to two major incidents: being knocked down by waves at a California beach when he was three or four, and being thrown into the deep end of the YMCA pool by a big boy later.
How did the instructor make Douglas a swimmer?
The instructor tied Douglas to a rope running through an overhead pulley, allowing Douglas to practice swimming across the pool safely while the instructor held the rope slack.
What lesson did Douglas learn from his experience of drowning?
Douglas learned that death is peaceful and only the fear of death is terrifying, realizing that terror has a mental reality which can be conquered with courage.
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