Class 12 Notes

Class 12 English Notes Prose 3 (Deep Water) – Flamingo Book

Philoid

Philoid

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Flamingo
Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 3 of your Flamingo textbook, 'Deep Water' by William Douglas. This is an important chapter, not just for its narrative but for the deeper themes it explores, making it relevant for your exam preparation. It's an autobiographical piece detailing the author's journey of overcoming a deep-seated fear.

Deep Water: Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Author and Context:

  • Author: William O. Douglas (1898-1980). He was an American jurist and politician who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was known for his strong civil liberties record and his love for the outdoors.
  • Source: This chapter is an excerpt taken from his autobiographical book, Of Men and Mountains.
  • Genre: Autobiography / Memoir.

2. Central Theme:

  • The primary theme is the conquest of fear, specifically hydrophobia (fear of water), through sheer determination, perseverance, and courage.
  • It also explores the psychological impact of fear on an individual's life and the liberation that comes from overcoming it.

3. Synopsis:
The narrative recounts two key childhood incidents that instilled a paralyzing fear of water in the author, followed by his long and arduous journey to overcome this phobia as an adult.

4. Key Incidents & Development:

  • Incident 1: California Beach (Age 3 or 4)

    • Douglas was with his father at a beach in California.
    • He was knocked down by powerful waves and submerged. Water swept over him, and his breath was gone.
    • Though his father laughed (seeing it as harmless), the experience terrified the young Douglas, breeding his initial aversion and fear of water's overpowering force.
    • Significance: This marks the origin of his fear.

  • Incident 2: The YMCA Pool Misadventure (Age 10 or 11)

    • Douglas decided to learn swimming at the YMCA pool in Yakima, which seemed relatively safe (shallow end was only 2-3 feet deep, gradual drop to 9 feet at the deep end).
    • He was sitting alone by the poolside, waiting for others, when a big, muscular boy (around 18) came, yelled "Hi, Skinny! How’d you like to be ducked?", and threw him into the deep end.
    • The Drowning Experience (Crucial Detail):
      • Douglas, despite the shock, remembered his strategy: hit the bottom, make a big jump, come up like a cork, lie flat, and paddle to the edge.
      • He went down slowly; the 9 feet felt like 90. His lungs were ready to burst.
      • He summoned all his strength to spring upwards but came up slowly, only seeing water. He panicked and tried to yell, but only water came out.
      • He went down a second time, thrashing but paralyzed with fear. Stark terror seized him – "a terror that knows no understanding, terror that knows no control".
      • He went down a third time. All effort ceased. He relaxed. Blackness swept over his brain. There was no more panic; it was quiet and peaceful. He felt like he was floating in space, drowsy – the "curtain of life fell".
      • He was eventually rescued (details vague to him, remembers vomiting).
    • Significance: This traumatic event cemented his hydrophobia, turning it into a paralyzing terror that haunted him for years.

  • The Lingering Fear:

    • The fear stayed with him as he grew older.
    • It ruined his fishing trips, canoeing, boating, and swimming activities.
    • The fear manifested as icy horror, shaky legs, and sickness in his stomach whenever he was near water.

  • The Decision to Overcome:

    • Douglas realized his fear was crippling his enjoyment of life and decided he had to conquer it.
    • This decision marks a turning point, showcasing his determination.

  • The Process of Learning (The Instructor):

    • He hired a swimming instructor in October.
    • The instructor used a systematic approach:
      • Safety: Put a belt around Douglas with a rope attached, running through an overhead pulley. This allowed Douglas to go back and forth across the pool without fear of drowning.
      • Breathing: Taught him to put his face underwater and exhale, and raise his nose to inhale (practiced hundreds of times).
      • Kicking: Held him at the side of the pool and made him practice kicking with his legs.
      • Coordination: Gradually integrated all parts – breathing, kicking, arm strokes – into a complete swimming action.
    • The process was slow and painstaking ("Piece by piece, he built a swimmer"). It took about 6 months (until April).

  • Testing Himself:

    • Even after the instructor certified him, Douglas wasn't sure if the terror was truly gone.
    • He swam alone in the pool. Tiny vestiges of the old terror would return, but he would rebuke it ("Trying to scare me, eh? Well, here’s to you! Look!").
    • He sought bigger challenges:
      • Lake Wentworth (New Hampshire): Swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. Only once, when in the middle of the lake, did the fear return briefly, but he faced it down.
      • Warm Lake: Went to Warm Lake, dived in, and swam across to the other shore and back. He shouted with joy, having finally conquered his fear completely.

5. Key Themes Explored:

  • Fear vs. Willpower: The central conflict is Douglas's internal battle against his deep-seated fear, ultimately won through conscious effort and strong will.
  • Psychological Trauma: The story vividly portrays how childhood trauma can have long-lasting psychological effects.
  • Perseverance and Determination: Douglas's journey highlights the importance of persistence in overcoming significant obstacles.
  • The Nature of Fear: Douglas analyzes his fear, understanding its paralyzing effect and realizing that the fear itself was the main enemy.
  • Experience as a Teacher: The near-drowning experience, though terrifying, provided a profound understanding of both terror and the desire to live.

6. Important Quotes/Lines:

  • "The misery... seemed a long way down. Those nine feet were more like ninety..." (Describing the distorted perception during the drowning)
  • "...a stark terror seized me... terror that knows no understanding... terror that knows no control..." (Describing the peak of his panic)
  • "Then all effort ceased. I relaxed... A blackness swept over my brain... It wiped out fear; it wiped out terror... it was quiet and peaceful." (Describing the feeling close to death)
  • "The handicap stayed with me as the years rolled by." (Showing the long-term impact of fear)
  • "Piece by piece, he built a swimmer." (Describing the instructor's methodical approach)
  • "Well, Mr. Terror, what do you think you can do to me?" (His direct confrontation with the residual fear)
  • "All we have to fear is fear itself." (Referencing President Roosevelt, realizing the truth in this statement after his experience)
  • "The experience had a deep meaning for me... 'In death there is peace. There is terror only in the fear of death.'... I had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear of it can produce. The will to live somehow grew in intensity." (The ultimate lesson learned)

7. Significance for Exams:

  • Understand the sequence of events and the details of the two key incidents.
  • Be able to explain the psychological impact of the fear on Douglas.
  • Analyze the methods used by the instructor and Douglas himself to overcome the fear.
  • Discuss the themes of fear, determination, and courage.
  • Explain the significance of the Roosevelt quote and the final realization Douglas has about life and death.
  • Character analysis of Douglas – focusing on his vulnerability and eventual strength.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

  1. At what age did William Douglas first experience an aversion to water?
    a) Ten or eleven
    b) Three or four
    c) Seven or eight
    d) Fifteen or sixteen

  2. Where did the author's near-drowning 'misadventure' take place?
    a) California Beach
    b) Lake Wentworth
    c) The YMCA pool in Yakima
    d) Warm Lake

  3. What strategy did Douglas plan to use when thrown into the pool?
    a) Shout for help immediately
    b) Try to float on his back
    c) Hit the bottom and spring upwards
    d) Grab the rope at the side

  4. What was the depth of the deep end of the YMCA pool?
    a) Five feet
    b) Seven feet
    c) Nine feet
    d) Twelve feet

  5. Which phrase best describes the terror Douglas felt while drowning?
    a) A mild discomfort
    b) A terror that knows no understanding or control
    c) A passing moment of panic
    d) An annoying interruption

  6. How did the instructor ensure Douglas's safety while teaching him?
    a) By using floatation devices
    b) By staying close to him in the water
    c) By using a belt with a rope attached to an overhead pulley
    d) By teaching only in the shallow end

  7. What primarily motivated Douglas to overcome his fear of water?
    a) Peer pressure from friends
    b) His father's encouragement
    c) The desire to pursue a career in swimming
    d) The fear ruining his enjoyment of water-related activities like fishing and boating

  8. Where did Douglas finally confirm that he had completely conquered his old terror?
    a) While swimming alone in the YMCA pool
    b) After swimming across Lake Wentworth
    c) After swimming across Warm Lake and back
    d) When the instructor certified him as a swimmer

  9. The quote "All we have to fear is fear itself" is attributed to whom by Douglas?
    a) His swimming instructor
    b) His father
    c) President Roosevelt
    d) Himself

  10. What profound realization did Douglas gain from his experience?
    a) That swimming instructors are essential
    b) That one should avoid deep water
    c) That there is peace in death, and terror only in the fear of it
    d) That California beaches are dangerous

Answers to MCQs:

  1. b) Three or four
  2. c) The YMCA pool in Yakima
  3. c) Hit the bottom and spring upwards
  4. c) Nine feet
  5. b) A terror that knows no understanding or control
  6. c) By using a belt with a rope attached to an overhead pulley
  7. d) The fear ruining his enjoyment of water-related activities like fishing and boating
  8. c) After swimming across Warm Lake and back
  9. c) President Roosevelt
  10. c) That there is peace in death, and terror only in the fear of it

Study these notes carefully. Understanding the progression of events and Douglas's internal struggle is key. Good luck with your preparation!

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