Deep Water (Revision Lesson)

Deep Water (Revision Lesson)

By William Douglas

Introduction

In this story, Douglas talks about his fear of water and how he finally 

overcomes it with strong will power, courage, hard work, and firm 

determination. Once he took courage, the fear vanished. That Shows most of our fears are baseless. Fear creates dangers where there is none.  The writer’s Experiences further confirm the proverbial truth, “Where there is a will, there is away.”

Values Raised

Determination, optimism, perseverance, diligence, openness to challenges, courage, persistence, endurance etc.

Main Points

• William Douglas had great passion for water. 

• He longed to learn swimming. 

• When he was three or four years, he was taken to a Beach in California by his father. 

• While surfing on the shore, a huge wave knocked him. He feared water. That was his childhood fear. 

• After some years he longed to swim in the Yakima River but his 

  mother warned against that idea because the Yakima River is treacherous.

Cont...

• Then he found the YMCA Pool the safest place for swimming. Its 

  deepest end was nine feet deep, the bottom was tiled, the drop 

  towards the deep part was gradual, water was clean and there were other children swimming. 

• He went to the pool and started swimming by imitating other boys. 

• One day, while waiting for the other boys to come, a big boy threw 

  him into the deepest end of the water.

Cont...

• Douglas had the courage to face the situation. He went down and 

  down with a hope to reach the bottom to make a big leap upward.

• Three times he went down and on the third time, he lost consciousness and almost died! 

• Douglas gives a vivid description of death which is peaceful.

• Douglas’ ‘body’ floated on the surface. Someone dragged him out of the water and provided first aid. 

• After this incident, Douglas tried to avoid water and water sports as much as possible.

Cont...

• When he grew up, water began to tempt him again.

• He got a trainer and learnt swimming. 

• After the completion of the training, he went to various rivers, pools, lakes and swam alone and got rid of his fear.

Open Ended

How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that

gripped him as he almost drowned? Describe the details that have made the description vivid.

Open Ended

How did Douglas remove his residual doubts about his fear of

water?

Open Ended

Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror

and his conquering of it?

Open Ended

What larger meaning does he draw from this

experience?

Open Ended

“All we have to fear is fear itself”. Have you ever had a fear that you

have now overcome? Share your experience with your partner.