Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 3
Question Answer
Deep Water Question Answer

Here we are providing the question and answers for the Third chapter of Class 12 English, “Deep Water”. This chapter studies the main features related to “Deep Water”.

These notes will prove useful for students preparing for the board examinations this year. Prepared in simple and organized language, this material will help in quickly revising the chapter and remembering the key points.

Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 3 Question Answer, Deep Water Question Answer

Class 12 english Chapter 3 Question answer

Think as you read

Que 1. What is the 'misadvanture' that William Douglas speaks about?

Ans. The ‘misadvanture’ was when a large, muscular boy picked Douglas up and threw him into the deep end of the YMCA swimming pool. Douglas nearly drowned in the nine-foot-deep water.

Que 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 the pool, he experienced series of emotions and fears. He was frightened but not still out of his wits. He planned to make a big jump to come to the surface. His legs became stiff and refused to move. Icy horror grabbled his heart. It made him panicky.

Que. 3. How did this experience affect him?

Ans. This experience had a lasting effect. on Douglas. It revived unpleasant memories and his fear of water. It ruined his fishing trips. It deprived him of the joys of boating and swimming. The fear of water held him firmly in its grip. He never went back to the pool.

Que 4. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water.

Ans. The fear of water stayed with him as the years rolled by. Whenever he tried to enter water, the fear seized him. Wherever he went, it ruined his joy of boating, Fishing and swimming. He was determined to get over his fear of water. Finally, he decided to employ an instructor and learn to swim.

Que 5. How did the instructor 'build a swimmer' out of Douglas?

Ans. The instructor made serious efforts to build a swimmer out of Douglas. He put a belt around him. A rope attached to the belt went through a pulley. Thus, he was made to go back and fourth across the pool hour after hour. Then he was taught how to exhale and inhale. In this way, he built a Swimmer out of Douglas.

Que 6. How did Douglas make sure that he Conquered the old terror?

Ans. Douglas was made a swimmer. But when he was alone in the pool, signs of the old ‘terror’ would return. He wanted to make sure that he was free from that fear. So, he went to lake wentworth and dived off a dock at Triggs Island. He swan for two miles. The terror fled and he swan on. At last he conquered the ‘old terror’.

Understanding the text

Que 1. How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almast drowned? Describe that details that have made the description vivid?

Ans. Douglas gives a detailed account of his feelings and efforts to save himself from getting drowned. He uses literary devices to make the description graphic and vivid. For example, ‘Those nine Feet were more Like ninety. “My lungs were ready to burst?

I came up slowly,

I opened my eyes and saw nothing but Water… I grew panicky, ‘I was suffocating.

I tried to yell, but no sound came out’

Que.2. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Ans. Douglas hired an instructor who used a system of belts, ropes and pulleys to teach his swimming bit by bit. After weeks of training, Douglas practiced alone in various Lakes to ensure he had fully conquered his fear.

Que.3. Why does Douglas as an adult recount a Childhood experience of terror and his Conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from this experience?

Ans. The experience of terror was a handicap Douglas suffered during his childhood. His Conquering of it shows his determination, Will power and development of his personality. He drew a large meaning from this experience. In death there is peace? ‘There is terror only in the fear of death.’ He had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear of it can produce. So, he will to live somehow grew in intensity. He felt released- free to walk the mountain paths, climb the peaks and brush aside fear.

Long Type Question answer

1. How did Douglas develop an aversion to water?

OR

Point out the 'misadventure' that William Douglas had to encounter at the Y.M.C.A. pool. What was its effect over the writer?

OR

A big boy threw Douglas into the swimming pool. How did this experience affect Douglas?

Ans. Y.M.C.A. swimming pool always revived unpleasant memories and childish fears in Douglas. It was here when a big boy threw him into the swimming pool. Actually, he had gone to the pool when no one else was there. Then came a ‘big bruiser’ of a boy. He picked Douglas up and tossed him into the deep end. He at once went to the bottom. He made a big jump to come to the surface. Those nine feet were more than ninety. His lungs were ready to burst. He opened his eyes and saw nothing but water. He was suffocating. His legs would not come up. They were paralysed and dead. He screamed but no one heard him. He went down, endlessly. Then sheer stark terror paralysed him. Then all his efforts seized. He crossed into oblivion. Later he found himself lying on his stom-ach vomiting beside the pool. This experience had a far reaching effect on Douglas. He never went back to the pool. He feared water. He tried to avoid it whenever he could. And whenever he went to a pool, the terror that seized him in the pool would come back.

2. What efforts did William Douglas make to over-come his fear of water?

OR

How did Douglas react sharply to get over his fear of water?

OR

Write down the efforts made by William Douglas to overcome his terror of water. How did he con-quer it?

OR

How did the instructor build a swimmer out of Dou-glas?

OR

How did the swimming instructor build a swim-mer out of Douglas?

OR

What was the sense of panic that gripped William O. Douglas? How did he overcome that fear?

Ans. The ‘misadventure’ that William O. Douglas experienced at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool left deep impression on his mind. The fear stayed with him as the years rolled by. Finally, he decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. He went to a pool and practised five days a week, an hour a day. The instructor put a belt round him. A rope was attached to the belt. The rope went through a pulley. He was made to go back and forth across the pool. After three months the tension began to slack. Then he taught Douglas how to exhale under water and inhale outside it. Thus, piece by piece, the instructor made him a perfect swimmer.

Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 3
Question Answer
Deep Water Question Answer