Deep Water Summary
“Deep Water” is a short story included in the Class 12 CBSE English syllabus. It is written by William Douglas, an American writer, and is a memoir of his own childhood experiences.
The story revolves around the author’s fear of water and how he overcomes it through perseverance and determination. He starts by describing how his fear of water began when he was a young boy. He was pushed into a swimming pool by his father, who wanted him to learn how to swim. However, this incident only traumatized the author, and he became even more afraid of water.
As the author grew up, he realized that his fear of water was limiting him in many ways. He wanted to participate in activities that involved water, such as fishing and boating, but he couldn’t because of his fear. He knew that he needed to conquer his fear of water to live a fulfilling life.
The author’s first attempt to overcome his fear was by trying to swim in a small pond near his house. He failed miserably and almost drowned. However, he didn’t give up. He continued to practice swimming every day, gradually increasing the size of the water body he was swimming in. He also read books on swimming techniques and watched others swim to learn from them.
The author’s determination and hard work paid off, and he eventually became an expert swimmer. He even won a medal for swimming in a competition.
The story highlights the importance of perseverance and determination in overcoming fears and achieving goals. It also shows that with hard work and practice, anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter how difficult they may seem at first.
Also Check Lost Spring and The Last lesson.
Themes in Deep Water
There are several themes present in the chapter “Deep Water” by William Douglas. Some of the key themes are:
- Fear: The story explores the concept of fear and how it can hold us back from living a fulfilling life. The author’s fear of water prevented him from participating in activities he enjoyed, and it was only through his perseverance and determination that he was able to overcome it.
- Perseverance: The author’s determination to conquer his fear of water is a prominent theme in the story. Despite numerous failed attempts, he continued to practice and improve his swimming skills until he became an expert swimmer.
- Self-Discovery: The story is a journey of self-discovery for the author. He learns that he is capable of achieving his goals if he puts in the effort and doesn’t give up and that sometimes our greatest strengths can emerge from our deepest fears.
- Overcoming Adversity: The story shows that through hard work and determination, we can overcome even the most challenging obstacles in our lives. The author’s fear of water was a significant obstacle, but he was able to overcome it and become a successful swimmer.
- Pursuit of Excellence: The author’s desire to become an expert swimmer is a reflection of the human desire for excellence. The story highlights the importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them, even in the face of adversity.
Also Check Lost Spring and The Last lesson.
Deep Water MCQ
Here are 15 multiple choice questions based on the chapter “Deep Water” by William Douglas, along with their answers:
Q. Who is the author of the chapter “Deep Water”?
- A. William Shakespeare
- B. William Wordsworth
- C. William Douglas (Correct)
- D. William Faulkner
Q. What was the author’s biggest fear as a child?
- A. Heights
- B. Water (Correct)
- C. Spiders
- D. Snakes
Q. What did the author’s father do that traumatized him as a child?
- A. Pushed him into a swimming pool (Correct)
- B. Forced him to climb a tall tree
- C. Made him ride a roller coaster
- D. None of the above
Q. What was the author’s initial reaction to being pushed into the pool by his father?
- A. He was excited and wanted to swim
- B. He was scared and traumatized (Correct)
- C. He was angry and refused to swim
- D. None of the above
Q. What did the author do to try and overcome his fear of water?
- A. He stopped going near water altogether
- B. He practised swimming every day (Correct)
- C. He avoided any activity that involved water
- D. He asked his father to teach him how to swim
Q. What was the name of the pond near the author’s house where he first tried to swim?
- A. Clearwater Pond
- B. Greenlake Pond
- C. Bluefish Pond (Correct)
- D. Redwood Pond
Q. What happened to the author when he first tried to swim in the pond?
- A. He swam effortlessly and had no problems
- B. He nearly drowned (Correct)
- C. He realized he wasn’t scared of water anymore
- D. None of the above
Q. What did the author do to prepare for his swim in the Hudson River?
- A. He read books on swimming techniques (Correct)
- B. He watched others swim to learn from them
- C. He practised in a swimming pool
- D. All of the above
Q. What was the author’s goal for swimming in the Hudson River?
- A. To win a medal in a swimming competition (Correct)
- B. To impress his friends
- C. To prove to his father that he could swim
- D. None of the above
Q. What did the author do when he realized he was swimming towards the wrong pier?
- A. He panicked and started to sink
- B. He gave up and turned back
- C. He swam harder and made it to the correct pier (Correct)
- D. None of the above
Q. What did the author’s friends say when he returned after his swim in the Hudson River?
- A. They congratulated him on his achievement (Correct)
- B. They teased him for being scared
- C. They ignored him and went back to their own activities
- D. None of the above
Q. What did the author learn from his experience of swimming in the Hudson River?
- A. That he was a naturally gifted swimmer
- B. That he needed to keep practising to improve his skills (Correct)
- C. That he should give up on swimming altogether
- D. None of the above
Q. What did the author say was the key to his success in overcoming his fear of water?
- A. Natural talent
- B. Perseverance and determination (Correct)
- C. Luck
- D. None of the above
Q. What did the author do to practice swimming when he couldn’t access a pool or pond?
- A. He practised in the bathtub
- B. He practised his breathing techniques (Correct)
- C. He watched swimming videos on YouTube
- D. None of the above
Also Check Lost Spring and The Last lesson.