Deep Water Class 12 English Flamingo ka Chapter 3 hai। Iske lekhak William O. Douglas hain। Yeh ek autobiographical account hai jisme Douglas apne bachpan ke paani ke dar, lagbhag doobne ke anubhav aur antatah us dar par vijay pane ki kahani batate hain।
Chapter Summary
William Douglas ko bachpan se hi paani se dar lagta tha। Jab woh lagbhag teen-chaar saal ke the, samudra ki tez laharon ne unhe dara diya tha। Baad mein, lagbhag das ya gyarah varsh ki umra mein, unhone tairna seekhne ke liye Y.M.C.A. swimming pool jaana shuru kiya।
Ek din ek bade ladke ne Douglas ko swimming pool ke deep end mein fenk diya। Woh paani mein doob gaye aur unhe laga ki unki mrityu hone waali hai। Is ghatna ne unke man mein paani ka gehra aatank paida kar diya।
Baad mein Douglas ne ek swimming instructor ki madad se niyamit abhyaas kiya। Instructor ne unhe dheere-dheere breathing, kicking aur swimming ki alag-alag techniques sikhayin। Lagbhag teen mahine baad unka dar kam hone laga aur antatah woh achhi tarah tairne lage।
Iske baad bhi Douglas ne apne purane dar ko poori tarah khatm karne ke liye Lake Wentworth mein tairkar swayam ko parkha। Antatah unhone apne fear of water ko poori tarah jeet liya।
Understanding the Text
1. How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned?
Answer: Douglas apne dar ko bahut vivid details ke madhyam se vyakt karte hain। Paani mein doobte samay unke pair rigid ho gaye, saans rukne lagi, fefdon mein dard hua aur sir chakrane laga। Unhe paani ke alawa kuchh dikhayi nahi de raha tha। Woh chillana chahte the, lekin awaaz nahi nikal rahi thi। Unhe aisa laga ki woh kisi aisi shakti se lad rahe hain jise niyantrit nahi kiya ja sakta।
2. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Answer: Douglas ne apne dar ko dheere-dheere aur lagatar abhyaas karke door kiya। Unhone ek swimming instructor ki sahayata li। Instructor ne unhe breathing, kicking aur swimming ki techniques step by step sikhayin। Douglas ne saptaah mein paanch din, pratidin lagbhag ek ghanta abhyaas kiya। Kai maheenon ke abhyaas ke baad unka panic kam hua aur woh achhi tarah tairne lage।
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?
Answer: Douglas is ghatna ko isliye yaad karte hain kyonki is anubhav ne unhe sikhaya ki fear itself can be more dangerous than the actual danger। Unhone mehsoos kiya ki jab manushya apne dar par vijay prapt kar leta hai, to woh swatantra mehsoos karta hai। Unke liye is anubhav ka bada arth yeh tha ki jeevan mein kisi bhi bhay ko courage, determination aur persistent effort se overcome kiya ja sakta hai।
Talking about the Text
1. "All we have to fear is fear itself." Have you ever had a fear that you have now overcome?
Answer: Yes, I have experienced fear before starting something new. Initially, I was afraid of making mistakes and failing. However, I continued practising and gradually gained confidence. I realised that fear becomes weaker when we face it instead of running away from it. Therefore, courage and continuous effort helped me overcome my fear.
2. Find and narrate other stories about conquest of fear and what people have said about courage.
Answer: Many people have overcome great fears through courage and determination. Nelson Mandela, for example, faced imprisonment and oppression during his struggle for freedom. His perseverance shows that courage does not mean the absence of fear; it means continuing to work despite fear. Similarly, Douglas's experience shows that persistent effort can help a person overcome even a deeply rooted fear. The textbook also suggests We're Not Afraid to Die as an example of courage and optimism during extreme danger.
Important Questions
1. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Answer: Douglas wanted to overcome his fear because it was limiting his life. He wanted to enjoy activities such as swimming, fishing and canoeing without being controlled by fear. He realised that the fear of water had become a serious psychological barrier, so he decided to conquer it completely.
2. How did the instructor "build a swimmer" out of Douglas?
Answer: The instructor trained Douglas step by step. First, he used a belt and rope to help him move across the pool. Then he taught him how to put his face underwater, exhale and inhale. After that, he taught him to kick with his legs. Douglas repeated these exercises hundreds of times. Gradually, each individual skill became stronger and the instructor combined them into complete swimming.
3. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Answer: After completing his training, Douglas repeatedly swam alone in the pool. Later, he went to Lake Wentworth and swam about two miles across it. When the old terror briefly returned in the middle of the lake, he faced it calmly and continued swimming. These experiences convinced him that he had finally conquered his fear.
Important Theme
The central theme of Deep Water is overcoming fear through determination, courage and persistent effort. The chapter is also a psychological study of how fear can control a person's life and how systematic effort can help overcome it.
Moral / Message
Fear is often more powerful than the actual danger. If we face our fears with courage, patience and continuous effort, we can overcome them and become truly free.
Thinking about Language
Yadi Douglas ke anubhav ko kisi teesre vyakti ne narrate kiya hota, to kahani mein unki personal feelings aur immediate fear ka prabhav kam ho sakta tha। First-person narration mein paathak seedhe Douglas ke thoughts, panic aur emotions ko anubhav karta hai। Isliye is chapter mein first-person narration adhik prabhavshaali hai।
Writing — Sample Answer
An Experience of Overcoming Fear
When I started learning to ride a bicycle, I was afraid of falling. In the beginning, I could hardly balance the bicycle for a few seconds. Every time I lost my balance, I became nervous. My family encouraged me not to give up. I practised every day for some time. Gradually, I learnt how to balance, pedal and control the bicycle. After several days of practice, I could ride without anyone's help. I felt very happy and confident. This experience taught me that fear disappears when we face it with patience and determination.
Important Word Meanings
| Word | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|
| treacherous | खतरनाक / विश्वासघाती |
| aversion | अरुचि / घृणा |
| misadventure | दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण घटना |
| subdued | नियंत्रित किया |
| timid | डरपोक / संकोची |
| bruiser | मजबूत और लड़ाकू व्यक्ति |
| panic | घबराहट |
| flailed | हाथ-पैर पटकना |
| suffocating | दम घुटना |
| paralysed | निष्क्रिय / जड़ |
| terror | भय / आतंक |
| rigid | कठोर / अकड़ा हुआ |
| exhausted | थका हुआ |
| vestiges | अवशेष / थोड़े बचे हुए अंश |
| residual | बचा हुआ |
| conquer | विजय प्राप्त करना |
| released | मुक्त |
| courage | साहस |
| perseverance | दृढ़ता / लगातार प्रयास |
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