INTRODUCTION

Have you ever been scared to try something new? Maybe it's
jumping into deep water, speaking in front of people, or facing any fear
that stops you from moving forward. In the chapter "Deep Water" from
William Douglas's book "Of Men and Mountains," he talks about
overcoming fears. It's not just about swimming but about facing any fear
that tries to hold us back.The Deep Water is a masterpiece by Douglas
which is an important chapter for Class 12 students. The following article
aims at providing the summary of the chapter Deep Water along with a
few significant points.

Deep Water by William Douglas Theme

The Deep Water lesson is a very useful one that tells us about
overcoming the fear of the author of the deep water. If we go through
Deep Water Class 12, we can see that the author’s fear of water was
developed by two very horrible incidents. In the first instance, a wave
knocked him down when he was four years old. In the second instance, he
was thrown in the bottomless end of the pool by a bully. He was almost
drowned in that incident.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Douglas (1898-1980) was born in Maine, Minnesota. After
graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in English and Economics, he spent
two years teaching high school in Yakima. However, he got tired of this
and decided to pursue a legal career. He met Franklin D. Roosevelt at Yale
and became an adviser and friend to the President. Douglas was a leading
advocate of individual rights. He retired in 1975 with a term lasting thirty-
six years and remains the longest-serving Justice in the history of the
court. The following excerpt is taken from Of Men and Mountains by
William O. Douglas. It reveals how as a young boy William Douglas
nearly drowned in a swimming pool. In this essay he talks about his fear of
water and thereafter, how he finally overcame it. Notice how the
autobiographical part of the selection is used to support his discussion of
fear.
BACKGROUND OF THE STORY

The story "Deep Water" is a psychological thriller written by Patricia

Highsmith, an American novelist renowned for her suspenseful and
psychologically complex narratives. Published in 1957, "Deep Water" is
one of Highsmith's acclaimed short stories and is known for its exploration
of the darker aspects of human nature.
The background of the story delves into themes of obsession,
manipulation, and the fragile nature of human relationships. As Vic's
actions escalate, the narrative explores the thin line between reality and
fabrication, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies. The story
gradually unveils the depths of Vic's psychopathy, leading to a suspenseful
and intense climax.
"Deep Water" is a compelling exploration of the human psyche and the
intricate dynamics of marriage and obsession. It's known for Highsmith's
signature exploration of the darkness that can exist beneath seemingly
ordinary lives. The story has been praised for its psychological
complexity, well-crafted tension, and its ability to engage readers in a
narrative that challenges their perceptions of morality and human
behavior.
OVERVIEW
This lesson is taken from William Douglas’ autobiographical book “Of
Men and Mountains,” which deals with the subject of conquering fear. He talks
about how he finally overcame his early phobia of the sea. The incident in the
swimming pool where a bully nearly drowned him as a youngster and the
boyhood experience of being knocked down by the waves at the California
beach contributed to a dread of water that haunted him even as an adult. He
ultimately made the decision to face his anxiety because he was unable to enjoy
swimming, fishing, or boating like others. His further attempts to get over the
fear, demonstrate his guts and willpower. Therefore, the message being sent to
us is that one must get above their fear.

CHARACTERS AND PLACES

* Douglas: Narrator of the story
* YMCA Pool: A swimming pool run by Young Men's Christian
Association
* Yakima: US city located about 60 miles southeast of Mount Rainier
in Washington.
Deep Water Theme – Justification
Let’s see how this theme is applicable to the chapter “Deep Water”-
William Douglas’s story highlights his journey to overcome his fear of water.
After a near-drowning incident, he faces his fear by learning to swim. Through
continuous practice and strong determination, he eventually overcomes his
deep-seated fear and gains a sense of freedom and confidence in the water.

List of Themes
Let’s see some more themes appropriately applicable on the chapter “Deep
Water”-
1.Overcoming Fear
2. Courage and Determination
3. Personal Growth
4. The Impact of Childhood Experiences
5. Not Giving Up
6. Facing Challenges
7. Conquering Inner Demons
8. Building Confidence
9. The Power of Willpower
10. Triumph Over Adversity
 Point wise details
Let’s see in detail how these themes are connected to the chapter “Deep
Water”-
Point Wise
1. Overcoming Fear- William Douglas faces and conquers his fear of water
after a near-drowning experience.
2. Courage and Determination- Douglas shows great courage by deciding to
learn swimming despite his past trauma. His determination to defeat his fear
highlights his inner strength and bravery.
3. Personal Growth- The chapter illustrates Douglas’s personal growth as he
transforms from a fearful boy to a confident swimmer. His journey reflects
significant emotional and psychological development.
4. The Impact of Childhood Experiences- Douglas’s near-drowning incident
as a child profoundly affects him. The chapter shows how early experiences can
shape fears and behaviours in later life.
5. Not Giving Up- Douglas’s determination shows in his continuous effort to
learn swimming. Even though he faces problems, he keeps practising until he
succeeds.
6. Facing Challenges- The chapter shows how Douglas faces the challenge of
overcoming his fear of water. His story is an example of how facing challenges
head-on can lead to personal triumph.
7. Conquering Inner Demons- Douglas fights his fear of water, which is like
his inner demon. His success in overcoming this fear shows how strong we can
be when we face and beat our personal worries and fears.
8. Building Confidence- As Douglas learns to swim, his confidence grows. The
chapter highlights how overcoming fears and mastering new skills can boost
self-esteem.
9. The Strength of Willpower- Douglas’s willpower drives him to overcome
his fear of water. His story shows that strong willpower can help individuals
achieve their goals despite obstacles.
10. Triumph Over Adversity- The chapter shows Douglas’s triumph over the
adversity of his fear. His journey from fear to freedom is a testament to human
resilience and determination.
DIFFICULT WORDS
*Treacherous - dangerous
* Drop-slope from the shallow area to the deep area
* Water wings - A pair of inflatable waterproof bags designed so that one
can be attached to each arm, especially of a child learning to swim
* Skinny-thin
* Subdued- to overcome
* Aversion - dislike
* Revived - brought back to mind
* Aping-copying
* To feel at ease to feel comfortable
* Bruiser - a person who is tough and aggressive and enjoys a fight or
argument
* Specimen - example
* Ducked - push or plunge someone under water
* Tossed - threw
* Wits- intelligence
* Summoned- gathered
* Spring-push
* Tinge-touch of colour
* Suffocating - unable to breathe due to lack of air
* Yell - scream
* Dizzy-faint, unsteady
* Strategy- plan of action
* Strike out - extend
* Thrash-hit with force
* Stark-severe
* Seized-gripped
* Shrieking-screaming Ceased-ended Limp - lifeless
* Oblivion - the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening
around one Curtain
* of life fell-life came to an end
* Wobbly - weak
* Cascades - waterfall
* Canoes small boats Ruined - destroyed Deprived to take away
* Cable - thick rope
* Slack-to reduce
* Shed - removed
* Vestiges-traces
* Miniature- small size.

AQUAPHOBIA
A phobia is an uncontrollable, irrational, and lasting fear of a certain object,
situation, or activity. This fear can be so overwhelming that a person may go
to great lengths to avoid the source of this fear. One response can be a panic
attack. This is a sudden, intense fear that lasts for several minutes. It happens
when there is no real danger.

People with aquaphobia have a fear of water. The word “aqua” is Latin for
water, and “phobos” is Greek for fear.
Someone with aquaphobia may have extreme fear or anxiety when thinking
about or seeing water. They may avoid going places near water, such as
swimming pools or lakes. In severe cases, people may stop showering,
bathing or using water from the sink to wash their face or brush their teeth.
QUESTIONS-ANSWERS
1)How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Answer:
Douglas was determined to overcome his fear of water because it was
preventing him from enjoying the pleasures of boating, fishing, and canoeing.
For months, he attended swimming lessons. The instructor required him to put
in a lot of practice time. He learned a variety of swimming techniques. Every
day, he practised for hours. After taking those swimming lessons, he felt a little
less afraid. Douglas hadn’t finished his swimming lessons yet. He went to
various lakes to practise his swimming skills. He swam from one shore to the
other without assistance.

2) 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, as an adult, recounts a terrifying childhood experience and his triumph
over it because the experience had a deep meaning for him. He had been
through a terrifying ordeal and emerged victoriously. The larger meaning he
derived from his experience is that terror exists only in the fear of death; as
Roosevelt once stated, “all we have to fear is the fear itself.” Douglas had felt
both the sensation of death and the terror that it could elicit; his desire to live
had grown stronger.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How to stop insecurity?

* Practice self-compassion. Be kind to yourself - nobody's perfect.

* Focus on all of your strengths.

2. How do you believe in yourself?

* Create healthy routines. Living well is critical to loving yourself.

* Surround yourself with good people.

3. What is the 1 key to success?

* Hard work is the most important key to success. An idle person can never
gain anything if they sit and wait for the best opportunity to come.

4. How can I be confident in deep water?

* Gradual Deep Water Exposure

* Once comfortable in shallow water, gradually transition to deeper water.
This should be done under supervision, incrementally increasing the depth as
confidence grows. Learning how to float, tread water, and perform basic strokes
in deeper water can significantly boost confidence.

5.What is the first secret of success?

* Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Self-trust is the first secret of success."

6. How to develop confidence?

* Stop comparing yourself to others.

* Celebrate and reflect on your wins.

7. How can I feel more confident?

* Be kind to yourself.
* Get outside your comfort zone.

8. How to build self-trust?

* Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses.

* Build slowly and steadily.

9. How to be more secure?

* Use your strengths.

* Acknowledge your thoughts.

10. How to fix low self-esteem?

* Recognize what you're good at. We're all good at something, whether it's
cooking, singing, doing puzzles or being a friend.
REPORT ON DEEP WATER
Everyone have a certain kind of phobia, and we can all recognize fear in
many animal species. yet there is no consensus in the scientific study of
fearsome argue that fear is physiological construct rather than discoverable
through scientific investigation. Others argue that the term “fear” cannot
properly be applied to animals because we cannot know whether they feel
afraid. Students in rodents’ show that they are highly specific brain circuits for
fear whereas findings from human neuroimaging seem to make the opposite
claim. Still, it is common for 10 out of 100 people afraid of something.
This research is to find out, how many people are afraid, what fear they
have ,and how they face or solve this situation. In 7.9 billion people it is very
easy to find people by recognize fear in many animal species. Yet there is no
consensus in the scientific study of fear some argue that fear is physiological
construct rather than discoverable through scientific investigation. Others argue
that the term “fear” cannot properly be applied to animals because we cannot
know whether they feel afraid. Students in rodents’ show that they are highly
specific brain circuits for fear whereas findings from human neuroimaging seem
to make the opposite claim.
Still, it is common for 10 out of 100 people afraid of something. Our
research is to find how many people are afraid, what fear they have ,and how
they face or solve this situation. In 7.9 billion people it is very easy to find
people by the advanced means of communication. Few of them are listed below
as we cannot include all, we divide this list into two sections, well known
people and people around us so that it is clearly visible that independent of their
condition every people will have a certain kind of fear or certain kind of phobia

MESSAGE CONVEYED
The short story Deep Water by William Douglas conveys the message that with
courage, determination, and willpower, people can overcome their fears:

Fear is baseless
The story shows that most fears are unfounded, and that fear can create dangers
where there are none.
Fear can be conquered
The story demonstrates that people can conquer any fear if they try hard
enough.

Fear limits people

Fear can limit a person's scope and confine them.

Fear of death is the real terror

The story suggests that it is not death itself that is terrifying, but the fear of
death.

REFERENCE
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 INDEX
S.NO CONTENTS

1) INTRODUCTION

2) ABOUT THE AUTHOR

3) BACKGROUND OF THE STORY

4) OVERVIEW

5) CHARACTERS AND PLACES

6) DEEP WATER THEME

7) DIFFICULT WORDS

8) AQUAPHOBIA

9) QUESTION & ANSWERS

10) INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

11) REPORT ON DEEP WATER

12) MESSAGE CONVEYED BY WILLIAM DOUGLAS

13) REFERENCE