Class 12 UP Board English: Deep Water Solutions for 2026 Exams
Welcome to English Rath, your go-to resource for Class 12 UP Board English solutions! Looking for Deep Water Class 12 solutions? This comprehensive guide provides a detailed summary, Short Answer Type Questions and Answers, and Long Answer Type Questions and Answers for Chapter 3, Deep Water by William Douglas, a key component of the UP Board Class 12 English syllabus 2026. This compelling narrative about overcoming fear is crucial for your board exams. Our exam-oriented answers help you grasp themes, prepare effectively, and excel in the UP Board English exam 2026. Check out our solutions for other Class 12 chapters like The Last Lesson, Lost Spring, My Mother at Sixty-Six, and Keeping Quiet at English Rath!
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Summary of Deep Water
Deep Water by William Douglas is an autobiographical chapter that chronicles his struggle with a profound fear of water and his journey to overcome it. Part of the NCERT Flamingo textbook for Class 12, this narrative explores themes of fear, courage, and perseverance.
Childhood Incident
Douglas’s fear of water began at age three or four when a powerful wave knocked him down at a California beach. The terrifying experience of being overwhelmed by water left a lasting fear.
YMCA Pool Incident
Years later, at the YMCA pool in Yakima, a traumatic incident intensified his phobia. A stronger boy threw Douglas into the nine-foot-deep end of the pool. Unable to swim, he struggled, panicked, and nearly drowned. Despite attempts to jump to the surface, he blacked out and was rescued unconscious. This left him physically weak and mentally scarred, avoiding water for years.
Decision to Overcome Fear
As a teenager, Douglas realized his fear was limiting his life. Determined to conquer it, he hired a swimming instructor who used a rope and pulley system to teach him breathing and swimming techniques. Over months, Douglas gained confidence but still felt residual fear.
Final Test
To fully overcome his fear, Douglas swam alone in Lake Wentworth and other natural waters. These successful experiences confirmed his victory over his phobia. Inspired by Roosevelt’s quote, “All we have to fear is fear itself,” Douglas learned that courage comes from facing fear head-on.
Key Themes
The chapter highlights themes of fear as a psychological barrier, the power of perseverance, and the triumph of courage. Douglas’s journey teaches that facing fears with determination can lead to personal growth and freedom.
Exam-Oriented Questions and Answers
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Where was the pool and what opportunity did it offer?
The pool was at the YMCA in Yakima. It offered Douglas the opportunity to learn swimming and overcome his fear of water.
2. Which terror did Douglas have in his heart?
Douglas had a deep-rooted fear of water, developed from a childhood incident when he was knocked over by waves at a beach.
3. What did the big bruiser of a boy do at the pool?
A big boy picked up Douglas and tossed him into the deep end of the pool, which led to a terrifying experience for him.
4. How deep was the pool? What was there inside the water?
The pool was nine feet deep. Inside the water, Douglas experienced darkness, fear, and a sense of helplessness as he struggled to breathe.
5. What happened to Douglas’s legs inside the pool? How did he try to overcome that situation?
Douglas’s legs were paralyzed with fear. He tried to jump and paddle to the surface but failed repeatedly and eventually gave up.
6. Which terror seized Douglas? What was its effect on him?
A fear of drowning seized Douglas. It mentally scarred him and left a lifelong phobia of water, making him avoid all water activities.
7. What did Douglas do inside the water to save his life?
Douglas tried to jump up and catch the edge of the pool. He attempted to push himself upward using his legs but was unsuccessful.
8. How did all efforts cease? What happened then?
After multiple failed attempts to escape, Douglas was exhausted and stopped struggling. He blacked out and was later rescued unconscious.
9. What was Douglas’s condition after escaping the pool?
Douglas was physically weak, mentally shocked, and terrified. He trembled with fear and couldn't forget the horrifying experience.
10. What did Douglas come to know after a few years? What did he want then?
Douglas realized that his fear of water was holding him back. He wanted to overcome it completely and enjoy life fully.
11. What did the instructor do to train Douglas?
The instructor used a rope and pulley system to let Douglas feel safe. Gradually, he taught him to breathe and swim confidently.
12. Was Douglas satisfied after the training? If not, why?
No, Douglas was not fully satisfied. He still felt fear in deep water and wanted to test himself alone in natural waters.
13. Where did Douglas go to clear his residual doubts? What did he do for it?
Douglas went to Lake Wentworth and dived into the waters. After a successful swim, he was confident he had conquered his fear.
14. What is the deep meaning of the experience Douglas got?
The experience taught Douglas that fear is psychological. Courage comes from facing and overcoming it through persistence and self-belief.
15. What did Roosevelt say about the fear of death?
Roosevelt said, “All we have to fear is fear itself.” This quote inspired Douglas to defeat the fear of water.
16. What did the author think when he was drowning?
Douglas thought he would die. He experienced panic, helplessness, and even felt the sensation of death before losing consciousness.
17. What was the childhood incident that made Douglas afraid of water?
At the beach, a powerful wave knocked him down. The terrifying memory of suffocation and helplessness stayed with him.
18. What was the pride of the author and why did he subdue it?
Douglas took pride in being brave. He subdued this pride to face his greatest fear—water—and emerge stronger.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. What was the fear of Douglas? How did it come in the life of Douglas?
Douglas had a deep fear of water. It began in childhood when a powerful wave knocked him down at a beach, leaving him breathless and frightened. This fear intensified when a boy at the YMCA pool pushed him into the deep end, and he nearly drowned. These incidents left a lasting impression on him and created a phobia that haunted him for years.
2. What incident did Douglas face at the pool? What was its effect on his life?
At the YMCA pool, a strong boy threw Douglas into the deep end. He struggled, panicked, and nearly drowned. Though rescued, this terrifying experience reinforced his fear of water. It affected him mentally, and he avoided swimming or going near water for many years, feeling both helpless and ashamed.
3. Describe Douglas' struggle at the pool. What strategy did he make to save his life?
Douglas tried to push himself upward by jumping from the bottom of the pool. He hoped to reach the surface, grab the edge, and save himself. However, his legs were weak with fear, and he failed each time. He sank again and again, eventually blacking out. His mind had a strategy, but his fear overcame his efforts.
4. What handicap stayed with Douglas for a long time? What did he do to resolve it from his life?
A deep fear of water stayed with Douglas for a long time. He resolved to fight it by hiring a swimming instructor. Through patient and gradual training, he learned to swim and build confidence. He later tested himself in lakes and rivers to ensure he had completely conquered the fear.
5. What did Douglas decide to overcome his fear of water? How long did it take him to become a swimmer?
Douglas decided to face his fear head-on. He took professional swimming training for several months. The instructor worked on him step by step until he gained control over his body and breathing in water. It took him nearly six months to become a confident swimmer.
6. How did the incident at the YMCA pool affect Douglas?
The YMCA pool incident left Douglas traumatized. He avoided water and felt deep shame and weakness. It haunted him, affecting his confidence and daily life. Even years later, the fear would return in certain situations, reminding him of his helplessness. However, he eventually fought back and defeated it.
7. Describe the YMCA pool on the basis of the lesson 'Deep Water'.
The YMCA pool was considered safe and shallow at the shallow end, but its deep end was nine feet. It became the site of a terrifying event for Douglas, where he nearly drowned after being pushed. Though meant for training, it turned into a traumatic place for him until he returned, trained, and conquered his fear.
Explore More Class 12 English Resources
- The Last Lesson Class 12 Solutions - Master Chapter 1 with exam-oriented answers.
- Lost Spring Class 12 Solutions - Dive into Chapter 2 with detailed answers.
- My Mother at Sixty-Six Class 12 Solutions - Explore the poem with key insights.
- Keeping Quiet Class 12 Solutions - Understand the poem’s themes and questions.
