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Question
How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned? Describe the details that have made the description vivid.
Solution
Douglas takes us through his near death experience at the Y.M.C.A. pool by detailing every little aspect associated to it. He details minutes of his emotional, mental and physical struggle with the paralyzing fear of being drowned in the water. The first person narration of the incident also helps us to associate with his experience more deeply.
Though he did not lose his wits initially, he panicked when his strategy didn’t work. His feeling of suffocation, fear and losing hold on sense perceptions make the readers experience what he does. His eyes couldn’t see beyond the dirty yellow water. His voice did not assist him. His nose and mouth could only manage to take water to the lungs. His limbs became paralyzed with fear and his mind dizzy. His desperation to save himself kept him struggling until he went down the third time and blacked out. All these details make the description vivid.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Read the following and answer the question that follows:
The story "Deep Water" has made you realize that with determination and perseverance one can accomplish the impossible. Write a paragraph in about 100 words words on how a positive attitude and courage will aid you to achieve success in life
Answer the following question in 120 – 150 words :
Fear is something that we must learn to overcome if we want to succeed in life. How did Douglas get over his fear of water?
Answer the following question in 120 − 150 words:
Describe the efforts made by Douglas to overcome his fear of water.
Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
- treacherous
- subdued my pride
- flailed at the surface
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- curtain of life fell
- back and forth across the pool
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How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas?
How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
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“All we have to fear is fear itself”. Have you ever had a fear that you have now overcome? Share your experience with your partner.
Find and narrate other stories about conquest of fear and what people have said about courage. For example, you can recall Nelson Mandela’s struggle for freedom, his perseverance to achieve his mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor as depicted in his autobiography. The story We’re Not Afraid to Die, which you have read in Class XI, is an apt example of how courage and optimism helped a family survive under the direst stress.
Are there any water sports in India? Find out about the areas or places which are known for water sports.
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
Douglas uses sensory details to create a vivid image of the unfortunate experience in the pool. What might be the impact on the reader if the narration were more informative than sensory?
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
What were Douglas's initial thoughts when he was pushed into the pool?
