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Question
What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?
Solution
Douglas refers to the incident at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool where he almost drowned as a “misadventure.” The author was about ten or eleven years old at the time and had barely begun to learn swimming, primarily by aping others. As he was thrown suddenly into the water by someone and he couldn’t swim, he started drowning. The struggle to come to surface and to avoid getting drowned left him with a deep fear of water which deprived him from enjoying water-related activities for many years.
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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?
Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
- treacherous
- subdued my pride
- flailed at the surface
- fishing for landlocked salmon
- misadventure
- bob to the surface like a cork
- curtain of life fell
- back and forth across the pool
What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
How did this experience affect him?
Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
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?
Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from his experience?
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?
