Chapter-3. DEEP WATER William Douglas(PROSE)

Write a short letter to someone you know about your having learnt to do something new.

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 IX, is an apt example of how courage and optimism helped a family survive under the direst stress.

Doing well in any activity, for example a sport, music, dance or painting, riding a motorcycle or a car, involves a great deal of struggle. Most of us are very nervous to begin with until gradually we overcome our fears and perform well.

Write an essay of about five paragraphs recounting such an experience. Try to recollect minute details of what caused the fear, your feelings, the encouragement you got from others or the criticism.

You could begin with the last sentence of the essay you have just read - "At last I felt released - free to walk the trails and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear."

Are there any water sports in India? Find out about the areas or places which are known for water sports.

"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.

If someone else had narrated Douglas' experience, how would it have differed from this account? Write out a sample paragraph or paragraphs from this text from the point of view of a third person or observer to find out which style of narration would you consider to be more effective? Why?

How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?

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?

How did the instructor "build a swimmer" out of Douglas?

How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?

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.

How did this experience affect him?

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?

What is the "misadventure" that William Douglas speaks about?

Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.