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Think as you read

Q1. What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?
Answer: The “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about is the incident when a big boy, probably eighteen years old, picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the YMCA swimming pool. He nearly drowned in the process.

Q2. 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?
Answer: When thrown into the pool, Douglas was frightened, but not yet “frightened out of his wits.” He experienced a sense of being “paralysed and rigid.” He screamed, but only water heard him. His head throbbed, and he became dizzy. He experienced “sheer, stark terror” that “knows no understanding, terror that knows no control.” He planned that when his feet hit the bottom, he would make a big jump, come to the surface, lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool.

Q3. How did this experience affect him?
Answer: This experience affected him deeply. For days, a “haunting fear” was in his heart. The slightest exertion upset him, making him “wobbly in the knees and sick to my stomach.” He never went back to the pool and feared water. This handicap ruined his fishing trips and deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming for many years.

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Think as you read

Q1. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Answer: Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water because it had ruined his fishing trips and deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming. He wanted to be able to enjoy the water sports he loved without the constant presence of a “haunting fear.”

Q2. How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas?
Answer: The instructor “built a swimmer” out of Douglas “piece by piece.” He started by putting a belt around Douglas with a rope attached to an overhead cable, teaching him to go “back and forth across the pool.” He then taught him to put his face underwater and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. Finally, he held him at the side of the pool and had him kick with his legs until they gradually relaxed. After perfecting each piece, he put them together into an “integrated whole,” and told Douglas he could swim.

Q3. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Answer: Douglas made sure he conquered the old terror by constantly challenging himself. He swam the length of the pool alone. When tiny vestiges of the old terror returned, he would frown and say, “Trying to scare me, eh? Well, here’s to you! Look!” He then went to Lake Wentworth, swam two miles across to Stamp Act Island, and back. He also went to Warm Lake in the high meadow and swam across to the other shore and back, shouting with joy as he did so, to ensure the echo of his victory.

Understanding the text

Q1. 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.
Answer: Douglas makes his panic vivid by using a first-person narrative and a number of detailed descriptions. He describes the nine-foot depth feeling like ninety, his lungs ready to burst, his arms and legs hanging like “dead weights, paralysed and rigid.” He mentions his futile attempts to yell, screaming, and the sheer terror that “knows no understanding, terror that knows no control.” He also describes the water as having a “dirty yellow tinge” and the feeling of a “great charge of electricity” as his body shook and trembled.

Q2. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Answer: Douglas overcame his fear of water through sheer determination and persistence. First, he hired an instructor who worked with him “piece by piece” for months, teaching him to exhale underwater, inhale with his nose, and kick with his legs. After the instructor’s work was done, Douglas continued to challenge himself, swimming alone in the pool. To completely conquer his fear, he swam two miles across Lake Wentworth and then across Warm Lake, until the “old sensation returned in miniature” and he was able to laugh at it and it fled.

Q3. 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 recounts his childhood experience to illustrate a profound truth about fear and life. The experience had a “deep meaning” for him. He draws a larger meaning from this experience, as he connects it to President Roosevelt’s quote, “All we have to fear is fear itself.” He explains that while there is peace in death, there is “terror only in the fear of death.” His experience of both the sensation of dying and the terror that the fear of it can produce made his “will to live somehow grow in intensity.” He learned to face his fears head-on and felt “released – free to walk the trails and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear.”

Talking about the text

Q1. “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.
Answer: I used to have a crippling fear of speaking in public. It started in school when I had to give a presentation and my mind went blank. The embarrassment was so intense that I avoided any situation where I had to speak in front of a group. My hands would get clammy, my heart would race, and I would feel sick to my stomach. This fear followed me to college, where it became a real problem. I decided to confront it by joining a debate club. At first, it was terrifying. My voice would shake, and I would stumble over my words. But with the help of my teammates and a patient mentor, I started with small, prepared speeches and gradually progressed to impromptu ones. I learned to channel my nervousness into a positive energy and to focus on my message rather than my fear. Now, while I still get a little nervous, I can confidently speak in front of an audience, and I no longer let the fear of public speaking hold me back.

Q2. 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.
Answer: Helen Keller’s life is a powerful story of conquering fear and immense obstacles. After an illness left her blind and deaf at 19 months old, she lived in a world of isolation and frustration. As a child, her life was filled with tantrums and an inability to communicate. She was, in her own words, “a little savage.” Her parents, in despair, hired a teacher, Anne Sullivan. Anne taught her to communicate by spelling words into her hand, breaking through the fear and isolation. The moment Helen connected the word “water” to the cold liquid pouring over her hand was a turning point. She later wrote, “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” Her courage and vision allowed her to not only overcome her fears but to inspire millions around the world.

Thinking about language

If someone else had narrated Douglas’s 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?
Answer:
A sample paragraph from a third-person point of view:
He had not been there long when a big boy, probably eighteen years old, came in. The boy yelled, “Hi, Skinny! How’d you like to be ducked?” With that, he picked up the young William and tossed him into the deep end. William landed in a sitting position and swallowed water. He was frightened, but not yet frightened out of his wits. On the way down, he planned: when his feet hit the bottom, he would make a big jump, come to the surface, lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool. It seemed a long way down. Those nine feet were more like ninety, and before he touched bottom his lungs were ready to burst. But when his feet hit bottom, he summoned all his strength and made what he thought was a great spring upwards. He imagined he would bob to the surface like a cork. Instead, he came up slowly. He opened his eyes and saw nothing but water—water that had a dirty yellow tinge to it.

The first-person narration is more effective. The reader gets a direct, unfiltered view of Douglas’s thoughts and emotions. Phrases like “my lungs were ready to burst,” “I grew panicky,” and “I was shrieking under water” convey the visceral, personal terror in a way that a third-person account cannot. The use of “I” makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing the event alongside Douglas, creating a more vivid and empathetic connection to his fear.

Writing

Q1. 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.
Answer:
At last I felt released – free to walk the trails and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear.
I had always been fascinated by motorcycles, the feeling of freedom and the power of the machine. The bikes seemed to glide effortlessly on the road, their riders appearing so confident and in control. I dreamt of one day riding my own, but the thought of it was terrifying. The sheer speed, the vulnerability, and the possibility of losing control filled me with a paralyzing sense of dread. For months, I would put off the idea of learning, finding endless excuses to avoid the one thing I wanted most.

My first lesson was a comedy of errors. My hands trembled as I gripped the handlebars, and my feet felt clumsy on the pedals. My instructor, a patient and kind man, tried to reassure me, but all I could hear was the frantic pounding of my heart. I stalled the engine countless times, my movements were jerky and uncoordinated, and I felt as though the bike was an untamed beast that would throw me off at any moment. I was convinced that I was a lost cause and that my dream was simply a fantasy that I would never be able to realise.

However, I refused to give up. I dedicated myself to practicing every day, even if it was just in a deserted parking lot. I started with the basics, mastering the feel of the clutch and the brake, slowly increasing my speed. Each small success felt like a monumental victory, and the encouraging words of my instructor became a source of motivation. I realised that the fear was an enemy I had to conquer, and the only way to do it was to face it head-on.

Slowly but surely, the fear began to dissipate. The bike and I became one. The fear of falling was replaced by the exhilaration of speed, and the nervousness was replaced by a sense of calm control. The world around me, which had once seemed so threatening, became a canvas for my newfound freedom. I was no longer a bystander but an active participant in the dance of the road.

Now, when I’m on my motorcycle, I feel a sense of liberation that I never thought possible. The open road stretches before me, and I am in control of my own journey. The fear that once held me captive has become a distant memory, replaced by the thrill of the ride. I have truly been released, not just from the fear of riding, but from the fear of failure itself.

Q2. Write a short letter to someone you know about your having learnt to do something new.
Answer:
Dear [Friend’s Name],
I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to share some exciting news with you. I finally learned how to bake bread! It was something I always wanted to do but was too intimidated by. I was convinced I would mess it up, but I decided to give it a try anyway.

It took a few attempts, and a couple of flat, dense loaves, but I finally got it right. The process of kneading the dough and watching it rise was so satisfying. The first time I pulled a golden-brown, crusty loaf out of the oven, I felt so proud. It was a simple thing, but it felt like a huge accomplishment. I can’t wait to bake you a fresh loaf the next time you visit!

Talk to you soon,
[Your Name]

Things to do

Are there any water sports in India? Find out about the areas or places which are known for water sports.
Answer: Yes, India has a wide variety of water sports. Some of the most popular places for water sports are:

• Goa: Known for a wide range of water sports, including jet skiing, parasailing, banana boat rides, and water surfing. Baga Beach and Calangute Beach are popular spots.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: A great destination for snorkelling, scuba diving, and sea walking due to its clear waters and coral reefs. Havelock Island and Neil Island are well-known for these activities.
• Kerala: The backwaters are popular for kayaking and canoeing. Places like Alappuzha offer houseboat cruises and serene backwater experiences.
• Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Famous for river rafting and kayaking on the Ganges River.
• Lakshadweep Islands: Known for water sports like snorkelling, scuba diving, and coral reef exploration.