2. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Answer:

Douglas was determined to overcome his fear of water because it was preventing
him from enjoying the pleasures of boating, fishing, and canoeing. For months, he
attended swimming lessons. The instructor required him to put in a lot of practice
time. He learned a variety of swimming techniques. Every day, he practised for
hours. After taking those swimming lessons, he felt a little less afraid. Douglas hadn’t
finished his swimming lessons yet. He went to various lakes to practise his
swimming skills. He swam from one shore to the other without assistance.

Comment on the appropriateness of the title ‘Deep Water’

OR
Do you think the title Deep Water’ is apt? Give reasons in support
of your answer.
Ans. The title ‘Deep Water’ is quite appropriate to this extract from ‘Of
Men and Mountains’ by William O. Douglas. The title is highly suggestive
and at once focuses our attention on the main theme—experiencing fear
of death under water and the efforts of the author to overcome it.
All the details in the essay are based on his personal experience and
analysis of fear. The psychological analysis of fear is presented from a
child’s point of view and centres round deep water and drowning.
The overpowering force of the waves at the California beach stir aversion
for water in Douglas. His mother warns him against swimming in the deep
waters of the treacherous Yakima River. The nine feet deep water of the
swimming pool appears more than ninety to Douglas. However, when he
conquers fear he can dive and swim in the deep waters of Lake Wentworth
and Warm Lake. :
Thus the title is apt and suggestive.

Q3. 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 on how a
positive attitude and courage will aid you to achieve success in
life. [Delhi 2014]
Ans. Will power plays a pivotal in the life of a human being. Determination
and persistent hard work are the hallmarks of success. A person who has
passionate desire to do something achieves his goals within the stipulated
time. There are numerous ways which lead to the desirable goals. Will
power of a human being gives him strength, energy, vigour and
enthusiasm. It determines the fate of a human being. Absolute
determination has the uncanny ability to face and overcome obstacles. No
hindrance can defeat the will power. It is invincible and insurmountable. A
man who lacks enthusiasm, will power and determination is like a ship
which has no helm. It floats on the surface of water according to the wind.
There is no problem in this world which has no solution. It has been
proved by great personalities that all obstacles can be overcome by sheer
determination. Man has the knack to achieve anything. Nothing is
impossible in this world of science and technology. He must not be fatalist.
He should not believe in destiny, but on karma. Man can accomplish every
assignment if he desires. Strong desire is the prerequisite to success.
There is no scope for disappointment in the life of a person who has iron
will and dogged determination. He puts in tremendous efforts to achieve
greatness.

Component of Success
Training sharpens the consumate skills of trainees. Acquiring the profound
knowledge of the work we do is of utmost importance. Nobody can refuse
to accept and acknowledge the wider and potential significance of
training. Soldiers receive training to overcome the greatest obstacles they
can face in the battlefield. Doctors are given training so that they
may not become the cause of a patient’s life. Teachers receive training to
dispel the darkness of ignorance. Training keeps the trainees abreast of
the latest developments in their specific fields. The trainers apprise them
of all the fundamental and significant instructions. A fresher who joins any
profession without receiving proper training may devastate everything.
Experience matters a lot. It teaches us the way things are to be done. It is
rightly said that ‘the best way really to train people is with an experienced
mentor… and on the job’. The experienced advice of the trainer enlightens
the trainees. They are made exceptionally skilled in the basic techniques.
The overwhelming importance of training can be neglected at our own
peril. This perception of beings would bring them perilously close to
disaster.

Fear
Fear stifles innovation, erodes creativity and limits the exponential growth.
It is said that Those who love to be feared, fear to be loved. Some fear
them, but they fear everyone. Montaigne wrote that The thing I fear most
is fear’. Fear is the principal source of superstition, and one of the primary
sources of cruelly. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. Seneca
says that ‘If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living. A person
who is afraid of something cannot enjoy life in totality. Fear makes us
weak, and cowardly. But it does not mean that one should become
arrogant. A person of peevish nature cannot be called a brave fellow.
Aijuna said that a warrior’s fear always helps him in understanding and
analysing the potential of the opponent. Cervantes wrote in Don Quixote
that ‘Fear has many eyes and can see things underground’. Man should
not have unnecessary fear. It discourages him to achieve the lofty
aspirations. Fear impedes action and it is a well known fact that those who
do not act lose the battle of life. One has to face the challenges of life.
They can never be ignored and neglected. They help us in honing our
skills and tapping our untapped potential. Hence, one must shed fear.