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The author -William Douglas

● Had suffered from Hydrophobia from childhood.
● When he was 3 or 4 years old, he went to a beach in California with his father.
● While both stood on the surf a huge wave knocked him down and buried him in water
Felt suffocated and frightened

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Introduction to the Y.M.C.A pool
● Decided to learn swimming in a YMCA pool in Yakima
● Yakima river different from YMCA pool
⁕ Yakima river was treacherous while YMCA pool was safe
⁕ There were many drowning incidents at Yakima river
⁕ Yakima river was deep and dangerous while YMCA pool was 2 or 3 feet deep
at the shallow end and 9 feet deep at the other and the drop was gradual
● Got a pair of water wings to learn swimming
● The childish fear and the unpleasant memories filled his mind.
● Gradually eased as he became familiar and imitated the other boys for a few days.
● But the ease he began to feel was short lived.
The misadventure at the pool
● One day he went to the pool before others joined in
● Scared to hit the pool alone , he waited for others to join in
● A big, well- built boy ,with a fine physique came in and threw him into the deep end of
pool
● His mind was alert and he remembered the strategy taught – while going down to the
bottom he should hit his feet on the bottom of the pool and with all force, jump to the
surface like a cork and swim to the side and come out of the pool.
● But before his feet touched the bottom his lungs were ready to burst
● Contrary to his belief he came up slowly and opened his eyes to see water everywhere
● Was terrified tried to grab a rope but his hands clutched only at water
● Tried to scream but no sound came.
● His eyes and nose were out of water- but his mouth was still under water.
● Thrashed his hands at the surface of water ,swallowed water, tried to bring his legs up
but they were paralyzed and rigid
● Went down again second time hit the bottom again and began to feel dizzy
● Remembered the strategy but was paralyzed with fear and was absolutely stiff
● Tried to hit, groped for support, called for help- but nothing happened
● The only sign of life was the pounding in his heart and head
● His eyes came out of the water and his nose also was almost out of water ,
● Went down into the water for the third time, stopped struggling.
● His legs became numb and limp, blackness swept his brain
● He felt fearless, peaceful and drowsy.
The rescue and aftermath -He was rescued from the pool.
● When he became conscious
⁕ Was lying on his stomach besides the pool vomiting.
⁕ Heard the voice of the boy who threw him in.
⁕ Heard someone say that he nearly died.
● On reaching home, he felt weak and could not come out of the shock.
● Cried endlessly, did not eat that night, feared water and avoided it whenever he could
A few years later:
● Wanted to get into the waters of Cascades
● Wanted to wade the Tieton or Bumping River
● Wanted to bathe in Warm Lake of the Goat Rocks
● But fear seized him, his legs became paralyzed and he was petrified by the very idea of
doing anything with water.

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 ● It also spoilt his time with his friends and his vacations as he felt uncomfortable when
they went for Canoeing on Maine Lakes or Salmon or Bass fishing in New Hamphsire
or fishing for trout on the Deschutes or while fishing for salmon on Columbia, at
Bumping Lake or in the Cascades
● Thus the fear of water ruined his fishing trips, deprived him of the joy of Canoeing,
boating or swimming
Decision to overcome the fear
● Got an instructor to learn swimming
First phase-
⁕ Practiced in pool five days a week and an hour everyday
⁕ The instructor put a belt around him. A rope attached to the belt went through a pulley
on an overhead cable
⁕ The instructor held one end of the rope and he swam back and forth
⁕ After 3 months his tension reduced
Second phase –
⁕ The instructor taught him to put his face under the water and exhale and to raise his nose
and inhale
⁕ This exercise was repeated hundreds of time
⁕ The panic slowly disappeared
Third phase –
⁕ The next step was to relax the legs inside water. For that the instructor held him to the
side of the pool and had him kick with his legs inside water.
⁕ For several weeks he did just that and finally he relaxed and could control his legs
⁕ Thus piece by piece the instructor built a swimmer out of him by meticulously perfecting
each phase.
The instructor was finished but Douglas was not
● Douglas was not confident and wondered whether the terror would return if he was alone
in the pool or if he is in unfamiliar waters.
● To get over it he swam the length of the pool alone and talked back to the terror.
● He was sure of himself in the pool but was not sure if the terror would return if he swam
in unfamiliar waters.
● To test himself
⁕ He went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire.
⁕ Dived off a dock at Triggs Island.
⁕ Swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island.
⁕ Laughed and talked back to the terror which fled away seeing his willpower and
determination.
⁕ Went to Warm lake, swam across to the other side and back.
⁕ Was no longer afraid – realized with joy that he had finally managed to conquer
his fear of water.
The impact on Douglas
● The experience had a deep meaning for him
● Douglas felt only those who have known fear know how it feels to be free of it
● Recalled Roosevelt’s words that one must be afraid of fear only
● Understood that as he experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror the fear of
it can produce, the will to survive and live life to its fullest had grown in intensity
● Felt confident of facing challenges of life ahead

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 MCQ AND ONE WORD ANSWERS
Q1. My breath was gone. I was frightened. Father laughed, but there was terror inmy heart at the
overpowering force of the waves. My introduction to the Y.M.CA. swimming pool revived unpleasant
memories and stirred childish fears. But in a little while I gathered confidence. I paddled with my new
water wings, watching the other boys and trying to learn by aping them. I did this two or three times on
different days and was just beginning to feel at ease in the water when the misadventure happened

I. Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: The author’s father laughed to mock his son’s inability to swim.
Statement 2: The author wanted to swim just to prove to his father that he can swim.

a) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.

b) Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.
d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred

Ans: c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

II. “My introduction to the Y.M.C.A swimming pool revived unpleasant memoriesand stirred childish
fears.” It can be inferred that this was a clear case of
a) suppression
b) oppression
c) depression
d) repression

Ans: d)repression

III. The misadventure that took place right after the author felt comfortable was that
a) the author slipped and fell into the swimming pool.
b) a bully tossed him into the pool for the sake of fun.
c) his coach forgot to teach him how to handle deep water.
d) his father couldn’t help him from drowning into the water.

Ans: b) a bully tossed him into the pool for the sake of fun
IV) The passage suggests that the narrator's fear of water is:
a) Completely irrational
b) Based on a specific past event
c) Unrelated to his current experience
d) Caused solely by his father's reaction

Ans: b) Based on a specific past event

Practice questions
Q2. It happened when I was ten or eleven years old. I had decided to learn to swim. There was a pool
at YMCA in Yakima that offered exactly the opportunity. The Yakima River was treacherous. Mother
continually warned against it and kept fresh in mind the details of each drowning in the river. But the

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YMCA pool was safe. It was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end; and while it was nine feet
deep at the other, the drop was gradual. I got a pair of water wings and went to the pool.
1. Mother always warned the author against the river Yakima. But she recommended the
Y.M.C.A pool.Why?
(i) Because it was shallow. (ii) Because she liked the pool.
(iii) Because it was near her house (iv) Because it was shallow and safe.
2. Complete the sentence appropriately.
‘Mother continually warned against it and kept fresh in my mind the details of each drowningin
the river’ suggests that .
3. Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that the narrator was as concerned about
his safety as was his mother.
4. Which of the following is the correct form of Y.M.C. A?
(i) Young Men’s Christian Association
(ii) Young Male Care Association
(iii) Youth Mentoring Christian Association
(iv) Young Male Christian Association

Q 3.Then all effort ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs felt limp; and a blackness swept over my brain. It
wiped out fear; it wiped out terror. There was nomore panic. It was quiet and peaceful. Nothing to
be afraid of. This is nice... to be drowsy... to go to sleep... no need to jump... too tired to jump... it’s nice
to be carried gently... to float along in space... tender arms around me... tender arms like Mother’s...
now I must go to sleep... I crossed to oblivion, and the curtain of life fell.

1. Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: The author tried his best to jump out of water.
Statement 2: After a while, the author was not anxious in water.

a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.

b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause.
c) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause.
d) Both the statements are the effects of independent causes.
2. The ‘curtain (of life) fell’ corresponds to an aspect of
a) Geometry.
b) History.
c) Sports.
d) Drama.
3. The purpose of using “…” in the above passage is to
a) show omission.
b) indicate pauses.
c) shorten a dialogue.
d) replace an idea.
4. Which option indicates that the poet lost consciousness?
a) ‘It was quiet and peaceful.’
b) ‘I crossed to oblivion.’
c) ‘Tender arms like Mother’s.’
d) It wiped out fear

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Short Answer Questions (Answer in 50 words):
Q 1.How did the near drowning experience at the pool affect him?
Value Points
● Felt weak and trembling as he walked back home
● Shook and cried as he lay on the bed
● Couldn’t eat that night
● Haunting fear gripped him for days
● Slightest exertion tired him
● Knees felt wobbly
● Sick feeling in the stomach
Q2. Why did Douglas determine to get over his fear of water when he grew older?
Value Points:
● Realized that the fear of water had gripped him firmly
● Ruined his fishing trips, deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating, swimming.
● Could not enjoy his holidays with friends or relatives
● Came to know of the waters of the Cascades
● Wanted to get into them to overcome his fear ,tried, but terrorizing memory of the pool came
back
● Fear would grip him completely, legs would become paralyzed.
● Was uncomfortable and then decided to learn swimming

Practice questions
Q3. Seemingly small everyday wins are actually the greatest learnings of life. Comment on the
statement with reference to the chapter “Deep Water”.
Q4. If you could give the chapter a new title, what would it be? Support your answer with reference
to the chapter “Deep Water”.
Q5. Why was the writer’s second attempt to come out of the pool unsuccessful?
Q6. Why did William Douglas avoid water whenever he could? What did the writer miss out on
because of his fear of water?
Q7. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Q8. Describe his first few days in the pool.
Q9. Even after the instructor had finished his job of teaching him how to swim, why was Douglas
still not satisfied?
Long Answer Questions(Answer in 125-150 words):
Q1. How did Douglas know that he had finally conquered his fear? What was the lesson that the
writer learnt during his lessons in swimming and his conquest of the fear of it?
Value Points
● Went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire
● Dived off at a dock at Triggs Island
● Swam across the lake to Stamp Act Island
● In the middle of the lake-terror struck again
● Tried to laugh it off
● Residual doubts were still there
● Went to Warm Lake-swam its length
● Was not afraid this time, realized he had overcome fear
● Lesson Learnt-one should not fear death but fear the fear of it
● Knew what being free of terror was being like

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Q2. “There is terror only in the fear of death”. Comment with reference to Deep Water.

Value Points
● One should not be afraid of dying or drowning or the challenges that life poses
● It is the fear of facing and undergoing these ordeals that can cripple a man’s will to overcome
them
● It requires sheer grit and determination to realize one’s potential and understand our strengths
● People who are strong on the inside can defeat and surpass the hurdles of life
● Terror lies only in being afraid of the unknown
● Once you overcome that fear one can defeat fear.
Q 3. Imagine that the bully who threw Douglas into the pool, reads this chapter and realizes his
mistake.
As the bully, write a letter expressing your guilt and penning down your apology to Douglas’
Q 4. Douglas’ mother writes to the YMCA authorities holding them accountable forthe mishap as
well as demanding that the authorities employ a team of guards near the pool for supervision of
the children.
As the mother, write a letter to the authorities with reference to the case ofyour son.

You may begin like this:

Sir
Subject: Negligence on Premises

This is with reference to the incident of near fatal drowning of my son, William on yourpremises. We
were…
Q 5. How did the instructor ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas?
Q 6. Only those who have known stark terror and conquered it can appreciate its value. Do you agree?
Refer to the chapter and give reasons for your answer.
Q7. “Preserve and conquer fear, if you do so success is yours.” Do you agree? Give reason.

PROSE: CHAPTER-4 Rattrap

BY SELMA LAGERLOF

Title
The ‘Rattrap’ is an appropriate title. Sema Lagerlof has used the metaphor of a Rattrap to highlight the
human predicament. Human beings are lured by baits of materialist things and trapped just the way a
rat is trapped using baits like cheese and pork. The story revolves around a rattrap seller who is amused
by the thought that the whole world is like a rattrap enticing people with baits like riches and joys,
shelter and food, heat and clothing and finally trapping people in his/ her greed. But then the peddler
himself gets caught in the rattrap, the bait being- money. It also speaks about the struggles of extricating
oneself from the trap. Therefore, the title is apt.
Theme
The story of the Rattrap revolves around the theme of compassion, respect for fellow human beings and
the transformational power of kindness. This captivating story uses the metaphor of the rattrap to portray
human predicament and how essential goodness in a person can be awakened, through acts of kindness
and care.

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