127 hours

Title

The title is an idiom and is ironic as Ralston himself will find himself literally stuck between a rock and a hard place (the canyon wall).

First-person perspective

Writing in the first person conveys that this is an autobiographical account, lending the writing authenticity.

Pace

• The passage begins with detailed description and technical language to convey Ralston’s experience and expertise, as well as the seriousness of what he is about to attempt.

• The pace then increases through the use of adverbs such as “instantly” and active verbs such as “[fear] shoots.” The writer then slows down time in the paragraph describing the accident itself, as “the next three seconds play out at a tenth of their normal speed.” “Time dilates” and goes “in slow motion” to emphasise the severity of the incident and how clearly Ralston recalls it.

• This paragraph concludes with the short sentence “Then silence.” to indicate how such a brief moment can have life-altering consequences. Ralston then speeds up the pace once again as his fear and desperation manifest.

Imagery

The image of the chockstone as a dangerous creature is conveyed firstly as it “consumes the sky” falling towards Ralston’s head. This is reinforced by the description of the accident itself, with the writer using the active verbs “smashes,” “ricochets,” “crushes,” “ensnares,” and “tearing.” This evokes a sense of the boulder being a wild animal or predatory creature.

Zoomorphism

Ralston “grimaces,” “growls,” and “grunts” in his efforts to free himself. The animalistic imagery hints at his loss of control, in contrast to the start of the passage.

Comparative language

Ralston compares the technique of stemming with climbing up the inside of a chimney, creating a claustrophobic tone. He also describes the chockstone as the “size of a large bus tire” and his plan to slide off the boulder to the ground as “climbing down from the roof of a house.” This adds authenticity to the account and reinforces both Ralston’s expertise and the size of the obstacle he is tackling.

Metaphor

The description of the “refrigerator chockstone” conveys its size and weight.

Exclamation and alliteration

The writer conveys the shock in the aftermath of the accident with the short, alliterative sentence “Good God, my hand.” His subsequent panic is conveyed with the exclamatives “Get your hand out of there!” and “Come on… move!” This contrasts with the calm, calculated tone and sentences used at the start of the passage.

Apocryphal story

Thinking of possibly fictitious reports of how adrenaline can give people superhuman strength conveys Ralston’s sense of panic and fear.