Between a rock and a hard place Flashcards
Plot
guy goes hiking/rock climbing alone
he’s describing loads of technical terms
then he falls and gets his hand stuck behind a boulder
he tries to free it but he can’t
‘this technique is known as stemming or chimneying’
he used technical language to show he is an extremely experienced climber, and clearly knows what he is doing, which adds to the surprise and hopelessness of the accident to show it could happen to anyone.
being very specific to help the reader picture the situation
‘instantly i know this is trouble’
‘fear shoots my hands over my head’
he uses short sentences to draw the readers attention and to build tension/create suspense.
‘time dilates’
the boulder ‘consumes the sky’
‘fear shoots my hands over my head’
‘The flaring agony throws me into a panic
‘personification
shows time slowing down
since there are no people around, he is personifying things around him
‘palm in, thumb up, fingers extended’
tri-colon shows the detail
He uses elipsis to
create tension and express his distress
short sentences to
catch the readers attention
create tension
express the fact that he is isolated (‘then silence’)
Ends with one word
‘nothing’ to express the loss of hope and understanding that he was stuck.
How does Raltsom convert a sense of danger para 1
He creates a sense of immediacy and tension
The opening words are in the present tense to create a sense of immediacy for example the opening words “I come to another group drop off “plunges the reader directly into the narrative
Throughout the start of the narrative he repeats words that are associated with enoseure and entrapment ‘claustrophobic’ ‘narrow slots’ ‘in narrow passages like this’
Words associated with precarious situations build up tension and highlight Raltons vulnerability ‘dangle’ ‘overhang’
How does Raltsom convert a sense of danger para 2
Violent verbs to convert urgency
- crushes, smashes - destructive with their harsh constonant/ onomatopoeic sounds
- images are graphic e.g ‘tearing skin’ lingers in the readers mind
- other verbs such as ‘ensnares’ ‘ricochets’ ‘grunt’ ‘grimace’ ‘paralyses’
How does Raltsom convert a sense of danger para 3
Metaohors/ personification created powerful visual image
- ‘consumes the sky’ hyperbolic metaphor. Removal of light could also be interpreted as a loss of hope/imagery of the foreshadowing potentially fatal consequences
- ‘fear shoots my hand over my head’ converts violence and intensity of feelings rushing through him
- ‘flaring agony, ‘searing hot pain’ sensory images associated with heat created a sense of intensity
‘Time dilates’
Since there are no people around and he feels isolated and trapped, he personifies the things around him
How does Raltsom connect with the reader para 1
He creates a powerful sense of voice that the reader can relate to
The piece is autobiographical (written in first person) for example “as I dangle”
He is evidently experienced climber and his use of climbing jargon such as “chimneyng”
And “chockstone” establish him as a technical expert that the reader respects
however he uses Familiar and recognisable images so that the audience can visualise and understand his experience for example when he compares rocks to a “refrigerator “and links the size to a “large bus tire “. This homely image appeals to the audience but also has effective highlighting his remoteness from society
He builds his relationship further with the audience and encourages them to visualise his experiences by using the second person singular “you can imagine “this is a powerful rehotircal device that encourages the reader to place themselves in his position
The use of the anecdote of adrenaline fuelled mother being able to lift the car to save her child is another recognisable story that helps readers understand this unfamiliar experience
How does Raltsom connect with the reader para 2
He uses varied sentence structure to engage the reader and structurally mirror the sense of danger and tension
Longer sentences to convey the speed of the event and his confusion/inability to process it
Short sentences to convey shock:
Good god my hand
But I’m stuck
Nothing-this is structurally significant as it is at the end of the passage of lost hope and futility
