From 127 hours: between a rock and a hard place- Aron ralston Flashcards
First-Person Narrative
“I’m stuck.”
Effect: Brings the reader inside Ralston’s mind, creating intimacy and emotional connection.
Makes the account feel personal, raw, and immediate.
Imagery (Visual, Auditory & Tactile)
“My arm is crushed between a boulder and the side of the canyon.”
“The rock smashes my right hand against the wall.”
Effect: Creates a graphic and immersive description of the injury.
Appeals to the senses, especially sight and touch, making the reader feel the pain.
Technical / Factual Language
“The claustrophobic trap… a chockstone the size of a large bus tire.”
Effect: Establishes credibility and shows Ralston’s knowledge of climbing and terrain.
Makes the account feel more authentic and informative, but also stark and analytical.
Repetition
“Nothing. There’s no change. No shift.”
Effect: Emphasizes hopelessness and frustration, mirroring his mental state.
Adds rhythm and builds tension in the narrative.
Short Sentences / Sentence Fragments
“Fear shoots my hands into my gloves.”
“Then silence.”
Effect: Creates suspense, mirrors shock or panic, and speeds up the pace.
Reflects his jolting thought process in a life-or-death moment.
Violent / Emotive Language
“I grimace and growl… my mind commands my body to react.”
“A flaring, razor pain shoots from wrist to shoulder.”
Effect: Brings out the physical agony and mental desperation.
Makes the experience feel intense and brutal.
Metaphor / Personification
“The rock’s vice-like grip”
“My only hope is that the boulder may be groaning…”
Effect: Makes the rock seem like a living enemy — hostile, in control.
Reinforces the feeling of being trapped by something with a will of its own.
Contrast / Juxtaposition
Before and after the fall – calm control vs. sudden chaos.
Effect: Highlights how fast the situation escalates, creating shock and urgency.
Chronological Structure
The extract follows the real-time sequence of events — from climbing to the accident and his reaction.
Effect: Gives a clear sense of progression and builds tension naturally.
The reader feels as if they’re experiencing the moment second by second with him.
Sudden Shift in Pace
Before the fall: detailed, controlled.
After the fall: fast, chaotic, fragmented.
Effect: Reflects how quickly everything changes.
Mirrors Ralston’s shock and panic — one moment of misjudgment and everything spirals.
Short Paragraphs / Sentence Structure
“Then silence.”
“Fear shoots my hands into my gloves.”
Effect: Breaks the text up into sudden jolts, like his thoughts.
Builds suspense and reflects his panicked mindset.
Zoom-In Focus
The structure moves from wide (the canyon) → medium (his body) → narrow (his arm, hand, the rock).
Effect: Intensifies the scene by zooming in on the most painful, crucial moment.
Makes the situation feel more claustrophobic and immediate.
Contrast in Tone and Mood
Calm, almost routine climbing → violent, unexpected injury.
Effect: Shocks the reader, emphasizes the unpredictability of nature and the fragility of the human body.
The contrast makes the fall feel even more dramatic and traumatic.
Internal Monologue / Reflection
“I’m stuck.”
“My mind commands my body to react.”
Effect: Gives insight into his mental state, showing both his survival instinct and rising fear.
Helps the reader empathize with his experience.
Use of Time Markers / Slow Motion Effect
“I feel the rock scrape…”
“In slow motion: the rock smashes my right hand…”
Effect: The moment of trauma is drawn out to heighten suspense and drama.
Makes the impact more visceral and unforgettable.
