127 Hours

• What is the title of the book by Aron Ralston that is studied in the Edexcel IGCSE English Language Anthology?

  127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
• What is the purpose of studying the ten non-fiction texts in Part 1 of the Edexcel IGCSE English Language Anthology?

  To prepare for Paper 1 of the exam
• What will Section A, Question 4 of the exam specifically focus on?

  It will be about the anthology text
• What will Section A, Question 5 of the exam ask students to do?

  Compare the anthology text with the unseen text
• What does the guide to 127 Hours include?

  • 127 Hours overview
  • 127 Hours summary
  • Themes, ideas, and perspectives in 127 Hours
  • How Ralston presents his ideas and perspectives

  
• What type of account is 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place?

  It is an autobiographical account
• What experience does Aron Ralston recount in his book?

  His experience of being trapped in a canyon while hiking
• What critical mistake did Ralston make during his hike?

  He did not inform anyone of his hiking plans
• What drastic action did Ralston take to free himself?

  He amputated his own right arm
• How does the account of 127 Hours begin?

  In the middle of Ralston’s hike as he attempts to traverse over drop-offs
• What technique does Ralston describe using to descend into narrow passages?

  Stemming
• What happens when Ralston reaches the chockstone?

  The stone becomes dislodged, trapping his arm
• What does Ralston realize after he is trapped?

  He realizes that he is unable to free himself
• What literary device is used in the title "Between a Rock and a Hard Place"?


  It is an idiom
• How does Ralston's use of first-person perspective affect the narrative?

  It lends authenticity to the autobiographical account
• How does Ralston convey the seriousness of his situation in the passage?

  By using detailed descriptions and technical language
• What happens to the pace of the narrative during the accident description?

  The pace slows down to emphasize the severity of the incident
• What effect does the phrase "Then silence." have in the narrative?

  It indicates how a brief moment can have life-altering consequences
• How does Ralston use imagery to describe the chockstone?

  He describes it as a dangerous creature that "consumes the sky"
• What does the use of active verbs like "smashes" and "crushes" convey about the boulder?

  It conveys a sense of the boulder being an active threat
• What does the term "zoomorphism" refer to in Ralston's narrative?

  It refers to the animalistic imagery used to describe his efforts to free himself
• How does Ralston create a claustrophobic tone in his writing?

  By comparing stemming to climbing up the inside of a chimney
• What does the metaphor of the "refrigerator chockstone" convey?

  It conveys the size and weight of the chockstone
• How does Ralston's use of exclamation and alliteration reflect his emotional state?

  It conveys shock and panic in the aftermath of the accident
• What does the apocryphal story about adrenaline suggest about Ralston's feelings?

  It conveys his sense of panic and fear
• What are the key themes in 127 Hours?

  • Man versus nature
  • Confidence and desperation
• What are the key techniques Ralston uses to present his ideas and perspectives?

  • Title (irony)
  • First-person perspective
  • Pace (varying speeds)
  • Imagery (dangerous creature)
  • Zoomorphism (animalistic imagery)
  • Comparative language (claustrophobic tone)
  • Metaphor (size and weight)
  • Exclamation and alliteration (emotional state)
  • Apocryphal story (sense of panic)