From 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Edexcel IGCSE English Language A)
Revision Note
Written by: Deb Orrock
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place Analysis
Students studying the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Language A qualification must study all ten of the non-fiction texts in Part 1 of the Edexcel IGCSE English Language Anthology in preparation for Paper 1. You will be given one of the ten readings in your exam, along with another unseen text, which are thematically linked. Section A, Question 4 will specifically be about the anthology text, and Question 5 will ask you to compare the anthology text with the unseen text.
The following guide to 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston contains:
127 Hours overview
127 Hours summary
Themes, ideas and perspectives in 127 Hours
How does Ralston present his ideas and perspectives?
127 Hours overview
This extract, taken from the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place, is an autobiographical account by American mountain climber Aron Ralston of his experience of being trapped in a canyon while hiking in the Utah desert in the USA. He had not informed anyone of his hiking plans, and, in order to free himself, was forced to amputate his own right arm which had become trapped by a boulder.
127 Hours summary
The account opens in the middle of Ralston’s hike as he attempts to traverse over drop-offs in the canyon. He describes a technique called stemming, which allows climbers to descend into narrow passages, using it to reach a chockstone which is stuck in the channel between the walls. He decides that if he gets down to the chockstone, he can then drop from the stone to the canyon floor.
Unfortunately, when he reaches the chockstone and dangles from it, the stone becomes dislodged. Ralston drops to the floor, followed by the stone which smashes his left hand against the wall, then ricochets and crushes his right hand and arm. The stone becomes wedged, trapping his arm. He quickly realises that he is trapped and desperately attempts to free himself, but the boulder does not move. The extract finishes on a cliff-hanger.
Themes, ideas and perspectives in 127 Hours
Paper 1, Question 4 in your language exam will ask you to explore how the writer has used language and structure to present a theme or idea within their text. For Paper 1, Question 5 the exam question will ask you to compare how the writer presents their ideas and perspectives with the unseen text.
What are the key themes in 127 Hours?
Theme | Analysis |
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Man versus nature |
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Confidence and desperation |
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How does Ralston present his ideas and perspectives?
Ralston uses a variety of language and structural techniques to present his ideas and perspectives.
Technique | Analysis |
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Title |
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First-person perspective |
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Pace |
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Imagery |
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Zoomorphism |
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Comparative language |
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Metaphor |
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Exclamation and alliteration |
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Apocryphal story |
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For more guidance on how to get top marks in your exam, check out our comprehensive revision notes on Paper 1, Question 4:
Question 4 Skills: Language and Structure Analysis
And see our guides for the other IGCSE English Language Anthology texts here:
Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill |
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