The writer has used various of literary and linguistic devices.

Ralston
have used wide dictions that aid him to effectively create the sense of
adventure, thrill and suspense.
The title of the text “Between a rock and a hard place” is an idiom as it
depicts someone in a hard situation. it is also foreshadowing as it
depicts that something wrong is going to happen, that further creates
suspense in the readers mind and act as a warning. It also illustrates
that he is already in a difficult situation and falling into the worst which
further creates suspense and horror in the reader’s mind.
In the very beginning Aron created an image in the readers mind by
using the phrase “I come to another drop-off” and the reptation of
“drop-off” depicts that the writer is a expert and he have been in this
situation many times, it makes the reader feel that they can rely on the
writers words. “drop-off” further creates the scene of adventure and
suspense. The use of fist person pronoun “I” show that the reader
himself is involved in the scene.
The use of simile “narrow passages like this one” act as a grabbing
sentence it hooks the reader’s attention by displaying the image in the
reader’s mind. it involves the reader into the scene to give the similar
feeling to the reader that the writer is being through causing them to
experience a mixture of adventure and thrill along with suspense. “its
possible for me to stem my body across…” The use of skill and the facts
like “fifty feet down the canyon”. Writer have repeatedly used statistics
to reflect his struggles to create suspense and tension in the reader’s
mind. The danger involved in the activity adds to thrill and adventurous
feelings to the reader.
Ralston have used varying length of sentences to build the passe and
create tension and suspense.
The writer has use visual imagery as he has compared the “chockstone”
to the “large bus tire”, this homely image appeals to the audience but
also has effectively highlights his remoteness from society. That
enhance the feeling of thrill and adventure in the readers mind, that
depict the dangerous situation in which Aron is stuck. The repetition of
first-person pronoun “I” depicts the isolation of the writer as he is alone
in that harsh condition, that further creates the suspense and give a
hint of danger coming a head.
“consumes the sky” hyperbolic metaphor, removal of light cloud being
interpreted as a loss of hope. It further adds up to suspense and thrill,
that make the reader feel worried about the fate of the writer. The use
of personification “fear shoots my hands over my head”, use of short
sentence it draws the readers attention and build tension and create
suspense.
The use of short time “three seconds play out at a tenth of their normal
speed” creates tension and suspense as it gives the similar feeling of
Aron to the reader and act as a grabbing sentence, that hock readers
attention as the reader start realizing the change in the tone and the
situation adding to thrilling atmosphere. “good god my hand” it depicts
his intensity of pain he is feeling it creates suspense as the reader waits
for him to feed from suffering. “I grimace and growl…” The use of
struggling verbs and ellipsis at the end depicts the continuation of his
suffering and straggles that creates suspense in the readers mind as the
reader wait to get to know about the fate of the writer.
The painful feeling of Ralston blooms out as it is highlighted through “I
cry out…” the ellipsis further creates the suspense in the reader’s mind.
The use of pronoun “nothing” leaves the reader in tension and
suspense. The reader is left wondering about the fate of the writer. It
keeps the reader engaged till the end and add up to interest and
suspense.