“Night winds, moaning around corners and whistling through cracks, dashed snow against the windows of the Mountain View Inn.”

The author sets the uneasy tone of the novel by opening with a description of the wind. Figurative language heightens the tension of the snowstorm, while personification makes it feel as if the storm is coming alive.

“The grandfather clock, as old and tired as the inn itself, marked the passing of time with a slow tick…tock…that seemed to say, ‘Wait…ing, wait…ing.’”

The grandfather clock, which stands in the inn’s lobby, becomes a central symbol in the novel. Not just a device to mark the passing of time, the clock is also a safe haven for Ralph and his motorcycle during the day. The author uses personification to make the clock come alive, portraying it as an old man. The perceived slow ticking of the clock alludes to the sluggish business at the inn as fewer and fewer travelers stop in.

“‘Just checking the floor for dust,’ fibbed Ryan, as he quickly slid Ralph into his parka pocket.”

The characters that can communicate with Ralph often must lie to cover their secret. Ralph’s ability to talk to humans adds a fantastical element to the story. It also adds narrative tension as there exists a divide between those who can perceive and understand Ralph and those who just view him as an ordinary pest.