Foreshadowing

Definition

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, foreshadowing is the organization and presentation of events and scenes in a work of fiction or drama so that the reader or observer is prepared to some degree for what occurs later in the work. This can be part of the general atmosphere of the work, or it can be a specific scene or object that gives a clue or hint as to a later development of the plot. 

Common examples of foreshadowing

• Ominous Objects or Settings: Descriptions of objects or settings can suggest their future importance. A locked door in a peaceful house might foreshadow hidden secrets or upcoming confinement. A mysterious box left on the doorstep could signify impending danger or revelation. 

• Symbolic Elements: Symbols can hint at future themes or events. Dark clouds gathering as characters journey could symbolize the challenges they will face. A recurring motif of rotting fruit may symbolize deterioration in relationships. 

• Dialogue: Conversations can contain clues about future happenings. A character casually sharing a fear of water might foreshadow a significant water-related event. Cryptic remarks in passing may hint at betrayal or death ahead. 

• Character Actions or Decisions: A character’s choices can hint at future consequences. A decision to take a warned-against shortcut could foreshadow impending danger on that path. A spontaneous choice may have cascading effects that unravel in time. 

• Changes in Mood or Tone: An abrupt tonal shift can indicate a change in narrative direction. A light-hearted scene suddenly turning tense might foreshadow upcoming conflict. The atmosphere morphing from joyful to ominous may signify tragedy on the horizon. 

• Chekhov’s Gun: This principle suggests all elements introduced should serve a purpose, like a described gun expected to be fired later, foreshadowing conflict. Even minor details like the wallpaper pattern may play a role down the line. 

• Recurring Symbols or Motifs: Repeated references to concepts can foreshadow related events. Repeated mentions of time might foreshadow an important time-based event. Constant allusions to decay could forewarn of a character’s downfall. 

• Foreboding Names or Titles: Character names or chapter titles can hint at future developments. A place named “Cape Despair” might foreshadow hardship. The surname “Gloom” may signify difficult times ahead. 

• Early Revelations or Expositions: Sometimes authors subtly reveal information early on that grows in significance. An offhand mention of a past conflict could foreshadow its reemergence. Seemingly trivial background details could drive the story later on. 

Examples of foreshadowing in literature

• In The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, the flood which occurs in the end is foreshadowed by many references to the river and to the water in general throughout the book.

• In The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, the stoning of one of the characters to death in the end is foreshadowed by references to the pile of stones prepared in a corner of the square and stones stuffed in the local boys’ pockets. 

• In The Ambitious Guest by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the rock slide which occurs in the end is foreshadowed by references to fulfilling one’s destiny before they die and to the rocks falling down from the mountain. 

Sources

• Foreshadowing | Technique, Symbolism & Suspense | Britannica 

• Examples of Foreshadowing in Literature & Its Importance - EnglishLeaflet 

• Discovering Fiction: A Reader of American Short Stories Student’s Book 2 (by Judith Kay and Rosemary Gelshenen, Cambridge University Press 2001)

Author of the page: Marian Sušila 563481