But if someone told you, “Tomorrow I’m going to Reedsy Mansion,” you’d probably want to know more. If someone told you, “Tomorrow I’m going to my friend’s house,” you likely wouldn’t think much of it. Then, in a scene that echoes Carlson’s putting an end to the dog’s suffering, George kills Lennie - believing it’s much more merciful to go at the hands of a friend. What we want to know: Why is this significant, and when will we find out?Īt the end of the novel, when a murderous lynch mob is on the hunt for Lennie, George begins talking to Lennie about the farm they will one day own, painting a peaceful picture. What we know: The dog’s death is important. I shouldn't oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.” “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. He complies, ensuring the process is as painless as possible, prompting Candy to confide in George: These scenes show something that will play an important role in the future - and they usually play out as a brief, toned-down version of the main event.įor example, in the first half of Of Mice and Men, Carlson is convinced that an old dog should be put down so that it can have a quick death and end its suffering. Now that we’ve hopefully piqued your interest with our own dose of foreshadowing, let’s talk about why this literary device is such a key tool in an author’s arsenal.Ī gift shared among people who have the uncanny ability to predict the endings of stories is an eye for the “pre-scene.” The “how” is the information that readers want, and foreshadowing promises to eventually give it to them. The “how” is what bridges the beginning of your story to the end or, in this case, the introduction to the conclusion. See? You know something is about to happen, but you don’t yet know how it will come about - and it’s the “how” that matters. For instance, a mystery novel might use foreshadowing in an early chapter by mentioning something that seems inconsequential - but is actually a clue.īy the end of this article, writers will know the secret to crafting gripping page-turners. Foreshadowing is often used in the early stages of a novel or at the start of a chapter, as it can subtlety create tension and set readers' expectations regarding how the story will unfold. Foreshadowing is a literary device in which an author gives readers hints about what will happen later in the story.
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