We use this literary device to ‘hint’ at what is to come later on in the story. Good for suspense, unease, curiosity, or just a general sense that something isn’t quite right. The author does not necessarily explicitly reveal what will happen, but lay a subtle trace of things to come. When used effectively, many-a-reader may not even notice the significance until the author has made a revelation.
There are two main types of foreshadowing:
- Direct
- Story openly suggests an impending problem, twist, or event.
- Achieved through dialogue, narration, prophecy, or prologue.
- Indirect
- Hinting at the eventual outcome throughout the story.
To achieve effective foreshadowing, use recurring universal symbols/motifs:
- Dialogue
- “I have a bad feeling about this.”
- Symbols
- Colours: Black is an absence of all colour
- Birds: Ravens and Crows to foresee death
- Weather
- Storm clouds: messy interludes
- Wind: getting worked up
- Rain: cleansing time
- Clearing skies: things are better
- Omens
- Prophecies: take the direct approach
- Broken mirrors: 7 years’ bad luck
- Black cats: Bad mojo coming
- Character reactions
- Apprehention
- Curiosity
- Secrecy
- Time/Season
- Midnight: the whole witching hour thingy is gonna happen soon
- Dawn: Seeing with fresh eyes
- Spring: rejuvenation
- Winter: old age, death
- Setting
- Graveyard
- Battlefield
- Dark Forest Path
Jonasson Enigmatic Nirvana 