Foreshadowing: Definition, How It Works & Examples In Writing

Foreshadowing is one of many literary devices you can use to improve your writing skills.

You can use foreshadowing to hint at events that will happen later in the story. It often creates suspense and intrigue for the reader.

In this article, we will discuss what foreshadowing is, how it works, and provide you with some examples.

We’ll also discuss how to use foreshadowing in your writing.

What Is Foreshadowing?

Foreshadowing is a literary device used by any type of writer to hint at what might occur later in the plot.

Also Known As:

• Foretell
• Predict
• Portend

Simple Definition: How to Explain a Foreshadowing to a Child

In the most basic sense, foreshadowing is like giving the audience a sneak peek into the future.

Foreshadowing is found in dialogue.

For example, a friend might say to another character, “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Why Is Foreshadowing Used?

The most common reason to use foreshadowing is to create tension or suspense within the story.

It makes the reader feel nervous or on edge about what might happen.

Types of Foreshadowing

There are five types of foreshadowing. Learn the different types so you can more expertly use this literary device in your own work.

• Abstract Foreshadowing: With abstract foreshadowing, the author leaves it up to the reader to determine what might happen. It’s a type of foreshadowing that often uses symbols or foreshadows events that will occur in the future.
• Concrete Foreshadowing: Concrete foreshadowing is more direct than abstract foreshadowing. With concrete foreshadowing, the author gives the reader specific details about what will happen.
• Evocative Foreshadowing: Evocative foreshadowing uses language that evokes emotions in the reader.
• Fallacy Foreshadowing: Fallacy foreshadowing is when an author uses foreshadowing that doesn’t make sense within the context of the story. It’s a type of foreshadowing often used in comedy or satire.
• Prominent Foreshadowing: Prominent foreshadowing is so obvious that it’s hard to miss. You’ll often see it used in thrillers or suspenseful novels. You will see the plot reveal coming from miles away with this literary technique.

How Do You Identify a Foreshadowing?

The most common way to identify foreshadowing is to look for clues or hints about what might happen later in a story.

An example is when a character keeps having nightmares about an event. The event will likely occur at some point.

How Do You Use Foreshadowing in a Sentence?

Here is an example of foreshadowing in a sentence: I had a feeling that something wasn’t quite right, so I decided to take a different route home.

In this sentence, the character expresses a feeling that something bad might happen.

The audience will get the sense that the new route will become more important as the story develops.

What Is the Most Popular Example of a Foreshadowing?

Foreshadowing is one of the most popular types of writing.

It is found in numerous works of fiction across mediums.

Other Famous Examples of Foreshadowing

Use the following examples as inspiration for using this literary device more effectively.

Example of Fallacy Foreshadowing

Douglas Adams uses foreshadowing extensively in the book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

One example is when the character Ford Prefect tries to warn Arthur Dent about the Vogons.

However, because Arthur doesn’t know what a Vogon is, the foreshadowing falls flat.

Example of Evocative Foreshadowing

In the book, The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger foreshadows Holden Caulfield’s mental breakdown by having him constantly worry about losing his mind.

Evocative foreshadowing is also used when Holden imagines himself as the catcher in the rye.

He foreshadows his desire to save children from falling off the cliff (a symbol for going over the edge into adulthood).

Example of Concrete Foreshadowing

In the book The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins foreshadows the death of Primrose Everdeen by having her sister, Katniss, constantly worry about her safety.

The foreshadowing is concrete because it gives specific details about what will happen.

Other Modern Examples of Foreshadowing

Now, let’s explore more examples of foreshadowing in the movies we watch and books we read.

Use these ideas to improve the creativity and quality of your writing.

Examples of Foreshadowing for Kids

Foreshadowing can help you hook your audience when writing blog posts or books for kids.

• Poppy foreshadows her death in the movie Trolls when she says, “The only way to get rid of a troll is to turn it into stone.”
• Little Red Riding Hood uses the foreshadowing tool when the wolf tells Little Red Riding Hood to take the shortcut through the woods. The shortcut foreshadows the fact that the wolf will eat her.
• Foreshadowing occurs in The Cat in the Hat when the cat tells Sally and her brother not to touch his things. It foreshadows the mess that the cat will make.

Examples of Foreshadowing in Literature

Foreshadowing appears extensively in books. It is used to add suspense, forebode events, or create symbolism.

• In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, a trial outcome is a foreshadowing tool. For example, when Atticus Finch prepares to defend Tom Robinson, he tells his children that it’s not a good idea to get their hopes up. It foreshadows Tom being found guilty, despite being innocent.
• In the book The Great Gatsby, the author uses foreshadowing to provide a clue about the death of Jay Gatsby. When Gatsby reunites with Daisy, he says “They’re a rotten crowd. You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” The comment foreshadows Gatsby’s death, which occurs shortly after he says this.
• In the book The Lord of the Rings, foreshadowing hints at the outcome of the battle between good and evil. When Frodo Baggins is about to destroy the One Ring, he’s tempted to keep it and become its master. However, he resists the temptation and throws the ring into Mount Doom.

Examples of Foreshadowing in Movies

Movie writers often use foreshadowing.

• The Sixth Sense uses foreshadowing throughout the entire film. For example, when Cole Sear talks to his mother about seeing dead people, she assures him that he’s going through a phase. However, the audience knows that Cole can see ghosts. It foreshadows the ending of the movie when it’s revealed that Cole’s mother is a ghost.
• The Empire Strikes Back foreshadows Darth Vader’s true identity. When Luke Skywalker is about to fight Vader, Obi-Wan tells him that he must face him alone. It foreshadows the fact that Vader is Luke’s father.
• In the movie The Lion King, foreshadowing hints at Simba’s eventual return to his rightful place as king. When Timon and Pumbaa first meet Simba, they tell him that he should forget about his past. However, this foreshadows the fact that Simba will eventually have to face his past and take back his place as king.

Notable Writers Who Used Foreshadowing

If you use foreshadowing, it will help create a more engaging experience for your readers.

Here are three famous writers who have expertly used foreshadowing in their work.

Learn from their example, and don’t be afraid to look to them for inspiration if you’re stuck on your own story.

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling uses plenty of foreshadowing of future events in her Harry Potter series.

In the first book, Harry learns that he must not go back to Hogwarts because Lord Voldemort is after him.

However, this foreshadows the fact that Harry will eventually have to face Voldemort, in Hogwarts, no less.

George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin used foreshadowing in the book, A Game of Thrones.

This occurs when it’s stated that Jon Snow will eventually kill Daenerys Targaryen.

It happens in a vision that Jon has, where he sees himself killing a woman who looks like Daenerys.

Mark Twain

Mark Twain foreshadows the death of a character in his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

When Huck and Jim float down the river, they come across a dead man.

It foreshadows the fact that Huck will eventually kill a man.

What Is the Opposite of a Foreshadowing?

Understanding foreshadowing is essential for any writer. It is also vital to become aware of its polar opposite.

In contrast to using foreshadowing, you can use backshadowing instead.

Foreshadowing vs Backshadowing

Foreshadowing works to hint at future events.

Backshadowing, on the other hand, is a literary device that refers to events in the past that help explain present circumstances.

While you can use foreshadowing to create suspense, use backshadowing to provide context or understanding.

For instance, if a character acts out of character, backshadowing can explain their actions.

Make sure your backshadowing makes sense in the context of your story.

Other Related Literary Devices To Know

Here are more examples of literary devices for you to learn and use.

Work on improving your skills by using these devices to create more engaging content.

• Hyperbole: Hyperbole is a literary device used to exaggerate statements or claims.
• Alliteration: When using alliteration, you will repeat the same sound at the beginning of multiple words in a sentence or phrase.
• Irony: Irony exists in three forms: situational, verbal, and dramatic. Situational irony occurs when an event happens that is different from what was originally intended. Verbal irony happens when you say one thing but mean the opposite. words begin with the same sound when using the dramatic form of irony.  
• Allusion: An allusion is a reference to another work of literature, art, or history. It can also be a reference to a current event.
• Coincidence: A coincidence is when two or more unrelated events happen at the same time by chance.

Writing Tools To Help You Out

Learning how to write a blog post doesn’t stop at its technicalities.

It is crucial to also focus on ways you can enhance your writing style. As well, writing tools can help you save time and money.

• Writing Helpers: Writer helpers are tools that make life easier by doing tasks for you, such as finding sources or formatting text. Some of these tools will finish the project for you by editing and organizing your content. Always make sure the writing that’s been generated makes sense before you post it to your website.
• AI Writing Software: AI writing software can help you to write passages more easily and efficiently. As always, make sure the AI- and you, by extension- are not plagiarizing the work of others.
• Grammar Checkers: A grammar checker is an effective way to prevent errors in your blog posts. By proofreading your content with a grammar checker, you can avoid making mistakes. Your content will look more professional as a result.
• Content Creators: At its core, a content creator helps generate ideas for the articles on your website. A content creator can help give you potential things to write about and even produce them for you. Make sure you are not plagiarizing while using a content generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use the answers to the following questions to deepen how well you understand foreshadowing.

Wrapping Up

Foreshadowing is often used to hint at a future event or outcome.

It can be as subtle as a single word or phrase, or it can be more overt, like an entire scene that sets up a later event.

The goal of foreshadowing is to create anticipation in the reader so they are eager to discover what happens next.

You can add intrigue to your writing when using the technique effectively.