Foreshadowing is a literary technique we often come across in literature. Writers in nonfiction do not enjoy the luxury of using foreshadowing because it is mostly associated with and used in fiction. If properly used, foreshadowing can play a vital role in the success of a story, especially now that it has a wide variety of applications (it can be used or applied in a story in different forms). I will show you how that is possible but first, do you know what foreshadowing is? Then let’s define foreshadowing.

The definition of foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is a literary device in which an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story is given in advance.

Most people confuse foreshadowing with other literary techniques such as a red herring, a flash-forward, and Chekhov’s gun. There is a remarkable distinction between foreshadowing and these other literary devices. Don’t worry if you don’t know the difference between them; I’ll take you through them one after the other.

A red herring is something that misleads or distracts the audience. It can also be referred to as a false clue.

A flash-forward refers to the interruption of the chronological sequence of events by inserting a future event in the current point of the story.

Chekhov’s gun refers to the concept that suggests every detail or element of a story should contribute to the overall narrative.

The main and obvious differences between all these and foreshadowing is that foreshadowing involves giving a hint about a future event in the story and nothing more.

Types of foreshadowing

There are two types of foreshadowing and they include:

Direct foreshadowing

This type of foreshadowing is also called overt foreshadowing. Just like the name suggests, in this type of foreshadowing, an outcome is hinted at or suggested directly in the story. The clues given by the writer in this case openly suggest a future problem, situation, event, or twist in the story.

Indirect foreshadowing

This type of foreshadowing is also called covert foreshadowing. In indirect foreshadowing, an outcome is indirectly hinted at or suggested. The clues given by the writer are often subtle, and readers may have to see the foreshadowed event for them to realize that the indirect clues given by the writers were actually foreshadowing.

How to use foreshadowing

Through character traits

You can choose to make the traits of your character play a role in giving a clue of a possible eventuality or occurrence of an event. This can range from their dress, speech, mannerisms, and appearance to their religion, profession, and much more.

Through dialogues

The dialogues in your story can also be an avenue to introduce foreshadowing in your story. You can make your characters give a clue about a future event through their conversations. Of course, they can do this directly or indirectly.

Through the title of the book

Foreshadowing can be used in the title of the book to reflect on a future event in the book. Examples of book titles that use foreshadowing include:

A Romantic Weekend

As I Lay Dying

Murder on the Orient Express

The Fall of the House of Usher

Through the setting

This entails the weather and generally the environment of your scenes. Such details may act as clues for a future event in the story.

Foreshadowing is meant to enhance or introduce suspense and tension into the story. It is advisable that you use foreshadowing in scenes or instances far from the foreshadowed event. Dropping a clue about a possible upcoming event and then revealing the event almost immediately after the clue usually does not appeal to readers. It does not yield the desired effect.

Sources

literarydevices.net/foreshadowing/

https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/foreshadowing

https://writingexplained.org/grammar-dictionary/foreshadowing
https://www.yourdictionary.com/foreshadowing