Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is the technique of planting hints, clues, or suggestions that prepare the reader for future events. Done well, it creates a sense of inevitability: when the foreshadowed event occurs, the reader feels it was both surprising and logical. Foreshadowing operates on the subconscious level during a first read and becomes visible on rereading.

In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck foreshadows the ending when Carlson shoots Candy's old dog to put it out of its misery, prefiguring George's devastating final act. In The Sixth Sense, every interaction between Bruce Willis's character and other adults is carefully foreshadowed to support the film's twist while seeming natural on first viewing.

The challenge of foreshadowing is calibration. Too obvious, and the reader sees the ending coming, which deflates tension. Too subtle, and the foreshadowed event feels random when it arrives. The best foreshadowing is noticeable in hindsight but not in the moment. It is often useful to add foreshadowing during revision, once you know what needs to be set up.