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Foreshadowing

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A literary device in which a poet subtly suggests or hints at future events or developments in the poem's narrative.

Detailed Definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which a poet provides subtle hints, symbols, or imagery that signal future events or themes in the poem, allowing readers to anticipate developments, build suspense, or recognize thematic unity; for example, the mention of darkening skies or a withering flower may foreshadow tragedy or loss, creating cohesion between the poem’s imagery and its unfolding narrative or emotional trajectory.
Example
Example in poetry:
Foreshadowing|Dark clouds hinting tragedy ahead; Owen's "darkening lanes" predicting soldiers' fate; Albatross death as turning point; Ominous December imagery in Poe
Additional Notes
Foreshadowing subtly hints at future events or outcomes, creating suspense or preparing the reader emotionally for later developments.
Also Known As
Prefiguration Prophetic hint Anticipatory device Forward echo
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