foreshadowing

foreshadowing

1. present participle and gerund of foreshadow

foreshadowing (usually uncountable, plural foreshadowings)

1. (literature, usually uncountable) A literary device whereby an author drops hints or symbolic representations of plot developments to come later in the story.

   The roses blooming before Rose herself bloomed was excellent foreshadowing.

   • 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →ISBN:

     As an experienced editor I disapprove of backflashes, foreshadowings and tricksy devices […]

• backshadowing
• sideshadowing