IRONY AND FORESHADOWING Pokrinchak

Foreshadowing  An author’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story.  Not all foreshadowing is obvious. Frequently, future events are merely hinted at through dialogue, description, or the attitudes and reactions of the characters.

Foreshadowing (Cont’d) Two Purposes of Foreshadowing: 1. It builds suspense by raising questions that encourage the reader to go on and find out more about the event that is being foreshadowed. 2. Foreshadowing is also a means of making a narrative more believable by partially preparing the reader for events which are to follow.

Three Types of Irony: 1. Situational Irony: The opposite of what is expected or intended happens in a literary work. Example: A man steps aside to avoid a puddle and falls into a lake!

Three Types of Irony (Cont’d) 2. Dramatic Irony: This occurs when the reader knows more than the characters do. Example: In a horror movie, we know the killer is hiding in the basement while the lead character, unaware, makes his way downstairs.

Three Types of Irony (Cont’d) 3. Verbal Irony: Irony that occurs when a character says the opposite of what he/she means; the contrast between what is said and what is meant.  Verbal irony is often sarcasm. Example: Someone says, “nice day, huh?” when it’s pouring rain.