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Definition of Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the story. Foreshadowing can be achieved directly or indirectly, by making... read full definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the story. Foreshadowing can be achieved... read full definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the... read full definition
Chapter 1: Mrs. Rachel Lynde Is Surprised
Explanation and Analysis—Matthew & Marilla:
Throughout the novel, the narrator foreshadows the future health problems of both Matthew and Marilla. For example, Matthew's heart trouble foreshadows his death. In Chapter 1, Marilla explains to Rachel Lynde how Matthew has aged:
Matthew is getting up in years, you know—he’s sixty—and he isn’t so spry as he once was. His heart troubles him a good deal.
Here, Marilla mentions his condition in a nonchalant way, suggesting that she does not expect it to escalate anytime soon. However, she remains aware of it, and her mentioning it here foreshadows Matthew's eventual death from a heart attack. Matthew's death marks the climax of the story, primarily because he was a principal character but also because it impacts Anne's decision about accepting a scholarship to Redmond College.
Likewise, Marilla's headaches foreshadow her eye problems. She often complains that her eyes "pain" her or says that she should go see a doctor. The narrator does not give too many hints about the serious nature of her condition, but subtle foreshadowing makes her diagnosis more believable when it comes at the end of the novel. Marilla discovers that her eyesight is failing shortly after Matthew's death, and this causes Anne to seek work in Avonlea so she can help Marilla keep up Green Gables. Both Matthew and Marilla dismiss their health issues at first, but their discomfort nonetheless creates a sense of foreboding that is confirmed in the novel's final chapters.
Related Themes:
Chapter 8: Anne’s Bringing-Up Is Begun
Explanation and Analysis—Friends and Foes:
Anne's early interactions with Diana and Gilbert foreshadow her future relationships with each character. Diana becomes her friend, whereas Gilbert becomes her foe. In Chapter 8, Anne tells Marilla about her dream of having a "bosom friend":
A bosom friend—an intimate friend, you know—a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I’ve dreamed of meeting her all my life. I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will, too.
Here, Anne expresses her dearest wish: to have a best friend. As an orphan, she yearns for company and makes pleasant conversation with all the people she meets in order to connect with them. But a "bosom friend" would be far more meaningful than a mere acquaintance; Anne needs someone in whom she can "confide her inmost soul." Diana Barry, who is kind and loves to read, exceeds Anne's expectations. Their friendship meets some turbulence when Anne accidentally gets Diana drunk on currant wine, but the two reunite when Anne finds the cure for Diana's baby sister's illness.
By contrast, early spats between Gilbert and Anne hint at a series of future conflicts. In Chapter 15, Gilbert pulls Anne's hair in class:
Gilbert reached across the aisle, picked up the end of Anne’s long red braid, held it out at arm’s length and said in a piercing whisper: “Carrots! Carrots!”
This moment foreshadows future conflict between Anne and Gilbert. Later the same day, Anne feels deeply offended and refuses to attend school again. Her rivalry with Gilbert continues until the novel's final chapters, from the overt animosity of Anne's early school days to the more academic rivalry of their later youth. In the cases of both Diana and Gilbert, Montgomery employs subtle foreshadowing to hint at the trajectory of Anne's relationships.
Related Themes:
Chapter 15: A Tempest in the School Teapot
Explanation and Analysis—Friends and Foes:
Anne's early interactions with Diana and Gilbert foreshadow her future relationships with each character. Diana becomes her friend, whereas Gilbert becomes her foe. In Chapter 8, Anne tells Marilla about her dream of having a "bosom friend":
A bosom friend—an intimate friend, you know—a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I’ve dreamed of meeting her all my life. I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will, too.
Here, Anne expresses her dearest wish: to have a best friend. As an orphan, she yearns for company and makes pleasant conversation with all the people she meets in order to connect with them. But a "bosom friend" would be far more meaningful than a mere acquaintance; Anne needs someone in whom she can "confide her inmost soul." Diana Barry, who is kind and loves to read, exceeds Anne's expectations. Their friendship meets some turbulence when Anne accidentally gets Diana drunk on currant wine, but the two reunite when Anne finds the cure for Diana's baby sister's illness.
By contrast, early spats between Gilbert and Anne hint at a series of future conflicts. In Chapter 15, Gilbert pulls Anne's hair in class:
Gilbert reached across the aisle, picked up the end of Anne’s long red braid, held it out at arm’s length and said in a piercing whisper: “Carrots! Carrots!”
This moment foreshadows future conflict between Anne and Gilbert. Later the same day, Anne feels deeply offended and refuses to attend school again. Her rivalry with Gilbert continues until the novel's final chapters, from the overt animosity of Anne's early school days to the more academic rivalry of their later youth. In the cases of both Diana and Gilbert, Montgomery employs subtle foreshadowing to hint at the trajectory of Anne's relationships.
Related Themes:
