Foreshadowing In The Nose Short Story

Pacing is created by use of summary, flashbacks and foreshadowing. In the story, “The Nose” Gogol uses all of these elements to create the mystery of how a nose was found, was lost, and eventually returned. The reader is engaged throughout the story by the author’s use of these multiple literary components, creating mystery surrounding the story of who, what, when, where and why the nose was lost. At the story’s beginning, the author creates mystery with the use of foreshadowing. The first line of the story, “On the 25th March, 18—, a very strange occurrence took place in St Petersburg” gets the reader's attention and creates a desire to read through to resolution. Summary is then used to introduce the main character and his problem ­ finding a nose. The reader …show more content…
Flashbacks give the readers background and details that help them better understand the characters. Use of flashback to create mystery is evident in parts one and two of the story. The first use of flashback gives the reader more insight on the nose­taker and his work as a barber, recalling the time when he was shaving the nose­owner. “Ivan Jakovlevitch after taking a pinch of snuff would then, by way of reprisals, set to work to soap him on the cheek, the upper lip, behind the ears, on the chin, and everywhere.” Another example of flashback tells the reader about the nose­owner and his position in the community: “But before proceeding further, we must certainly give the reader some information about Kovaloff, so that he may know what sort of a man this member of the Municipal Committee really was.” Mystery is created using flashbacks, summary and foreshadowing in the story of “The Nose.” The reader is able to learn about the present, the past and the future of the story. Summary uses present to advance the story. Foreshadowing teases the reader with a peak into what is to come, and flashbacks are keys from the past that give the reader details into the characters to develop them more