Can people really predict what will happen in the future? Numerous people will thoroughly debate yes or no, but when reading literature it’s certainly possible. Although, in literature fortune-telling is referred to as foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is a warning or indication of a future event in a piece of literature. In literature, the use of foreshadowing is a very efficient way to add dramatic tension and build anticipation in a story. Authors use foreshadowing to contribute depth and suspense to their writing. In A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving there are many crucial events that are effectively foreshadowed throughout the novel. Throughout this novel, one of the mysteries that Irving presents is the identity of Johnny’s biological
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This event is often foreshadowed in the form of a reoccurring dream or vision he has. He often sees things that he believes are events that will come to pass sometime in his future. The first example of foreshadowing is the incident that took place at the Christmas play. Dan, Johnny’s step-father, directs the play “A Christmas Carol”. Owen plays the part of Baby Jesus due to his size and his ability to persuade those around him. When Owen gets to his scene he freezes and faints. This is because Owen sees his name on the Tombstone instead of Scrooge’s. When he awakes he jumps up and lets out a horrific shriek and hurries off of the stage. Those around him just tell him that it was a vision, like a bad dream that everyone has. He specifically reassures them “I SAW MY NAME- ON THE GRAVE” (245). While all of this chaos is going on Germaine is at Johnny’s grandmother’s house and she claims to have heard a scream before Lydia’s unexpected death. It is left open for interpretation whether the readers believe that Germaine really heard Owen’s scream all the way from 80th Front Street, or if there is some other explanation for what she heard. This entire scene foreshadows Owen Meany’s actual death which occurs towards the end of the
This event is often foreshadowed in the form of a reoccurring dream or vision he has. He often sees things that he believes are events that will come to pass sometime in his future. The first example of foreshadowing is the incident that took place at the Christmas play. Dan, Johnny’s step-father, directs the play “A Christmas Carol”. Owen plays the part of Baby Jesus due to his size and his ability to persuade those around him. When Owen gets to his scene he freezes and faints. This is because Owen sees his name on the Tombstone instead of Scrooge’s. When he awakes he jumps up and lets out a horrific shriek and hurries off of the stage. Those around him just tell him that it was a vision, like a bad dream that everyone has. He specifically reassures them “I SAW MY NAME- ON THE GRAVE” (245). While all of this chaos is going on Germaine is at Johnny’s grandmother’s house and she claims to have heard a scream before Lydia’s unexpected death. It is left open for interpretation whether the readers believe that Germaine really heard Owen’s scream all the way from 80th Front Street, or if there is some other explanation for what she heard. This entire scene foreshadows Owen Meany’s actual death which occurs towards the end of the