Other examples of foreshadowing in "After Twenty Years"
include one very significant one: When the man in the doorway lights a match and the
policeman sees him, there is a scar on his face and "His scarpin was a large diamond,
oddly set." While the
diamond's being large is a clue that the man is not a gentleman with refined taste, the
fact that the diamond is set "oddly" indicates also that no reputable jeweler made the
tie scarfpin. This observation by the policeman, who is actually Jimmy, of course, is
Bob's undoing.
Another indication that something is going
to happen that will not be what is expected is the description of the weather after the
policeman walks away:
There was now a fine, cold
drizzle falling, and the wind had risen from its uncertain
puffs into a steady
blow.
So
often weather is used by authors as foreshadowing since it can so easily suggest mood
and emotion.
Hope this helps!
No comments:
Post a Comment