Foreshadowing

As epic foreshadowing refers to passages of fictional representation, are given in the notes on the further course of events.

One hand it serves to stimulate interest in the further development, but on the other hand, it also serves the unity of the epic work, because as the various parts are placed in a uniform interpretation context.

However, such interpretations do not advance to the actual closing to point, but the anticipation of the reader can also mislead.

A special form of foreshadowing is the cliffhanger.

Examples

One of the earliest and most famous of German literature can be found in the second verse of the Nibelungenlied:

On neuhochdeutsch:

Even older, but because in direct speech put forward no such clear example of foreshadowing, is from the older Hildebrandslied the utterance Hildebrand:

" Welaga nu, waltant got [ quad Hilti Brant ], wewurt Skihit. "

On neuhochdeutsch: " Come now, walt forming God, ' [said Hildebrand ], disaster happens ,' "

Given the fragmentary tradition of this text, the foreshadowing also plays an important role in the reconstruction of the presumed source of the song.

Examples from modern German literature

Play, among the many interpretations of the subsequent advance of Kleist's The Marquise of O ... a very special meaning for the construction of the narrative.

Examples of different types, but running parallel to advance interpretations provides Theodor Fontane's novel Cécile:

" ... Out of the woods here was heard the woodpecker and now and then also the cuckoo. But slow and sparse, and to count as Gordon started, he called only one time only still. "

Cécile preacher: " Ah, my friend, we 're not looking to keep it, we will not hold him to his and my happiness. "

The painter Rosa: " God grant that it takes a good end. "

• Literary term