Vocabulary: Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing: A literary device where the writer hints at events that will happen later in the story, often through subtle clues, hints, or suggestions.
Why a writer would use it
A writer uses foreshadowing to create suspense, build tension, and add depth to the story.
It helps readers piece together the plot and make connections, making the reading experience more engaging and interactive.
Use-case
In a mystery novel, a writer might use foreshadowing to hint at the identity of the killer or the location of a hidden clue.
For example, a character might mention a suspicious person lurking around the crime scene or a strange symbol etched into the wall.
A couple more examples:
1. Ominous weather: A dark and stormy night might foreshadow a character's impending doom or a dramatic event.
The writer uses the weather to create a sense of foreboding, hinting that something bad is about to happen.
2. Unsettling dialogue: A character might say something that seems harmless at first but takes on a more sinister tone later in the story.
For instance, a character might say, "I'll be watching you," which seems friendly at first but becomes creepy later on.
Effect on AI prompts
When AI models are trained on texts that use foreshadowing, they may struggle to recognize the subtle hints and clues.
This could lead to:
Misinterpretation of the narrative: AI models might see the foreshadowing as irrelevant or unimportant, leading to a misunderstanding of the story's progression.
Difficulty in generating coherent summaries: AI-generated summaries might leave out or distort the foreshadowing elements, resulting in a disjointed or confusing summary.
Inability to recognize plot twists: AI models might not be able to anticipate or recognize the plot twists that foreshadowing sets up, leading to a lack of understanding of the story's overall structure.