Foreshadowing and Flashback

something sinister is about to occur, maybe even the appearance of the hooded monster

mentioned earlier.) Continue analyzing the third paragraph, challenging students to

point out the words and phrases that indicate where Gloria is flashing back in time and

those that foreshadow a future event.

Then invite students to read the poem, keeping an eye out for these literary elements.

When students have finished reading, have them work on the reproducible activities

foreshadowing and flashback and use these elements in their own stories.

IDENTIFY FORESHADOWING AND FLASHBACK

1. All of a sudden, Rory remembered an incident from

long ago. He had been walking in the woods with his

older brother, who tried to scare him half to death with

a story about a hooded monster. Rory had been so

frightened then that he had cried uncontrollably.

2. Today, as he strolled along peacefully, Rory chuckled at

that long-ago horror story. He had no way of guessing

what was waiting now, just a few yards ahead. Right

now, he was happy and relaxed.

3. Gloria lined up with the other runners. They were all

flushed with determination and excitement—all except

Gloria. Suddenly

, it was last year again, and she was

telling the coach that she had to drop out of the team

because of her illness. Now she was well again. “Still,”

she said to herself, “what am I doing here? I’ll never

win. I haven’t practiced enough!” But miracles do

happen. The question is, what kind of miracle would

be best for Gloria?

Spotlight On...Literary Elements © Scholastic Teaching Resources

in this lesson. The activities will help reinforce what they’ve learned about

Time Spotters

Name Date

In each paragraph below, you’ll find examples of foreshadowing and one of flashback.

Draw one line under each foreshadowing and two lines under each flashback. Then discuss

your choices with classmates.

1. Something good was in store for her soon. She just knew it in her bones!

Out on this same hillside last year, she had felt angry and helpless. Today

she felt happy and self-assured.

2. Sinking lower and lower, pulled into darkness by the furious undertow, he

could no longer hold his breath. He knew the end was near. Then the

jangling alarm clock burst in, saving him from reliving once more that awful

experience of many summers ago. He would never go near the sea again,

he promised himself. But who says we can control our future?

3. The big, emaciated dog started across the street, heading right for Alonso.

Alonso froze in his tracks. His dog Chance had disappeared in the fall,

leaving Alonso’s whole family distressed—Mom crying, Dad peering out the

window every five minutes, hoping that by some miracle Chance would be

at the door. Now this old thing was lumbering toward Alonso . . . was it

Chance, or just another look-alike?

4. Luisa stood next to her mother, ready to begin kneading the dough.

Suddenly, the yeasty smell of dough took her back to six months ago,

when her grandmother had come for a visit. She, her mother, and her

grandmother had been kneading bread when the phone call came. Luisa

froze as she thought of this.

5. The heavy coins made his pockets sag, so Alex quickly emptied the change

onto the table. He didn’t need them for the bus since his mother was

driving him to school. Later, he’d be sorry he’d done that.

Foreshadowing

& Flashback

Foreshadowings Everywhere

Name Date

A. In real, everyday life we often experience foreshadowings of things that

may be about to happen. Examples:

A sudden, blustery wind starts making its way through the woods.

This could possibly foreshadow that:

(1) the biggest storm of the year will ravage the town.

(2) a tree will topple over, smashing into a nearby house.

A police car with sirens blaring zooms down the highway.

This could possibly foreshadow that:

(1) a speeder will cause a major traffic accident before being pulled over.

(2) the police will finally capture an escaped convict.

B. Now YOU think of two possibilities about what may happen.

A dad greets his kids at the door, saying “Have I got a surprise

for you! You’ll never guess where we’re going!”

This could possibly foreshadow that:

C. Use your ideas in B to begin a story of your own.

Foreshadowing

& Flashback