Foreshadowing
In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, foreshadowing is seen many, many times throughout the novel. Both Lennie and George use foreshadowing during the novel. In the beginning of the book, Lennie and George are discussing and creating a plan in case Lennie were to get in trouble. They have to do so, because Lennie's past is full of troublemaking, and George does not want Lennie to be clueless of where to go if Lennie gets in trouble. George also discusses this with him so that he would know exactly where to find Lennie if he were to get in trouble. George does this out of caring and to make sure that there is an escape plan.
In chapter one, Lennie and George are conversing, and George says, "...if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush" (Steinbeck). The quote hints that later in the book, Lennie may possibly get into trouble. It shows that later in the story, George may need to go to that certain spot to find Lennie if he ends up getting in trouble or something happens.
Burton Rascoe describes the style of foreshadowing in his criticism in this quote: "You see, Steinbeck not only indicates to the sentient reader in those first five pages that Lennie is going to 'do a bad thing' unintentionally: he also indicates to the sentient reader that Lennie will have to die for it this time and, also, that is highly necessary and just that Lennie should die" (338). I think that Rascoe is very right and on point with this quote. He could not explain it any better. He talked about how Lennie was going to do something wrong and how Lennie would have to die for it. The criticism is on point about how Steinbeck uses foreshadowing.
Foreshadowing quite obviously plays a huge role in Of Mice and Men. If it were not for foreshadowing, the book would not be any fun. The reader can guess what is going to happen next because of this, and it is part of what makes the novel so good.
In chapter one, Lennie and George are conversing, and George says, "...if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush" (Steinbeck). The quote hints that later in the book, Lennie may possibly get into trouble. It shows that later in the story, George may need to go to that certain spot to find Lennie if he ends up getting in trouble or something happens.
Burton Rascoe describes the style of foreshadowing in his criticism in this quote: "You see, Steinbeck not only indicates to the sentient reader in those first five pages that Lennie is going to 'do a bad thing' unintentionally: he also indicates to the sentient reader that Lennie will have to die for it this time and, also, that is highly necessary and just that Lennie should die" (338). I think that Rascoe is very right and on point with this quote. He could not explain it any better. He talked about how Lennie was going to do something wrong and how Lennie would have to die for it. The criticism is on point about how Steinbeck uses foreshadowing.
Foreshadowing quite obviously plays a huge role in Of Mice and Men. If it were not for foreshadowing, the book would not be any fun. The reader can guess what is going to happen next because of this, and it is part of what makes the novel so good.