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The Use Of Foreshadowing In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Steinbeck’s use of foreshadowing throughout the novel is used prepare the reader for the sorrowful ending to come. Similarly, he also foreshadows confrontation between characters to add tension to the plot making it an effective literary technique. When Candy’s dog gets shot it foreshadows the death of Lennie. Also when Curly first threatens Lennie the reader can foreshadow that they will get in a physical fight. Lastly, there is a foreshadowing of the death of Lennie’s puppy. Leading up to the death of Candy’s dog and the actual death of the dog foreshadows the death of Lennie. As the men in the bunk are playing card games when Candy and his dog enter. Automatically Carlson mentions he smells and then starts discussing shooting him, “He ain’t no good to you, Candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself. Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy?” (Steinbeck 44). The dog is tired, old, and “no good to himself” or Candy; similarly, Lennie isn’t good for himself or George. Candy’s dog and Lennie both end up getting killed because of …show more content…

After a rough first meeting between the two men Lennie becomes fearful of Curley and doesn’t understand why Curley would want to fight him. George also in fear tells Lennie that, “You gonna have trouble with that Curley guy. I seen that kind before… He figures he’s got you scared and he’s gonna take a sock at you the first chance he gets.” (29). Lennie even more frightened expresses, “I don’t want no trouble” (29). The fact that Curley is so willing to fight and George and Lennie both don’t want to cause trouble are huge pieces of foreshadowing that Lennie and Curley will indeed get into a fight. The use of foreshadowing is effective because it not only gives the reader the ability to make predictions of what is to come but it also creates tension leaving the reader wanting

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