Thinking Question
What examples of foreshadowing do you see in Bierce’s writing in this story? Do they make the knots of the story tie together in the end?
Literature Connections
The way that Peyton has that vivid dream about his happy family and coming home to them reminded me of an article I saw a while ago about the dreams of the dying. When someone is about to die, they usually experience an extremely realistic dream that is most commonly filled with relatives and loved ones, both dead and alive. These dreams are known as being a “last comfort” to the person, like seeing his family’s smiling faces would have been for Peyton. This story also reminds me of all of the times I’ve had dreams so vivid and realistic that when I woke up from them, it was hard to convince myself they never actually occurred. While I, dreaming away, am thinking that I’m riding a horse, or flying, I’m actually just laying in my bed. The confusion and shock of waking up from such a dream is similar to the feeling I felt when I read the ending of this short story.
I do think all the foreshadowing almost clarifies things at the end of the story and draws it to a conclusion.
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't see a lot of foreshadowing per se. I can find a lot of clues that allude to the real ending and that brings the loose ends of the story together, but I struggle to find pure examples of foreshadowing.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of the clues as a type of foreshadowing, but I guess they are different things.
DeleteAt the time I was reading the book, I didn't see this as clue to the ending. However, after reading the book, I think the conversation between the Scout and Peyton was suppose to give us a hint of the ending. Not only was it suppose to tell us that Peyton was going to to sabotage the bridge, but I think it was also meant to tell us that Peyton will be hanged.
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