Foreshadow means to give hints or clues about something that will happen later. When an author foreshadows in a story, she drops subtle signs about future events, like dark clouds gathering before a storm. In Charlotte's Web, when Wilbur first hears what happens to pigs in the spring, that foreshadows the danger he'll face later in the story.

Writers use foreshadowing to build suspense and make readers pay closer attention. If a character mentions that an old rope bridge looks rickety in chapter two, you can bet someone will need to cross it in chapter ten. The best foreshadowing feels natural when you first read it, but clicks into place later, making you think, “Oh! That's what that meant!”

You can foreshadow in real life too. When your parents start asking detailed questions about your study habits, that might foreshadow a conversation about your grades. When storm clouds gather during your soccer game, they're foreshadowing rain. The key is that foreshadowing comes before the main event, preparing you for what's coming without completely giving it away.