Foreshadowing - Frankenstein

"No, it is not thus; your form so divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty, has decayed, but your spirit still visits and consoles your unhappy friend," (114).

Victor speaks this line to Robert when telling him about his best friend Henry. His word choice to describe him foreshadows his death to come, like saying his body is decayed but spirit is still alive. This foreshadowing keeps the reader locked into the novel to find out what will happen to Henry, Victor, and the creation. Shelley foreshadows many times throughout the novel, always hinting at bad things that are to come. This line was way more obvious though as to what would happen than other foreshadowing phrases used in the book. It helped get the idea across that Victor's creation meant what he said and would keep his promise. He would definitely not be afraid to kill someone Victor cared about if he did not get what he wanted. This also put the idea in my mind that Henry would not be the only close individual to Victor who would be killed later on, which was proved to be true when Elizabeth was killed.

Foreshadowing - Frankenstein

"Thus I spoke my prophetic soul, as, torn by remorse, horror, and despair, I beheld those I loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts," (60).

Concluding Chapter VIII, Victor foreshadows further tragedies to occur throughout the novel. He says that William and Justine were the first victims. This implies that many more people will become victims of the monster Victor created. This foreshadowing further enhances the eerie tone of the novel by indicating tragic events will occur. Again this literary tool functions to build the curiosity of the reader as to what kind of events will happen next. Knowing more people are to die causes the reader to develop theories as to who will be the next victim. Reading the novel is made easier and goes by more quickly when one is thinking and developing inferences. Without the use of these literary tools, the novel would not flow and build up to the climax.