The word foreshadow is a literary term used to depict how the writer discreetly gives hints to the reader of the events subsequently to happen. The affecting realistic fiction novella Of Mice and Men is written by John Steinbeck. George and Lennie. two work forces who have become close friends over clip. go together to a spread to prosecute their dream as a squad. George is considered to be Lennie’s caretaker. for Lennie is mentally challenged. Throughout the novella Of Mice and Men. boding takes a considerable function in the most of import chapters of George and Lennie’s journey together. The events that develop foreshadow other events that will repeat the primary event in a typical manner. John Steinbeck uses prefiguration and other literary elements as the construction of his many literary plants of art. The three events that foreshadow the hereafter are George stating Lennie to return to the river if problem occurs. Candy holding to kill his Canis familiaris. and a Hero killing a serpent.

In the beginning. when George and Lennie are at the river. George tells Lennie to return to that exact location to mutely conceal in the coppice and delay for him if he gets in any problem. Lennie has done bad things in the yesteryear. and George wants to do certain that Lennie has someplace to travel that’s out of harm’s manner. “ ‘Lennie – if you jus’ go on to acquire in problem like you ever done before. I want you to come right here an’ fell in the brush’ ” ( 15 ) . In the yesteryear. Lennie has gotten into problem while working on a spread. and both George and Lennie didn’t have anyplace to travel. George knows that Lennie is bound to hold history repetition itself. and do the same errors. so he tells Lennie to retrieve where the river is located. George’s action foreshadows that subsequently on. Lennie will hold to return to the river. George makes certain that he can acquire Lennie off from any danger that can harm him. but would besides cognize where he’d be.

As the narrative progresses. Candy tells George that he should hold shot his Canis familiaris himself alternatively of a alien. because he knew the Canis familiaris the best and his minute of missing authorization allowed him to repent his determination. Candy has had his Canis familiaris since it was merely a puppy. so he has a strong connexion with his Canis familiaris. Carlson thinks the Canis familiaris is smelly. antediluvian. and going more and more useless everyday. so he convinces Candy to let him to hit his Canis familiaris. “ ‘I ought to of shooting that dog myself. George. I shouldn’t have ought to of allow no alien hit my dog’ ” ( 61 ) . When Candy confides in George. he admits that he is in the incorrect when he decides to let a complete alien kill his Canis familiaris alternatively of making it himself. Candy. desiring to hold shot his Canis familiaris himself. foreshadows how George will experience about how Lennie will be disciplined. Although Candy didn’t have the strength to kill his ain Canis familiaris. George realizes that he’s strong plenty to train Lennie in a just and painless manner.

Last. when Lennie is concealing in the coppice at the river. a H2O serpent is killed by a motionless Hero off in the distance. The H2O serpent was gliding on the river and is incognizant of the Hero that was standing still expecting its reaching. “ A H2O serpent glided swimmingly up the pool. . . and came to the legs of a motionless Hero that stood in the shoals. A soundless caput and beak glanced down and plucked it out by the caput. . . ” ( 99 ) . The serpent was gracefully traveling across the H2O. and swims to its decease. negligent of its hereafter. When Lennie is killed. he is looking at the scenery of the mountains and at the river imaging his and George’s dream. wholly incognizant of George. standing behind him with a gun. In the terminal. both Lennie and the serpent met their destiny of decease.

Overall. Steinbeck’s use of foreshadow is applied to demo how life’s events are hints to the hereafter. George wants to protect Lennie. but he besides wants to do certain that Lennie has a safe topographic point to run to. Candy fails to carry through a hard undertaking and helps George to place if he’ll have the strength to make what is right or non. Death meets Lennie and the snake face to confront out of the blue. In life. has the reader of all time looked at a picture and idea. “What did every coppice stroke accomplish? ” The Godhead of a work of art wants the spectator to see their graphics as a whole. but to see the particulars that created the image as desired. Each coppice shot accomplishes coercing world to see assorted emotions. memories. inspirations. and an apprehension of the intending the piece was supposed to incorporate. A individual brushstroke can announce what the hereafter may keep. although it’s non ever distinct.