The Time Machine

by

H. G. Wells

The Time Machine: Foreshadowing 1 key example

Definition of Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the story. Foreshadowing can be achieved directly or indirectly, by making... read full definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the story. Foreshadowing can be achieved... read full definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the... read full definition
Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—The Truth About the Eloi:

The novel's foreshadowing creates a sense of tension and intrigue and helps to strengthen the reader's understanding of the complex storyline. Foreshadowing is used throughout the novel to hint at the final revelation of the true nature of the Eloi society and to deepen the reader's understanding of the themes the narrative explores.

Foreshadowing is threaded throughout the frame story, creating a heightened sense of anticipation. For instance, in Chapter 4, the Time Traveller says:

It was here that I was destined, at a later date, to have a very strange experience.

The Traveller is relaying his experiences to his companions, and frequently alludes to elements of the story that are yet to come. Throughout the narrative, the Traveller hints toward experiences that occur later in the story—this technique both draws the reader in, creating tension between what is revealed and what is withheld, and plays with the chronology of the story in a manner that is analogous to the Traveller's own journey through time. 

One example of foreshadowing in the novel is the Time Traveller's disheveled arrival at the second gathering of guests in Chapter 2:

His coat was dusty and dirty, and smeared with green down the sleeves; his hair disordered, and as it seemed to me greyer—either with dust and dirt or because its colour had actually faded. His face was ghastly pale; his chin had a brown cut on it—a cut half healed; his expression was haggard and drawn, as by intense suffering.

These marks of suffering foreshadow the danger and risks that the Time Traveller will face later in the novel. As the Traveller begins to tell his story, the reader anticipates a harrowing narrative. Though this expectation is initially undermined by the calm, contented Eloi the protagonist first meets, the suspense and unease created by these early moments of foreshadowing hold the reader's interest. The green smear and dust hint towards the fact that the Traveller will have to flee danger and seek underground before he is able to return to his companions in 19th-century England. 

Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis—The Truth About the Eloi:

The novel's foreshadowing creates a sense of tension and intrigue and helps to strengthen the reader's understanding of the complex storyline. Foreshadowing is used throughout the novel to hint at the final revelation of the true nature of the Eloi society and to deepen the reader's understanding of the themes the narrative explores.

Foreshadowing is threaded throughout the frame story, creating a heightened sense of anticipation. For instance, in Chapter 4, the Time Traveller says:

It was here that I was destined, at a later date, to have a very strange experience.

The Traveller is relaying his experiences to his companions, and frequently alludes to elements of the story that are yet to come. Throughout the narrative, the Traveller hints toward experiences that occur later in the story—this technique both draws the reader in, creating tension between what is revealed and what is withheld, and plays with the chronology of the story in a manner that is analogous to the Traveller's own journey through time. 

One example of foreshadowing in the novel is the Time Traveller's disheveled arrival at the second gathering of guests in Chapter 2:

His coat was dusty and dirty, and smeared with green down the sleeves; his hair disordered, and as it seemed to me greyer—either with dust and dirt or because its colour had actually faded. His face was ghastly pale; his chin had a brown cut on it—a cut half healed; his expression was haggard and drawn, as by intense suffering.

These marks of suffering foreshadow the danger and risks that the Time Traveller will face later in the novel. As the Traveller begins to tell his story, the reader anticipates a harrowing narrative. Though this expectation is initially undermined by the calm, contented Eloi the protagonist first meets, the suspense and unease created by these early moments of foreshadowing hold the reader's interest. The green smear and dust hint towards the fact that the Traveller will have to flee danger and seek underground before he is able to return to his companions in 19th-century England. 

Unlock with LitCharts A+