Can be found anywhere.
I actually had a different topic in mind to post about today, but I just heard something that changed my mind.
Has anyone seen Enchanted? A sort of tongue-in-cheek animation in real life movie by Disney? Great references to various Disney animation movies by the way. However, the opening of the movie, just past the narrator introducing the Narissa (bad guy) problem and showing Gisele in her cute little cottage with her cute little animal friends. And she breaks into song.
Keep in mind that this is the very beginning of the movie and we’re getting to know the main character. Yet this scene sets up the entire plot and offers some amazing foreshadowing.
Case #1. I have the soundtrack and was just playing the song from that first scene when the words struck a cord with the writer in me. The song is called True Love’s Kiss and the words are ” Just find who you love/Through true love’s kiss”. By the way, if you’ve never seen this movie and don’t want the ending spoiled, read no further. Seriously. I’ll try to post about something else later.
The rest of you ok with this? Good. Notice that the word “Through” is used. This part of the song is the chorus, therefore repeated over and over… And every time they use the word “Through”. Find who you love through true love’s kiss. Not with, not “and you’ll find true love’s kiss”.
Now (are you still reading this? You’d better want to hear it.) the big plot moment at the end has Gisele unconcious- essentially dead. Just as Snow White was after eating the poison apple (which Gisele did as well). And of course, the only cure is “true love’s kiss”. At this point, real world Robert is leaning over her, realizes that it’s Edward’s place to kiss her, and moves out of the way. Edward kisses her, nothing. Again and again. Eventually Edward gives up and then is struck by a brilliant thought (no mean feat, by the way). He moves out of the way so that Robert can come kiss her. Edward is disturbingly happy about the prospect of Robert being his betrothed’s true love. Robert kisses her, she awakens.
She only found who she loved…. through true love’s kiss.
Case #2. Just before the True Love song, Gisele is busy building a model of her true love based on a dream. Blue eyes, an upturned jug for a face. It more or less could resemble Edward or Robert. Except for one thing. Throughout the whole movie, Edward is wearing puffy, burgandy colored clothes. But her model is wearing a slim cut, navy jacket with white embroidery (flowers on the model). And the final plot scene? Robert is wearing a navy jacket with white embroidery.
Naturally, there’s a lot of foreshadowing throughout the movie- the most common of which were the looks they gave each other, and of course the moment that they almost kiss. But even if the rest of the movie were played straight, that very first scene is enough to give you a solid basis on which to stand your big plot scene and revelations.
And as an extra tidbit, here’s something hubby pointed out. In the final plot scene, Gisele is now wearing modern, real world clothes. Edward is still in his tights and puffy clothes. Robert is wearing something that is halfway between modern and “Andalasia” style. Robert’s date who runs off with Edward at the end is wearing an elaborate gown suitable for Andalasia.
Coincidence? I think not.
In Conclusion- a single image or a single word is all that you need. It’s not really foreshadowing if you beat your readers over the head with it. Be subtle, but be there. And the earlier the better. Now I have to go check JK Rowling’s foreshadowing.
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