Very Little Foreshadowing? (was Re: Malfoy's Redemption)

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25403

Yet another thing I wanted to say (and don't think I don't hear you 
groaning!)

The other thing that occured to me before I went to bed after writing 
my post was how crappy a job I did of explaining the distinction 
between first-time foreshadowing and author prophecy.  If you all 
figured it out anyway, that's more to your credit as a highly 
intelligent folk than to mine, because my explanation was pretty fuzzy 
at times.  So I feel compelled to fix it a bit.  Maybe I'll just make 
things worse, but I hope not.

First off, I was probably a bit misleading when I said the difference 
between the two was subtle.  The more I think about it, the more I 
realize that, really, it's not.  I've already explained first-time 
foreshadowing, so here's just some elucidation on author prophecy.

Author prophecy usually takes the form of dialogue spoken by a 
character or perhaps a statement by the narrator (as though the 
narrator were a physical person).

It is stated like "future fact"--we don't question it, we just know it 
will be, even though there's no actual evidence.  It doesn't raise a 
story question.  Why do we 'just know'?  Because we are conditioned to 
think this by the nature of "story-telling".  If the prophecy is not 
fulfilled, we feel cheated--the author has promised something he/she 
did not deliver.  In the real world, these prophecies have no reason 
to come true, but in the story world they must, it is part of the 
natural order of fiction.

My example from HP is the best one currently available, but as it's 
not yet been fulfilled I suppose I'll offer another one.  
Unfortunately, it's not from HP.  For anyone that's read the Prydain 
Chronicles (don't worry for those who haven't, this isn't really a 
spoiler), Dallben says at the start of Book 4, "Taran Wanderer":

"Gurgi's staunchness and good sense I do not doubt," [Dallben] said to 
Taran.  Though before your search is ended, the comfort of his kindly 
heart may stand you in better stead."

At some point which I can't find (GRR!), Taran says (basically) that 
Dallben was right when he said [see above quote].

It's not first-time foreshadowing.  We don't wonder about it.  We 
accept it straight away as fact.  And do so despite the fact that 
there's no concrete reason for Dallben to be right.  Except that if he 
wasn't, the story would seem somehow "not quite right".  We would feel 
lied to in a mild sort of way.  That is author prophecy.

I realize that my explanation of this is STILL poor, but I guess that 
means it's not going to get any better.  Oh well.

-Luke