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After Twenty Years

by O. Henry

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Foreshadowing in "After Twenty Years" by O. Henry

Summary:

In O. Henry's "After Twenty Years," foreshadowing is used to subtly hint at the story's twist ending. Key examples include the policeman's keen observation of Bob's distinctive facial scar and ostentatious diamond pin, suggesting Bob's criminal background. The policeman's deliberate manner and Bob's confident expectation of his friend's arrival also foreshadow the revelation of their identities. Additionally, weather changes and character descriptions build suspense, hinting at the unexpected reunion outcome where Jimmy, the policeman, cannot arrest his old friend Bob himself.

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Can you identify foreshadowing in O. Henry's "After Twenty Years"?

Other examples of foreshadowing in "After Twenty Years" include one very significant one:  When the man in the doorway lights a match and the policeman sees him, there is a scar on his face and "His scarpin was a large diamond, oddlyset." While the diamond's being large is a clue that the man is not a gentleman with refined taste, the fact that the diamond is set "oddly" indicates also that no reputable jeweler made the tie scarfpin. This observation by the policeman, who is actually Jimmy, of course, is Bob's undoing.

Another indication that something is going to happen that will not be what is expected is the description of the weather after the policeman walks away:

There was now a fine, cold drizzle falling, and the wind had risen from its uncertain puffs into a steady blow.

So often weather is used by authors...

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as foreshadowing since it can so easily suggest mood and emotion.

Hope this helps!

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I only see one instance of foreshadowing in this story.  It happens very early on in the story.

In the first few paragraphs, Jimmy Wells (although we do not know that it is him yet) is walking his beat.  He is pretty carefree, twirling his club and walking impressively.  But then he sees something and he sort of goes on the alert (this is in the third paragraph).

What has happened is that he has seen Bob in the doorway and is suspicious of him.  Bob quickly reassures Jimmy that all is well.

To me, this is foreshadowing.  Jimmy's suspicions are really right on the money and Bob really is a bad guy.  Jimmy's suspicions foreshadow the later action where Bob really will be arrested.

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What are six examples of foreshadowing in "After Twenty Years"?

The story opens with a scene of a police officer patrolling the streets late at night (at a time when the streets are deserted). The police officer spots and walks up to a man who will later be revealed as "Silky Bob." On an initial reading, you might think this encounter is incidental, but when rereading this story with hindsight, you find that this scene is critical in setting up the story's twist ending: the police officer was actually Bob's old friend Jimmy Wells all along.

In addition, note how Bob is described as dressing very ostentatiously, with lavish displays of wealth. He also makes comments such as, "A man gets in a groove in New York. It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him." It's not clear how he has earned his wealth, but this kind of statement suggests that it is ill-gotten. The story's ending will establish Bob as a criminal.

As a third example, consider Bob's conviction, as he speaks with the policeman, that his friend will show up. He tells the policeman, "I know Jimmy will meet me here if he's alive, for he always was the truest, staunchest old chap in the world. He'll never forget." Of course, Bob does not realize that the policeman is actually his old friend. Including this passage establishes an expectation on the reader's part that this meeting will be featured in the story. Of course, O. Henry fulfills that implicit authorial promise, albeit not in the matter that the reader might expect.

Later, after the policeman departs, the person we believe to be Jimmy arrives. However, Bob himself notes how much Jimmy has changed, saying that he seems to have grown several inches taller since their last meeting. This observation foreshadows the later revelation that the newcomer is not actually Jimmy.

One line that alludes to the false Jimmy's real motivations reads, "The man from the West, his egotism enlarged by success, was beginning to outline the history of his career. The other, submerged in his overcoat, listened with interest."

There's something striking about this image of a one-sided conversation and what it implies about the scene (although you can only read into this as subtext after you've already completed the story). Keep in mind, the false Jimmy is actually a police officer, while Bob is a criminal. One can easily imagine the police officer passively listening to gain more information on Bob's own criminal dealings.

Finally, there is the revelation that the man Bob believes to be Jimmy isn't Jimmy at all (Bob finally decides that his face is too different). However, over the course of their conversation, this false Jimmy has revealed a great deal of knowledge as to the two men and their arrangement to meet up (knowledge he should not have had access to if he was simply an imposter). This revelation—that this Jimmy Wells is actually a fake—after they'd already had this lengthy conversation suggests that the false Jimmy must know or be connected with the real one. This assumption is soon confirmed by the story's last twist.

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O. Henry's ironic story of the reunion of old companions in "After Twenty Years" contains some foreshadowing, or rather subtle hints, that the friends have changed greatly and these changes may affect their reunion.  But, the surprise of the ending is that the reader does not know which two characters will meet each other at the designated corner.  Here are six examples of the subtle foreshadowing of O. Henry:

  1. Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye adown the pacific thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.  [This hints that the policeman is proud of his position in law enforcement.]
  2. When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. [This suggests that the policeman may have recognized someone.]
  3. The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. [When the match lights up the man's face he is seen by the policeman, but the policeman remains in the shadows.]
  4. The light showed a pale, square jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarf pin was a large diamond, oddly set. [Along with the scar, the pin is something that is clearly distinguishable about the man, so the policeman may recognize him from a description distributed to police stations.]
  5. "We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be.” [These words are ironically true and hint at the destiny of the speaker as he talks to the policeman.]
  6. "I'll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Going to call time on him sharp?”
“I should say not!” said the other. “I'll give him half an hour at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth he'll be here by that time. So long, officer.”  [The officer asks if the stranger "will call time" on his friend so he can figure how much time he has to have the man in the doorway captured.]
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What elements foreshadow the ending in "After Twenty Years"?

The ending is foreshadowed by Jimmy’s deliberateness and Bob’s facial features.

O' Henry uses characterization to foreshadow the ending of the story.  The character traits of Bob and Jimmy that he introduces predict the ending.  

Jimmy and Bob were really good friends once.  They agreed to meet each other twenty years into the future.  Each managed to make the meeting.

Jimmy was a police officer.  The fact that he was unable to arrest his friend Bob is foreshadowed by the care and deliberateness to which he walked down the street.

 The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was barely 10 o'clock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had well nigh depeopled the streets.

Just by how Jimmy walks down the street, trying doorknobs and keeping an eye out, you can tell that he takes his job as a police officer seriously.  For Jimmy, being a cop is not just a job.  It is a way of life.  He would never break the law, even to help a friend.

While the foreshadowing of Jimmy is mostly about his personality, Bob’s role is foreshadowed through his physical features.  This is important, because it is recognizing Bob is what makes Jimmy choose.

The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarfpin was a large diamond, oddly set.

Jimmy recognizes Bob as a criminal from Chicago, and that is apparent from this scene.  The fact that he recognized him and knew that he was a criminal, but told no one, foreshadows the ending scene where he has another policeman arrest him. 

When Bob says that Jimmy is a standup guy, it foreshadows the fact that he will do the right thing.  Yet he also says that they are good friends.  This fits with what happens.  Jimmy sees Bob, passes him without introducing himself, and gets another policeman to arrest him.  Bob is his friend, and Bob is a criminal.  Jimmy can’t let him go, but does not have the will to arrest him himself.  For the sake of their old friendship, he has someone else do it.

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