How do foreshadowing and irony contribute to plot development?

• A. Foreshadowing creates expectations; irony reveals contrasts between appearance and reality, often shaping suspense and meaning.
• B. Foreshadowing resolves the ending; irony has no effect.
• C. Foreshadowing and irony only occur in poetry.
• D. Foreshadowing confuses readers; irony clarifies it.

Answer: (A)

Foreshadowing and irony shape plot development by guiding readers' expectations and reframing how events are understood as the story unfolds. Foreshadowing places clues about what may happen later, which builds anticipation and helps justify later outcomes within the narrative. When the anticipated event arrives, it validates the setup and heightens the drama, keeping the plot coherent and purposeful. Irony adds a twist to meaning by creating a gap between what characters perceive and what the audience knows, or by letting outcomes diverge from what would typically be expected. This tension can alter how scenes are interpreted, intensify suspense, and push turning points that move the story forward, all while deepening themes.

In short, foreshadowing prepares the reader for future events, and irony reshapes how those events are understood, together guiding the plot’s progression and the reader’s engagement with it. The other options don’t fit: foreshadowing doesn’t resolve the ending on its own, irony does affect meaning, these devices appear outside poetry as well, and they usually clarify or enrich understanding rather than confuse readers.