For Whom the Bell Tolls

Foreshadowing, or moments or images that hint at future events in a narrative, is one of the most frequent literary devices that Hemingway uses in For Whom the Bell Tolls. The primary and most frequently occurring symbol used to foreshadow Robert’s death is Pilar’s reading of his palm on their first meeting. Her facial expression reveals that she believes she has seen some sort of doom, and despite Robert’s claim of disbelief, he recalls the moment several times before his ultimate death.

Hemingway also uses the snow as foreshadowing for the death of El Sordo’s entire band of guerrilleros, even going so far as to have Robert directly note that the snow might cause El Sordo problems if he steals the horses that night and leaves footprints. The ill-fated Republican attack is also foreshadowed through the large number of planes that fly overhead on Robert’s first morning with the guerrilleros. Hemingway’s liberal use of foreshadowing increases tension during what might be otherwise relatively slow portions of narrative.