By the end of The Girl Who Drank the Moon all the loose ends have been neatly tied up. This makes it an excellent jumping off point for a discussion about foreshadowing.
Foreshadowing is best understood after the fact. So an easy way to discuss foreshadowing in The Girl Who Drank the Moon is to ask students how one of the big reveals at the end of the book was suggested by details throughout the beginning and middle of the book. Here’s an example…
Using Big Reveals to Discuss Foreshadowing
Big Reveal: At the end of the book we learn that the Protectorate was imprisoned by Ignatia’s greed for sorrow. This was foreshadowed by:
- Xan’s repeated phrase, “Sorrow is dangerous.”
- Descriptions of Ignatia as “hungry” or “sated” (pg. 122-125).
- The emotional (and physical) fog that surrounds the Protectorate.
- The inability of Antain to muster enough energy to leave the Protectorate.
- The Madwoman’s loss of her name, memories and sanity.
- Ignatia’s pained response to the madwoman’s hope.
- The term “sorrow eater.”
Here are some other big reveals you can use to discuss foreshadowing:
- What hints did the author give us about Ignatia’s role as the witch?
- How did the author suggest that Luna and her mother would eventually be reunited?
- How did the author foreshadow the eruption of the volcano once again?
- How did the author foreshadow Fyrian’s sudden growth?
Using Chapter Titles to Discuss Foreshadowing
The chapter titles in The Girl Who Drank the Moon often contain foreshadowing. You could discuss some of these titles as students read the book. Ask them to make a prediction based on the title before reading the chapter, then ask them how the title foreshadowed an event in the chapter.
Here are some chapter titles that contain obvious foreshadowing:
- In Which There Are Consequences
- In Which Things Are More Difficult Than Originally Planned
- In Which There is a Change of Heart
Would you add any “big reveals” to the list? Have you used this book to discuss foreshadowing?
This is a series for teachers who are reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill with their students. You’ll read about focusing your novel study around major literary devices found in the book. If you’re looking for activities to go with the book, you can preview my novel study here.
