In John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men there is an ample amount of foreshadowing that is used to foretell upcoming events. Instead of using people's thoughts and dreams as tools of foreshadowing, he uses actual events to foretell future events. Steinbeck uses smaller scale situations to predict the outcomes of much more complex predicaments. The unique way he includes this literary device in the novel causes you to overlook some of the foreshadowing while reading, and then recognize its significance many chapters later.

The most predominant foreshadowing in the novel was the scene in the bunk house when Carlson brings up the idea of shooting Candy's dog. Candy isn't too thrilled with the idea at first because he raised the dog since it was a pup and it had been his one true companion all his life. The dog on the other hand is ancient, smells, and...