Final answer:
The phrase 'Dark things happen in dark alleys' is an example of foreshadowing, a literary technique that provides hints about future events in the story. It creates an expectation that the alley will play a significant role in the plot. Option 4 is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
When looking at the phrase “Dark things happen in dark alleys,” it's clear that this is an instance of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is a technique used by authors to provide hints or clues about events that will happen later in the story. In this case, the nemesis’s statement hints that something significant and possibly ominous will happen in a dark alley.
This sets up the expectation for the reader that the alley will be the scene of an important plot development, such as where a hostage might be kept, just as the superhero deduces. The importance of setting is also evident in storytelling. Setting establishes the time and place where the story unfolds and can significantly affect the story's mood and the characters' actions.
A dark alley at night creates a suspenseful and potentially menacing atmosphere that contributes to the overall mood of the story, enhancing the narrative and the experience for readers. In contrast to foreshadowing and setting, a symbol is a literary device where an object, person, or situation has another meaning beyond its literal one. This technique is used to convey deeper meanings and themes within a story.
A flashback, on the other hand, is when a character recollects a past event, which can provide background information to the audience or help develop a character's backstory. Both symbols and flashbacks serve their functions in literature but are distinct from foreshadowing and setting.