Question

How does using flashback or foreshadowing add mystery, tension, or surprise to the story?

Answer 1

Flashbacks can create mystery by revealing information that the reader or viewer did not previously know. By showing events from the past, the author or filmmaker can provide context that sheds new light on the present situation. Flashbacks can also create tension by showing events that have already happened, but that the characters are still dealing with in the present. For example, a flashback to a traumatic event can show the reader or viewer why a character is behaving a certain way in the present.

Answer 2

Flashbacks are used to provide information about past events or characters, while foreshadowing is used to hint at events that will happen later in the story. Both of these techniques can create a sense of mystery by leaving readers with unanswered questions, which they may be compelled to find answers to by continuing to read.