Final answer:
The excerpts provided are examples of foreshadowing in literature, which hints at future events and builds suspense, often indicating pivotal upcoming developments in the narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
These excerpts from various literary texts all foreshadow future events in their respective stories. Foreshadowing is a technique used by authors to hint at events that will occur later in the narrative. It serves to build suspense and forewarn the reader or audience of upcoming events, often leading to the climax of the story. Whether through vivid descriptions, dramatic revelations, or suspicious circumstances, foreshadowing is an integral rhetorical device that engages the reader further into the plot. For example, a door shaking as if something is trying to enter might foreshadow an impending confrontation. Similarly, the references to a hot paw, devilish claws, and suspicious characters all hint at dramatic developments to come. Lastly, a narrative that begins with an introduction to a fearful man suggests that this character will have significant relevance later on.