What is foreshadowing primarily used for in storytelling?

Foreshadowing is primarily used as a literary device to provide an advanced hint of what is to come later in the story. This technique allows authors to build anticipation and tension, guiding readers toward upcoming events and helping to prepare them for future developments. It serves to create a sense of coherence in the narrative, as early clues can make later events feel more inevitable or resonant.

By incorporating subtle clues about future plot points, foreshadowing can enhance the reader's experience, encouraging them to engage more deeply with the text as they try to piece together the implications of what has been hinted at. This element of storytelling helps to create a more immersive and layered narrative, where the payoff of these hints can lead to greater emotional impact when the foreshadowed events eventually unfold.

The other choices do not align with the primary function of foreshadowing. For example, narrating from a third-person perspective refers to a narrative style rather than a technique for hinting at future events. Emphasizing characters' emotions relates to characterization and development, not specifically to foreshadowing. Lastly, introducing a supernatural element pertains to genre-specific themes rather than the structural purpose of foreshadowing itself.