The Bear

How does the author use foreshadowing in The Bear?

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The phrase "And so he should have feared and hated Lion" recurs several times in section two of "The Bear," and serves as a foreshadowing of Lion's role in the hunt for Old Ben. The frequent repetition of the phrase is a constant reminder of how the story will end. To read that Lion is to be hated and feared each time readers are told of his strength, competence, and courage is slightly misleading, but it is not Ike or humans who need to fear the dog. Why should Dee hate and fear Lion if he is the best possible dog for helping Ike and the others achieve their goal? The answer is not within the foreshadowing itself, but within the later knowledge of how the story actually does end.