What is Whakaatu whakamua (prolepsis)?
Ko te whakaatu whakamua (prolepsis) he piki pakiwaitara e whakaatu ana i ngā mea ka tupu i muri i te wā o te pakiwaitara. Ka whakatipatia he tirohanga ki te mea kei mua hei waihanga i te here, hei whakarite i ngā taumata, me te whakapīngi i ngā tūmanako o te pānui.
Ko te whakaatu whakamua—e kiia ana ko te prolepsis—ko te tikanga o te pakiwaitara e neke ki mua ki te whakaatu i ngā wāhanga ka tupu i muri i te pūtake. Kāore i te rite ki te tohu mua (foreshadowing), i te mea e tohu ana ki ngā mea pea tupu, engari i konei e whakaatu ana i tētahi wā kei mua: ētahi wā he whakaahua kotahi, he parakarapa poto, rānei he wāhanga nui o te pakiwaitara. I roto i te romā aroha, he maha ngā wā e whakaatu ana i ngā tohu o te whanaungatanga kei mua (he korone, he wehenga, te putanga o ngā tangata matua) kia whakapiki i te waiara o te kōrero, te taumaha o te kare-a-roto, me te tere ki ngā mahi o nāianei. Ka taea ngā whakaatu whakamua te whakaatu i ngā wā kei mua, ngā moemoeā, rānei ngā tirohanga kāore i te pono e whakamahia ana mō te hātepe.
Usage example
Kua kōhihi rātou i raro i ngā rama o te hōhipera—ā, kāore. E toru tau ki mua ake, ka kata ētahi ki runga i tētahi pakitara, te ua e mākū ana ki ō rātou maka, ā, he tipu iti, pūmau e tupu ana ki runga i te matapihi. Ko te kōwhiringa ki noho, ki oma, ka whakatau i tēnei pō mō ētahi o aua pō.
Practical application
Ko ngā whakaatu whakamua he mea nui ki te ākonga pānui ki ngā wā o nāianei. Mena e whakamahia ana ki te huarahi tika, ka piki te here (ka pātai te pānui ki te huarahi e tae ai ki taua wā kei mua), ka whakaatu i te kaupapa (nga pānga roa o ngā kōwhiringa), me te waihanga i te kare-a-roto mā te mea kia mōhio te pānui ki te utu mō te tae mai. I roto i te aroha mākutu pēnei i Endless Romance, kei te kaha ake te kaha o ngā whakaatu whakamua: ka taea e koe te whakamātautau i ngā wā kei mua ki te akiaki i ngā kōwhiringa, te whakaatu i ngā here o ngā peka rereke, me te whakarato i tētahi kōwhiringa epilogue i muri i tētahi whakataunga nui. Me mārama ki te karo i te whakakore i te here mā te whakamahi hei akiaki, hei arataki i ngā kōwhinga a te kaitākaro, kaua ki te panuku i te mōrearea o te mōrearea.”}.txt // Note: The trailing
FAQ
How is a flashforward different from foreshadowing?
Foreshadowing hints at future events without showing them. A flashforward explicitly depicts a future moment. Both build expectation, but flashforwards give readers a concrete glimpse rather than a subtle clue.
Can a story have multiple flashforwards?
Yes. Multiple flashforwards can show different possible outcomes, highlight parallel timelines, or punctuate emotional beats. In interactive stories, they can map to branching paths—but use them sparingly so each reveal maintains impact.
Should I avoid flashforwards because they spoil the ending?
Not necessarily. A thoughtfully placed flashforward can heighten suspense by posing the question of how the characters will reach that future. If you reveal too much too early, though, it can reduce curiosity—so balance revelation with mystery and emotional stakes.