Foreshadowing is a literary device in which an author drops subtle hints about plot developments to come later in the story. An example of foreshadowing might be when a character displays a gun or knife early in the story. Merely the appearance of a deadly weapon, even though it is used for an innocuous purpose — such as being cleaned or whittling wood — suggests terrible consequences later on.

1. Foreshadowing is used as a literary device at the very beginning of the novel as Hosseini uses the first person narration through Amir, to hint at a major event to follow in the novel. This event is something that has changed Amir’s life, and life-path, forever. This foreshadowing is presented through the use of another literary device the flashback.

I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realise I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.

2. Foreshadowing is also used at the beginning of Chapter Seven when Hassan tells Amir about the dream he had that night.
“it was warm and sunny, and the late was clear like a mirror. But no one was swimming because they said a monster had come to the lake. It was swimming at the bottom, waiting.”…He poured me a cup and added sugar, blew on ita few times. Put if before me. “So everyone is scared to get in the water, and suddenly you kick off your shoes, Amir agha, and take off your shirt. ‘There’s no monster,’ you say. ‘I’ll show you all.’

3. There is also foreshadowing of who Hassan actually turns out to be in Chapter Six. This is when Hassan and Amir are testing each other’s loyalty and integrity. There is also another hint as to who Hassan really was – Amir’s brother. When Amir notices Hassan’s facial expressions and notes:” That’s when it happened again: Hassan’s face changed…I had the feeling I was looking at two faces, the one I knew, …and another second face, this one lurking just beneath the surface. I’d seen it happen before – it always shook me up a little…it just appeared, this other face, for a fraction of a moment, long enough to leave me with the unsettling feeling that maybe I’d seen it someplace before.
4.
There is foreshadowing of the fact that Amir has flaws in his character as a result of lack of integrity and truthfulness. Chapter Six. That these flaws could cause harm. Hassan ends up showing the most trust and integrity out of the two of the boys:
“Don’t be stupid, Hassan. You know I wouldn’t. [ask you to eat dirt]” Hassan returned the smile. Except his didn’t look forced.
“I know,” he said. And that’s the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.” This is foreshadowing of a potential weakness to appear in Amir’s character. Lying and lack of sincerity.

At the end of this chapter we also see this. Hassan said “Inshallah” or God willing, that Amir would win the kite tournament. “Inshallah,” I echoed, though the “God willing” qualifier didn’t sound as sincere coming from my lips. That was the thing with Hassan. He was so goddamn pure, you always felt like a phony around him.”

5. There is also foreshadowing of the fact that Hassan will know that Amir knows he got raped by Assef. Chapter Six. Because we learn that Hassan can always “read Amir’s mind.” He assures Amir that he likes living where he does, in a mud hut. “Amir agha?”
“What?”
“You know …I like where I live.” He was always doing that, reading my mind….”