What is the term for a literary element that hints at events to come in a narrative?

The correct answer is foreshadowing, which refers to the literary technique of giving an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story. This can be subtle or overt, influencing the reader's expectations and creating suspense. Foreshadowing allows authors to build tension and set the stage for narrative developments, enhancing the overall experience of the story.

Imagery, while important for creating vivid pictures in the reader's mind through descriptive language, does not specifically hint at future events. Flashback, on the other hand, involves a transition to an earlier event in the narrative, providing background or context rather than hinting at what is to come. Symbolism utilizes symbols to represent ideas or themes, but it does not inherently convey future occurrences in the plot. Each of these terms contributes uniquely to storytelling, but foreshadowing's specific role in hinting at upcoming events is what makes it the correct choice here.