Definition
A prophecy in fiction is a prediction, usually delivered by a seer, oracle, or ancient text, that foretells future events within the story's world. Prophecies can be straightforward or deliberately vague, and they work best when characters interpret them incorrectly or when fulfilling the prophecy requires unexpected sacrifice. The key tension lies not in whether the prophecy comes true, but in how characters respond to knowing (or misunderstanding) their supposed fate.
Why It Matters
Prophecies give your story a sense of inevitability and weight, creating dramatic irony when readers see characters walking toward a fate they don't fully understand. They also raise fascinating questions about free will versus destiny, which can deepen your themes. But they need careful handling, because a badly written prophecy either spoils your ending or feels like a cheat when it doesn't come true.
Types of Prophecy in Fiction
Famous Examples
The prophecy about Harry and Voldemort is deliberately ambiguous (it could have applied to Neville), and Voldemort's reaction to it is what sets the entire series in motion.
The witches' prophecies drive Macbeth's ambition and paranoia, and their apparent contradictions ('no man of woman born') create the tragedy.
Herbert deconstructs prophecy by revealing it as a tool of political manipulation planted by the Bene Gesserit over centuries.
Common Mistakes
Keep your prophecy ambiguous enough that readers can't predict exactly how it plays out. The best prophecies are clear in hindsight but mysterious in the moment.
Let characters choose how to respond to prophecy. The tension should come from their choices, not from a predetermined script they can't escape.
Plant your prophecy early, or at least foreshadow its existence. A prophecy that appears in the final act feels like a deus ex machina.
Try It Yourself
Write a four-line prophecy in verse for a fictional world. Make it specific enough to hint at real events but ambiguous enough to support at least two different interpretations. Then write a paragraph from two different characters' perspectives, each explaining what they think the prophecy means. Notice how the same words create different expectations.
Map Your Prophecy's Payoff
Use the Plotting tools to track where your prophecy is introduced, where clues are dropped, and where the payoff lands, so every piece connects.