Throughout Snow Falling on Cedars, as he tells the story, Guterson scatters seemingly throwaway lines throughout the text. For example, in Chapter 1, he writes, "The accused man, Kabuo, was someone he [Ishmael] knew," not providing any sense of their history. In Chapter 2, Art Moran testifies that "a tin coffee cup lay tipped on its side," though the cup is not mentioned again until 30 chapters later. These lines are important bits of information, or clues, about things to come; this literary technique, known as foreshadowing, is a subtle means of preparing readers for the direction of the narrative. Foreshadowing typically creates suspense and piques the curiosity of the reader. In Snow Falling on Cedars, foreshadowing occurs in memories, testimony, and flashbacks.
But not every bit of information foreshadows events (either past or future); some pieces of information exist to provide exqui-site imagery and descriptions of people and places. Every word serves a purpose — either advancing the plot or appealing to the senses — so every word is meticulously chosen in order to create a mood, tone, or image. Guterson's use of language is one of the major strengths of his text.
Readers recognizing the importance of small details don't receive only an added appreciation and understanding of Guterson's novel; they also realize a notion that parallels the American judicial system. A need exists for all information, or evidence, no matter how large or small, to be disclosed when trying to establish the guilt or innocence of an accused individual. The specific details often determine the outcome of both a trial and a narrative.
