FoilFoilA literary termA literary term

By Julia Crowell, Jamie By Julia Crowell, Jamie Orlando and Kayleigh Orlando and Kayleigh MacDonald MacDonald

DefinitionDefinition

A foil is a character who is there A foil is a character who is there to highlight the qualities of to highlight the qualities of another character (usually the another character (usually the protagonist) by being their protagonist) by being their opposite in some respect. opposite in some respect.

This contrast is done specially to This contrast is done specially to make the traits of the first make the traits of the first character more pronouncedcharacter more pronounced

Examples in Examples in LiteratureLiterature

Javert and Valjean in Hugo’s Javert and Valjean in Hugo’s Les Les MisérablesMisérables

Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde God and Satan in Milton’s God and Satan in Milton’s Paradise Paradise

LostLost

ActivityActivity

Match the foil to the correct Match the foil to the correct character character

Form groups of five and select Form groups of five and select your orderyour order

Glory goes to the victor!Glory goes to the victor!

Round 1Round 1

In In The AvengersThe Avengers, brawny, honest , brawny, honest Thor’s foil is: Thor’s foil is:

A)A) Captain AmericaCaptain America

B)B) LokiLoki

C)C) Bruce BannerBruce Banner

D)D) Aqua ManAqua Man

Answer – B) LokiAnswer – B) Loki

Loki relies on deceit and cunning Loki relies on deceit and cunning to bring his schemes to fruitionto bring his schemes to fruition

Round 2Round 2

Dumbledore is a character who Dumbledore is a character who embodies the values of love, embodies the values of love, peace and wisedom. An peace and wisedom. An appropiate foil would be appropiate foil would be

A) NaginiA) Nagini B) GandalfB) Gandalf C) VoldemortC) Voldemort D) DobbyD) Dobby

Answer – C) VoldemortAnswer – C) Voldemort

If Dumbledore is goodness personified If Dumbledore is goodness personified Voldemort is evil incarnateVoldemort is evil incarnate

He trades in hate and fear as opposed He trades in hate and fear as opposed to the love that is the cornerstone of to the love that is the cornerstone of the Headmaster’s philosophy the Headmaster’s philosophy

Round 3Round 3

What character out of the following What character out of the following would make the best foil to the would make the best foil to the popular superhero, Batman?popular superhero, Batman?

A)A) RobinRobin

B)B) Wonder WomanWonder Woman

C)C) The JokerThe Joker

D)D)Stan LeeStan Lee

Answer – C) The JokerAnswer – C) The Joker

The Joker chaotic evil and The Joker chaotic evil and malevolent lunacy is a stark malevolent lunacy is a stark contrast to Batman’s ordered contrast to Batman’s ordered justice and self- control justice and self- control

Round 4Round 4

Brilliant fictional detective Sherlock Brilliant fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is known for aloof Holmes is known for aloof behaviour and intellectual elitismbehaviour and intellectual elitism

A) Irene AdlerA) Irene Adler B) James MoriartyB) James Moriarty C) John WatsonC) John Watson D) Steven MoffatD) Steven Moffat

Answer – John WatsonAnswer – John Watson

Friendly, reliable, steady. Friendly, reliable, steady. Watson’s everything his Watson’s everything his flatmate is not. flatmate is not.

Remember, a foil is not Remember, a foil is not necessarily an enemy it’s necessarily an enemy it’s merely a character that merely a character that provides a strong contrast provides a strong contrast to the other in question.to the other in question.

Round 5: Final RoundRound 5: Final Round

In William Shakespeare’s In William Shakespeare’s Julius CaesarJulius Caesar, which pair of , which pair of characters are a foil?characters are a foil?A)A) Brutus and CassiusBrutus and Cassius

B)B) Caesar and CassiusCaesar and Cassius

C)C) Brutus and Marc AntonyBrutus and Marc Antony

D)D) Marc Antony and CaesarMarc Antony and Caesar

Answer – A) Brutus and Answer – A) Brutus and Cassius, C) Brutus and Cassius, C) Brutus and Marc AntonyMarc Antony Brutus is honourable and has the Brutus is honourable and has the

good of the Republic at heart good of the Republic at heart were as Cassius and Marc Antony were as Cassius and Marc Antony are working for their own are working for their own interestsinterests