Our English teacher gave us this definition: Characters whose traits are emphasized via contrast with the other, but who also share a connection. The example he showed us was Harry Potter and Voldemort; they have such different characteristics, yet are always put together somehow.
A foil is a character with qualities that are very different from the main character's. You use a foil in writing as a basis for comparison... because you are showing the opposite, the main character's qualities stand out more.
A character foil involves two characters who are opposites, and their differences play off of one another. An example would be Batman and the Joker. One represents good, the other evil, and their reactions to situations emphasize the differences and similarities between them.
The octopus character is Squidward Tentacles, the coworker and major foil of SpongeBob SquarePants.
Laertes is a foil to Hamlet. Unlike Hamlet he does not reflect upon the task at hand, which is avenging his father's murder. He does not think about whether it is morally correct to conspire with the king, Claudius, to kill Hamlet for revenge. Fortenbras could also be considered a foil to Hamlet because he is just the opposite of Hamlet when it comes to decisions and following them through. B.Gene apex ;)
Laertes is the brother of Ophelia, and a moderately important character who is a direct character foil of Hamlet. He is motivated by passion, while Hamlet is motivated by reason. He is also the son of Polonius.
A foil is a character that highlights the qualities of another character through contrast.
A foil is a character with qualities that are very different from the main character's. You use a foil in writing as a basis for comparison... because you are showing the opposite, the main character's qualities stand out more.
A foil is a character placed beside the protagonist to bring out his or her qualities. For instance, if one character (the foil) treats someone poorly and the protagonist treats the same person well, the compassion of the main character is more noticeable.
a foil? A character foil is a minor character who is used by the author to illuminate the main character's personality and some of his/her's weaknesses
A character foil is used to emphasize the traits or qualities of another character by contrasting them with the foil's characteristics. For example, in "Romeo and Juliet," Mercutio is a character foil to Romeo, highlighting Romeo's romantic and emotional nature by juxtaposing it with Mercutio's humor and cynicism.
Foil. A foil is a character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, in order to highlight certain qualities or traits of the main character.
a foil
gene
A foil. Some famous examples of foils in literature are Frankenstein and his monster and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Often, a character and his/her foil will be either very similar with one key difference or extremely different entirely.
Literally, a foil is a fencing sword, used primarily in sparring. A fencer who wants to improve his performance would spar with someone who is as good or better than he is. Metaphorically, therefore, a foil is any character whose appearance in the story serves to bring out the characteristics of the main character more clearly, usually by acting in conflict with or in contrast to that character.
cowardly
Foil