Foil is a
literary device designed to illustrate or reveal information, traits, values
, or motivations of one character through the comparison and contrast of another character. A literary foil character serves the purpose of drawing attention to the qualities of another character, frequently the protagonist.
Which of the following statements is the best definition of foil as a literary device?
In literature, a foil is
a character that has characteristics that oppose another character, usually the protagonist
. … A subplot can also work as a foil to the main plot. The foil subplot highlights some key aspects of the main plot by showing an opposing situation.
What is an example of a literary foil?
A foil is a literary character that is
intended to highlight attributes in another character through opposing traits
. … The good character’s traits emphasize the bad character’s traits, and vice versa. The Harry Potter Series characters Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are a modern example of this type of foil.
What is the opposite of a literary foil?
Foils are used in all types of literature. A character that exhibits opposite or conflicting traits to another character is called a
foil
. Foil characters can be antagonists, but not always. Sometimes, foils will even be other characters alongside the protagonist.
What is the literary term foil?
Foil, in literature,
a character who is presented as a contrast to a second character so as to point to or show to advantage some aspect of the second character
. An obvious example is the character of Dr. Watson in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories.
Is Draco Malfoy a foil character?
In the Harry Potter series,
Draco Malfoy can be seen as a foil to the Harry Potter character
; Professor Snape enables both characters “to experience the essential adventures of self-determination” but they make different choices; Harry chooses to oppose Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters wholeheartedly, whereas Draco …
What does the perfect foil mean?
someone or something that makes another’s good or bad qualities all the more noticeable
: The older, cynical character in the play is the perfect foil for the innocent William.
Who is a foil to Romeo?
The most famous foil character in Romeo and Juliet is
Mercutio
. Mercutio is considered a foil to Romeo.
What is literary irony?
In simplest terms, irony occurs in literature AND in life
whenever a person says something or does something that departs from what they (or we) expect them to say or do
. Just as there are countless ways of misunderstanding the world [sorry kids], there are many different kinds of irony.
Can foil characters be similar?
A foil character
can be any character in a film that’s similar to another character
, while also being different. Typically, however, foil characters exist to challenge or oppose the main character (or protagonist) of a story.
What is literary devices in a story?
Literary devices are
specific techniques that allow a writer to convey a deeper meaning that goes beyond what’s on the page
. Literary devices work alongside plot and characters to elevate a story and prompt reflection on life, society, and what it means to be human.
What does it mean to be a foil for someone?
You can serve as a foil to someone if you show them to be better than you by contrast. …
It reflects an image back to you
, so if you’re a foil to someone, their image is reflected off of you in a positive light.
Why is Mercutio a foil to Romeo?
Mercutio, the witty skeptic, is a foil for Romeo, the young Petrarchan lover. Mercutio
mocks Romeo’s vision of love
and the poetic devices he uses to express his emotions: … He advocates an adversarial concept of love that contrasts sharply with Romeo’s idealized notion of romantic union.
Why is Antony a foil to Brutus?
Brutus to Antony
The traits of
deception, ambition, and treachery
that define Antony contrast with Brutus’ honesty and naiveté. Another contrast between them is the simplicity of their intentions when they speak. Antony often speaks loftily and with passion, as when he weeps over Caesar’s body.
What does foil stand for in English?
more … A handy way to remember how to multiply two binomials. It stands for “
First, Outer, Inner, Last
“
How is Cassius a foil for Brutus?
A foil is mostly used to highlight the traits of the character who is the antithesis of the protagonist. In terms of the above, then, Cassius
is the opposite of Brutus
. … He is extremely cynical and his comments are obviously made to influence Brutus and provoke him into joining the conspiracy to get rid of Caesar.
