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Foil in Literature

In Hamlet, Fortinbras is a foil to Prince Hamlet.

While Hamlet is hesitant and skulking, Fortinbras is dashing, decisive, and determined to avenge his father's death, regardless of consequence. He's the real 'hero' while Hamlet is merely protagonist.
 
One side of foil is dull because two sheets are rolled between the rollers at the same time; the foil surfaces which contact each other are duller than those that contact the rollers.
 
Two characters who are opposites of one another so when u compare them, their traits are accentuated.

So take Gladiator: Maximus and Commodus are foils of one another. Maximus is generous, loyal, honest and strong while Commodus is petty, backstabbing and weak.

Sometimes it can be as clear cut as that, other times its more subtle.
 
Originally posted by: Mo0o
Two characters who are opposites of one another so when u compare them, their traits are accentuated.

So take Gladiator: Maximus and Commodus are foils of one another. Maximus is generous, loyal, honest and strong while Commodus is petty, backstabbing and weak.

Sometimes it can be as clear cut as that, other times its more subtle.
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Yeah, pretty much, though the foil is never the complete opposite of the (generally) main character, but simply has one or several signal personal characteristics so different that they make the characteristics of the main character stand out in contrast.

Here's a good definition from the web:

Definition: A foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another perhaps more primary character, so as to point out specific traits of the primary character.
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Originally posted by: Leros
Like the characters opposite. God and Satan, for example.
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That's like protagonist and antagonist. Foils can be best buds like Holmes and Watson (foil) or Batman and Robin (foil)
 
Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Everything in literature boils down to one of two concepts: sex and violence. Mix and match at your own peril.
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Not in a Beckett play, my friend, not in Beckett play. 😉
 
What Mo0o said was pretty good. They are characters that have opposing traits, although they may have some similarities, too. Normally, they are used so that the opposing traits are more pronounced. Sydney Carton and C.J. Stryver in A Tale of Two Cities was the example that I used in high school.
 
Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Originally posted by: nkgreen
First, outer, inner, last.
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This was my first thought. I'm a nerd.

🙁
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Keyword literature 😉

Thanks every I get the basic understanding of it now...now to write that report on twelfth night and foil...heh
 
Originally posted by: Mo0o
Two characters who are opposites of one another so when u compare them, their traits are accentuated.

So take Gladiator: Maximus and Commodus are foils of one another. Maximus is generous, loyal, honest and strong while Commodus is petty, backstabbing and weak.

Sometimes it can be as clear cut as that, other times its more subtle.
Click to expand...

NO! NO! NO!

This is the antagonist and protagonist. They are not foils. A foil is a character of some difference to another (generally only the protagonist has a foil), but otherwise mainly similar. The purpose of the foil is to expose some character trait (usually a flaw), in the protagonist.

TehMac has provided a prefect example from Hamlet.
 
Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
Originally posted by: Mo0o
Two characters who are opposites of one another so when u compare them, their traits are accentuated.

So take Gladiator: Maximus and Commodus are foils of one another. Maximus is generous, loyal, honest and strong while Commodus is petty, backstabbing and weak.

Sometimes it can be as clear cut as that, other times its more subtle.
Click to expand...

NO! NO! NO!

This is the antagonist and protagonist. They are not foils. A foil is a character of some difference to another (generally only the protagonist has a foil), but otherwise mainly similar. The purpose of the foil is to expose some character trait (usually a flaw), in the protagonist.

TehMac has provided a prefect example from Hamlet.
Click to expand...

I dont think the two have the mutually exclusive
 
Originally posted by: Mo0o
Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
Originally posted by: Mo0o
Two characters who are opposites of one another so when u compare them, their traits are accentuated.

So take Gladiator: Maximus and Commodus are foils of one another. Maximus is generous, loyal, honest and strong while Commodus is petty, backstabbing and weak.

Sometimes it can be as clear cut as that, other times its more subtle.
Click to expand...

NO! NO! NO!

This is the antagonist and protagonist. They are not foils. A foil is a character of some difference to another (generally only the protagonist has a foil), but otherwise mainly similar. The purpose of the foil is to expose some character trait (usually a flaw), in the protagonist.

TehMac has provided a prefect example from Hamlet.
Click to expand...

I dont think the two have the mutually exclusive
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fail
 
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