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Literature vocabulary · Character and Characterization

Foil

Meaning in literature, with examples

/fɔɪl/nounCommon term

In literature, foil means: A character whose qualities contrast with those of another character, usually the protagonist, so that the other character's traits stand out more clearly.

In Turkish: zıt karakter, kontrast karakter, tamamlayıcı karakter

How it is used

Used in essays with 'act as' or 'serve as': X serves as a foil to Y. Laertes, who quickly acts to avenge his father, is a foil to the hesitating Hamlet; Dr Watson is a foil to Sherlock Holmes.

Example sentences

  1. The calm older brother acts as a foil to the impulsive hero.

  2. Explain how Laertes serves as a foil to Hamlet in Act 4.

Common collocations

  • a foil to
  • serve as a foil
  • act as a foil
  • perfect foil
  • protagonistThe main character of a story, whose goals, problems and choices drive the plot and whom the reader follows most closely.
  • antagonistThe character or force that opposes the main character and creates the central conflict of a story.
  • characterA person, or sometimes an animal or creature, who takes part in the events of a story, play or poem.
  • characterizationThe ways a writer creates and reveals a character's personality, through description, actions, speech, thoughts and other characters' reactions.

More terms: Character and Characterization

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