Foil

Definition

In literature, a foil refers to a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight their differences. The purpose of using foils is to emphasize certain traits or characteristics through comparison.

Related terms

Protagonist:

The protagonist is the main character in a story who drives the plot forward.

Antagonist:

The antagonist is the character who opposes or creates conflict for the protagonist.

Characterization:

Characterization refers to the techniques used by an author to develop and portray characters in a story.