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. Learn more about teaching foil characters with Storyboard That.
Examples of Foil Characters in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Storyboard Text
Slide: 1
Romeo
Hopeless romantic
Falls in love quickly
Melancholy
Serious
Pessimistic
Paris comes to pay respectful homage to Juliet, Romeo to visit his dead love and to join her in death by poison. When Paris starts to enter and then challenges Romeo as a felon, Romeo slays him in a fit of rage.
Slide: 2
Mercutio
Finds love humorus
Does not fall in love
Jovial
Sarcastic
Optimistic
Mercutio makes fun of Romeo for being romantic about love. He thinks love is less about devotion and more about physical pleasure.He is also a skeptic, mocking Romeo's beliefs in fairies and portents.
Slide: 3
Tybalt
Aggressor/Antagonistic
Quick Tempered
Sticks up for Family
Capulet
Romeo comes upon the scene as Mercutio becomes heated in his words with the fiery Tybalt. Romeo steps between them and then tries to diffuse the tension by placing himself before Mercutio and by telling Tybalt that he has no argument against him.
Slide: 4
Benvolio
Passive/Peaceful
Even Keeled
Sticks up for Friends
Montague
Benvolio, whose name means "good-wisher" in Latin, has been the one to calm Romeo in an earlier act.
Slide: 5
Juliet
Young
Daughter figure
Calm
Patient
Concise
Juliet remains loyal to her husband, while the Nurse cries out "Shame come to Romeo!" (3.2.91)
Slide: 6
Nurse
Old
Mother figure
Excitable/Impatient
Meddling
Babbling/Nonsensical
"Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady—Lord, Lord! when 'twas a little prating thing..."
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