Hamlet

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   podunc Teacher
   College - Freshman

   According to the Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms (ed. Ross Murfin and Supryia M. Ray), a foil is "a character who, by his contrast with the main character (protagonist), serves to accentuate that character's distinctive qualities or characteristics" (131).

   The example that this book gives as a foil for Hamlet is Fortinbras, since "he takes decisive action while Hamlet vacillates." Another example is Laertes, who is "rash and bold" while Hamlet is slow to action.

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   Posted by podunc on Thursday May 1, 2008 at 4:18 AM