1. 20 March 2012
Character Foils
Character Foils Comparison and Contrast Pre-write and Rough Draft

2. Character Foils
A character foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another character, so that each one stands out vividly.
Opposite Character Traits
noble / ignoble
honorable / dishonorable
brave / cowardly
honest / deceitful
humble / arrogant
loyal / disloyal
stoic/ emotional
dogmatic / indecisive

3. Character Foils
You need to chose two of the following characters to examine as character foils: Caesar, Antony, Cassius, and Brutus.
Next you will choose three sets of opposite traits for those two characters. For example, if you are comparing Brutus and Cassius, one set of opposite traits would be honorable and dishonorable.

4. Character Foils Pre-Write Point-by-Point Method
Block Method
Point-by-Point Method
Character 1
Trait 1 -honest
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Trait 2- brave
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Trait 3 - worldly
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Character 1 - Trait 1 -honest
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Character 2 - Trait 1 - deceitful
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Character 1 - Trait 2 -brave
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Character 2 - Trait 2 - cowardly
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Character 2
Trait 1 - deceitful
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Trait 2 - cowardly
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Trait 3 - naive
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Character 1 - Trait 3 -worldly
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )
Character 2 - Trait 3 - naive
Example 1 – ( )
Example 2 – ( )

5. Citing Lines in a Play
When quoting a line from the play, use quotation marks and give the citation. When Caesar says to Calphurnia, “Cowards die many times before their death/ The valiant never taste of death but once,” he means that he is brave, so he will only have to face death once ( ).
If you are summarizing a piece of dialogue, use the citation after the summary. In the beginning of Act II, Brutus gives reasons he should kill Caesar before Caesar becomes too dangerous for Rome. This soliloquy explains that Brutus will kill Caesar for the good of Rome, which makes Brutus a noble person ( ).

6. How do I start?
The introduction of your comparison and contrast essay should include the following information:
An introduction of the idea of character foils in literature.
A brief introduction to the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.
A brief introduction of the characters you will discuss and the traits they exhibit.
A thesis statement – explain why the characters were created to be different.

7. How do I finish?
The conclusion of your comparison and contrast essay should include the following information:
A summary of the opposite traits the character foils exhibit.
A restatement (different wording) of the thesis statement.

8. Comparison and Contrast Essay
Rough Draft
Write in ink
Double space
Title – Character Foils Rough Draft
Quiz Grade