The 2008 English Literature exam’s Question 3 (the free-response question) asks for an analysis of the contribution of a foil in characterizing the main character, and also in illuminating the meaning of the work. Judging by the comments posted by teachers on the AP English listserv, the subject of the prompt was a good one. But most of us were unhappy with how much the definition of a foil was narrowed by the statement that only a “minor character [who] serves as a foil to a main character” would be appropriate to discuss. Many of our colleagues expressed worry about how strictly the students would have to adhere to this.

The listserv also posted an array of comments about the list of novels and plays that would serve writers well as they worked with the prompt. As usual, several Shakespeare plays were on the list. I decided to look at how many foils (major or minor) I included in analytical questions in the first four plays of the new Peoples Education Shakespeare Skillbook Series.

FOIL in HAMLET: Fortinbras

Lesson 19 begins with the following explanation of one of Hamlet’s major soliloquies:

Claudius has used the killing of Polonius as public proof of Hamlet’s homicidal madness, and has ordered him exiled to England. On his way to the ship, Hamlet comes upon the young Norwegian warrior, Fortinbras, also...