History Foil / Literature

** Also from the same story are the other two main characters who assist in bringing the above two together, the humans Jessica and Ron also contrasted with each other: she was a loud, brash, passionate ActionGirl ([[FieryRedhead she is a redhead after all]]) while paired with the soft-spoken, easygoing, [[PluckyComicRelief funny]], and NonActionGuy Ron. It is shown several times throughout the story that Ron has a crush on Juliet, preferring her [[HairofGoldHeartofGold passive, kind, and sweet nature]] over Jessica's sassy, brash, and sharp-tongued one. [[spoiler:However after Paris gives him TheReasonYouSuckSpeech and insults Jessica, [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome he punches Paris in the face]] and [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove declares his feelings for his red-haired girlfriend]], and the two share a kiss afterwards. Guess HeroesWantRedheads after all.]]

** ''Literature/TheHobbit: Smaug and Thorin. They're both Kings under the Mountain according to themselves - Smaug is TheUsurper to Thorin's RightfulKingReturns. Thorin and Smaug have the same [[FatalFlaw Fatal Flaws]] of {{Pride}}, and {{Greed}} (for the same freaking treasure no less), and both their goals and motivations are pretty self-centred. They also both blockade themselves and their treasure inside the same mountain and wish for others to leave them alone with it or otherwise face DisproportionateRetribution. Furthermore, both take a more active role in the plot in the present time frame for {{Revenge}}. Both of them expect others to treat them like nobility, but Thorin is definitely [[BerserkButton more tolerant of not getting this than Smaug is]], whilst Smaug has a [[FauxAffablyEvil lot more charm when he's talking to others than Thorin does]]. Smaug is a formidable OneManArmy and is seemingly alone in the world, whereas Thorin operates with (and often relies on) other dwarves and Bilbo Baggins. Smaug is huge whereas Thorin is a dwarf. Smaug is a GeniusBruiser whereas Thorin makes some bad decisions on his own. Smaug is red and gold, while Thorin wears blue and silver colors. Thorin commands the loyalty of the other Company dwarves to the point [[spoiler:his nephews die defending him]] and he makes a HeelFaceTurn out of his SanitySlippage; Smaug has no such redeeming qualities.

* In Creator/JRRTolkien's [[Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium Legendarium]]:
** In ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', Boromir might be considered the foil to his brother Faramir as well as to Aragorn, as while he had similar heroic goals, he is a TragicHero who is tempted by the Ring.
** Saruman and Gandalf are both powerful wizards, however, Saruman is seduced by power, whereas Gandalf refuses to take the Ring. In ''The Two Towers'', Gandalf says that he is Saruman as he should have been.
** Denethor and Théoden are both the rulers of their countries who succumb to the influence of Sauron and Saruman respectively (Denethor via the Palantír, and Théoden through the influence of Wormtongue.) Both kings also struggle with despair, having lost their son. Ultimately, Denethor succumbs to despair and commits suicide, but Théoden triumphs over it and dies an honorable death in battle.
** Denethor and Faramir: both are noble and powerful pure-blooded Númenóreans with the abilities to read the hearts of other men and to command over them, who share a love for ancient lore and other scholarly pursuits over feats of arm. Yet all these similarities only highlight their differences: the son is warm, gentle and understanding where the father is cold, harsh and scornful. Faramir chooses to keep on fighting despite having lost all hope, Denethor succumbs to despair. Faramir demonstrates humility and open-mindedness, Denethor displays arrogance and stubbornness, etc...
** In ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' and ''Literature/TheChildrenOfHurin'', Tuor and Túrin might be considered each other's foil. They're cousins (though they ''almost'' never meet), both their fathers are lost in Nirnaeth Arnoediad, they are separated from their human families to be fostered by Elves, go live in hidden Elven cities, fall in love with Elven ladies... However, Túrin is a rash, not always sympathetic TragicHero BlessedWithSuck while Tuor is an all out good guy who ends pretty well -- what with being one of the few characters who actually survive to the end of the book.
** The [[FantasyPantheon Valar]] [[UltimateBlacksmith Aule]] and [[BigBad Melkor]]/[[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] serve as foils. They are both Valar who have their own ideas and don't always work with Eru's plans for Arda. However while Aule tried making his own life, creating the Dwarves, he repented of doing so when Eru reprimanded him and Eru gave the Dwarves true life for this. In contrast Melkor 'creates' his own creatures by corrupting Eru's creations, such as the Orcs being made from corrupted Elves. Aule created Dwarves out of a desire to populate the Earth and actually loves his creations as his children. Melkor breaks with Eru's plans out of envy and doesn't love his creations, Tolkien wrote Morgoth would have eventually destroyed them.
** [[BornUnderTheSail Eärendil]] and [[WalkingTheEarth Maglor]]. Both are grandsons of High Kings of Noldor. Eärendil is the genetic father of Elrond and Elros; and he, albeit of son of mortal Tuor, sets sails to West to seek help of Valar to beat Morgoth. Whilst away, the Sons of Fëanor attack Sirion, and whilst Eärendil's wife Elwing escapes with Silmaril, she leaves young Elrond and Elros basically orphaned. Maglor then becomes their foster father. With Silmaril, Eärendil and Elwing eventually arrive to Valinor, and Eärendil chooses the life of Elf (although his heart was more on his father's kindred). He eventually becomes the Lightbearer, sailing forever the vastness of the skies with Silmaril on the mast of his ship, and becomes the sign of hope to Elves and Men. Maglor, on the other hand, eventually gets his hand on the Silmarils, find them burning him because of his (and his brothers') foul deeds, defies the consultation of the ''archangels'' of Arda, casts his Silmaril into sea, and [[TheAtoner is doomed to wander forever]] the shores of Middle-Earth, singing of pain and regret, never returning amongst the Elven nations, and never even being granted the relief of death like Men. [[spoiler:He is presumably ''still'' around somewhere...]]
** Smaug and Thorin. Interestingly, they're both Kings under the Mountain according to themselves - Smaug is TheUsurper to Thorin's RightfulKingReturns. Thorin and Smaug have the same [[FatalFlaw Fatal Flaws]] of {{Pride}}, and {{Greed}} (for the same freaking treasure no less), and both their goals and motivations are pretty self-centred. They also both blockade themselves and their treasure inside the same mountain and wish for others to leave them alone with it or otherwise face DisproportionateRetribution. Furthermore, both take a more active role in the plot in the present time frame for {{Revenge}}. Both of them expect others to treat them like nobility, but Thorin is definitely [[BerserkButton more tolerant of not getting this than Smaug is]], whilst Smaug has a [[FauxAffablyEvil lot more charm when he's talking to others than Thorin does]]. Smaug is a formidable OneManArmy and is seemingly alone in the world, whereas Thorin operates with (and often relies on) other dwarves and Bilbo Baggins. Smaug is huge whereas Thorin is a dwarf. Smaug is a GeniusBruiser whereas Thorin makes some bad decisions on his own. Smaug is red and gold, while Thorin wears blue and silver colors. Thorin commands the loyalty of the other Company dwarves to the point [[spoiler: his nephews die defending him]] and he makes a HeelFaceTurn out of his SanitySlippage; Smaug has no such redeeming qualities.
%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample -->(Actually, this trope can be applied to dwarves and dragons broadly in Middle-Earth.)

** The titular characters are a demon and angel respectively, whose physical appearances (he wears [[SpikesOfVillainy black spiked armor and had black demonic wings]] to contrast with her white dress and wings and personalities ([[TheStoic he is stoic]], [[TheQuietOne quiet]], and [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]] and she is [[FriendToAllLivingThings kind]], [[GenkiGirl spontaneous]], and [[{{Pollyanna}} cheerful]]) differed. The places they live in reflected this as well: Juliet's is a peaceful, well-lit, and beautiful realm as opposed to Romeo's gloomy, perilous, and quite frightening one. Despite the current war between the two races, this doesn't stop them from falling in love. [[spoiler:Until Paris, Romeo's EvilTwin tricks Juliet into thinking that Romeo killed her father during the last war (which is actually proven to be true) and is just pretending to be in love with her so that he can find out the weaknesses of the Angels and kill ''her'' next, putting her in a HeroicBSOD until Romeo tells her that he is deeply in love with her because she is the only one that truly understands him and he proves his love by giving her the necklace her father wanted to give her and he had to kill her father, who was succumbing to fatal injuries that ''Paris'' caused. This, combined with [[YouAreNotAlone Jessica's and Ron's words,]] makes her eventually forgive him.]]

* In a ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' story that's ''way way'' different from the original, the titular characters are a demon and angel respectively, whose physical appearances(he wore [[SpikesOfVillainy black spiked armor and had black demonic wings]] to contrast with her white dress and wings and personalities ([[TheStoic he was stoic]], [[TheQuietOne quiet]], and [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]] and she was [[FriendToAllLivingThings kind]], [[GenkiGirl spontaneous]], and [[{{Pollyanna}} cheerful]]) differed. The places they lived in reflected this as well: Juliet's was a peaceful, well-lit, and beautiful realm as opposed to Romeo's gloomy, perilous, and quite frightening one. Despite the current war between the two races, this doesn't stop them from falling in love. [[spoiler:Until Paris, Romeo's EvilTwin tricks Juliet into thinking that Romeo killed her father during the last war (which is actually proven to be true) and is just pretending to be in love with her so that he can find out the weaknesses of the Angels and kill ''her'' next, putting her in a HeroicBSOD until Romeo tells her that he is deeply in love with her because she is the only one that truly understands him and he proves his love by giving her the necklace her father wanted to give her and he had to kill her father, who was succumbing to fatal injuries that ''Paris'' caused. This, combined with [[YouAreNotAlone Jessica's and Ron's words,]] makes her eventually forgive him.]]

** You know what?? This story pretty much ''defines'' the use of foils, as aside from the four mentioned above, we're introduced to 4 [[ElementalPowers elemental]] demon knights who form somewhat of a RedOniBlueOni dynamic: The boys Paris (Fire) and Tybalt (Earth) represent Red, and are the most [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]] [[MagnificentBastard nastiest]] [[SmugSnake smuggish]] people that have [[MoralEventHorizon crossed the line]] [[MindRape way]] [[KickTheDog too]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty much]], and the girls Sylvia (Air) and Rosalie (Water) represent Blue and like Romeo are snarky [[PunchClockVillain Punch Clock Villains]] [[spoiler:that eventually perform a HeelFaceTurn.]]

* ''LightNovel/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'' characters Tatsuya and Kichijouji are similar, except that they serve different clans. Both are socially awkward [[BadassBookworm Badass Bookworms]] who're eternally loyal to their aristocratic SchoolIdol patrons. Rivalry was instant.

* ''LightNovel/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'':

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'':

** Ax is foil to Jake (giving orders vs. taking orders), Marco (pragmatism vs. "warrior ethics"), and Rachel (emotional vs. logic).