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A 'foil' in literature is a character whose contrast highlights another character's:
AFamily origins
BDistinguishing traits
CCostume choices
DVerse forms
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Distinguishing traits
1. Fortinbras as foil to Hamlet illustrates the device.
2. Active prince vs introspective prince — the contrast is structural.
3. The term is a basic critical category.
_Source: Project Gutenberg #1524 — Shakespeare's Hamlet — "Fortinbras ... represents external political pressure and active revenge (contrasting Hamlet's hesitation)"_
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