The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Foil 1 key example

Foil
Explanation and Analysis—Shmuel and Bruno:

Bruno’s life of privileged ignorance and Shmuel’s degrading existence as a prisoner could not be more different. However, these differences also help the reader to understand all of the ways in which the boys are similar. They demonstrate how arbitrary the distinctions placed on them by prejudice really are. In this way, Bruno and Shmuel function as foils for one another in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.