The Giver
by Lois Lowry

The Giver: Foil 1 key example

Foil
Explanation and Analysis—Jonas and Asher:

Jonas and Asher are foils, each undergoing an opposite transformation when they receive their Assignments. Throughout childhood, Jonas is known as a conscientious rule-follower who does well in school and meets society's expectations. He receives mostly praise from the adults in his life. Asher, on the other hand, is impulsive and struggles at school. In particular, he is always mixing up vocabulary words. Precision with words is very important in the society Asher and Jonas are born into, so Asher endures constant correction, criticism, and even ridicule throughout his childhood for his mistakes.