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Difficulty: HardCharacter Types and Techniques of Characterization

Read the prose extract below:

"Tunde walked through the ministry corridors with calculated restraint, measuring every word he spoke to his superiors so as not to imperil his long-awaited promotion. Beside him strode Bayo, who loudly ridiculed the permanent secretary's directives and openly scoffed at office decorum, indifferent to the personal consequences."

In the extract above, how does the author employ Bayo's characterization to develop Tunde's character?

  1. Bayo serves as a dramatic foil whose reckless defiance accentuates Tunde's cautious ambition.Answer
  2. B
    Bayo is presented as a round character whose complex internal conflict exposes Tunde's lack of moral development.
  3. C
    Bayo is established through third-person omniscient commentary to reveal Tunde's first-person narrative bias.
  4. D
    Bayo functions as the central protagonist whose heroic actions reduce Tunde to a flat antagonist.

Answer

Bayo serves as a dramatic foil whose reckless defiance accentuates Tunde's cautious ambition.
The correct answer accurately identifies Bayo as a character foil. By juxtaposing Bayo's loud, reckless disregard for authority against Tunde's deliberate, cautious composure, the author indirectly emphasizes Tunde's disciplined ambition.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contrasting actions of the two characters in the excerpt.
Tunde exhibits calculated restraint and cautious behavior to protect his career, while Bayo demonstrates open mockery and disregard for consequences.
Character contrast is a fundamental technique used by prose writers to highlight specific personality traits.
2
Identify the literary character function represented by Bayo.
Because Bayo's overtly rebellious nature highlights Tunde's disciplined and ambitious nature by direct contrast, Bayo functions as a foil.
A character foil is specifically created to juxtapose traits with another character (usually the protagonist) to illuminate the latter's temperament.

Key Concept

Character Foil and Contrast Techniques in Prose
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Topics

Character Types and Techniques of Characterization

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