Name __________________________________
Period ________
Chapter Four
Standards Focus: Character Foil
Think about a piece of aluminum foil. Though a piece of foil doesn’t make a great
mirror, it still has the ability to reflect an image or light. In literature, the term “foil”
means one character that helps reveal the qualities of another character.
In Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, T.J. acts as a foil to Stacey, contrasting his
character and even making Stacey look better to the reader.
Directions: Use the chart below to help you visualize the contrasts between T.J.
and Stacey. Refer to Chapters 1-4 to complete the missing information in the chart.
To help, portions of the chart have been completed for you.
Chapter One
T.J.’s actions and/or
words
Stacey’s actions
and/or words
1) T.J. acts happy to be
returning to Mrs. Logan’s
class for a second year.
What the contrast
between the two
characters reveals about
Stacey
Stacey is a serious person.
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2) He hints that Stacey can
give him answers to the
tests.
He is angry that T.J.
thinks he will cheat.
3) He teases the children
with the story about the
burnings.
He stands up for his younger
brothers and sister.
4) He falsely accuses his
brother of going to the
Wallace store so that he gets
punished instead of T.J.
Chapter Three
5)
Stacey goes along with
T.J. even though he seems
to think it isn’t the right
thing to do.
Stacey is influenced by T.J.
6) T.J. thinks Little Man’s
reaction to the bus forcing
them into the gully is funny.
©2010 Secondary Solutions
39
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Literature Guide
Name __________________________________
Period ________
Chapter Four
7) T.J. instructs the Logan
children how to get out of
doing chores.
Stacey isn’t impressed, and is
slightly annoyed with all of
T.J.’s talk.
8)
Stacey knows that by
ignoring T.J. he can get the
story out of him faster.
9) T.J. acts like he is
looking for the test
questions when he returns
for his cap.
Stacey doesn’t believe T.J.
10) T.J. writes out cheat
notes for the test and
shows them to Stacey.
11)
Stacey is blamed for
cheating; he doesn’t tell the
teacher whose cheat notes
she caught him with.
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12)
Stacey tells Mama that he
went to the Wallace store to
find T.J.
13. Review the notes you’ve made on the chart. Though the boys are best friends, they are
very different from one another. In the space below, write a paragraph contrasting the
personality traits of the two boys. Support your answer by using examples from the
chart.
©2010 Secondary Solutions
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Literature Guide