Using similar conditions between things to set off something is called positive contrast. For example, in Yang Shuo's Ode to Camellia, plum blossom, magnolia and Yingchun are praised first, but "in fact, this is not the deepest spring scenery", and Camellia is "as deep as the sea". The author sets off the beauty of Camellia with plum blossom, magnolia and Spring Festival.
Using the opposite conditions between things to set off something is called contrast. "There are hundreds of feet of ice on the cliff and beautiful flowers." (Chairman Mao's Operator Yongmei) The harsh environment sets off the strong quality of plum blossoms and highlights their tenacious spirit and vigorous vitality, which is a typical example.
How to use foil technique?
Let's talk about positive contrast first. Positive contrast is to set off things that are similar to each other. If you want to highlight the characteristics of a person, set off him or her with another person or people with similar characteristics. In Travel Notes of Lao Can, to highlight Bai Niu's superb storytelling skills, we must first win people's applause with the stories told by the beautiful pianist and the black girl. This is a perfect contrast for the author. If you want to highlight the thoughts and feelings of the characters, you can also use scenery with similar characteristics to set off. Lu Xun's Hometown: "Since it is the end of winter, approaching my hometown, the weather is gloomy again. The cold wind blew into the cabin, and looked out from the gap in the canopy. Across the world from Huang Chengcheng, there were several desolate villages, which were lifeless. I can't help but feel sad. " Here, the author uses cold weather and "lifeless" scenes to contrast my mood. This is a perfect contrast of the scenery.
In addition, contrast. Contrast is to use the opposite conditions between things to set off. If you want to highlight the characteristics of a person or a thing, use people or things with opposite characteristics to set off the people or things you want to show. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang wrote "Borrowing an Arrow from a Grass Boat". If you only write about how Zhuge Liang promised to make and borrow arrows, his personality characteristics may not be so distinct, but if you add Lu Su, it will be different. The author tries to show Lu Su's doubts, doubts, anxiety and nervousness, thus highlighting Zhuge Liang's confidence, wisdom and composure. This is "person-to-person matching". Besides, you can also draw lines with objects or landscapes. For example, Du Fu's poem "Where petals flow like tears, lonely birds sing their own grief" is to use beautiful things, flowers and birds, to set off their sad mood.
It is worth noting that:
1. Contrast and contrast are different. There is a parallel relationship between contrasting things and characters, and there is no owner. By comparison, their respective characteristics are more distinct. There are primary and secondary things and characters to form a foil, which serves the main body.
2. Whether to use the front lining or the back lining depends on the specific situation: the green leaves are lined with safflower, and the front lining is used; The defeated branches are lined with red flowers, and they are set against each other.
If the foil is used well, it can really win by surprise. Of course, the premise is to feel life well.