pathos
Say it: PAY-thoss /ˈpeɪθɒs/ · noun
What “pathos” means
Something in a story or speech that makes you feel pity.
More precisely: A quality in writing or speech that stirs pity, sadness or compassion.
Example: “The documentary's pathos comes from letting the old man simply talk.”
When to use it
When discussing the touching details in writing, speech or performance that make an audience feel sadness or compassion.
Similar words
poignancy, emotion, tenderness
Where it comes from
Greek pathos, 'suffering, feeling'.
Quick check
In a play, a lonely child saves a seat for a parent who never arrives. What gives the scene its sadness?
pathos or suspense?
Show the answer
pathos
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