As a term for the combination of the very high with the very low, bathos was introduced by Alexander Pope in his essay Peri Bathous, Or the Art of Sinking in Poetry (1727).

Essentially, Bathos is the use of inappropriate or overly dramatic language for a trivial subject. It’s a shift in tone that feels unexpected and often unintentionally funny.

The meaning of BATHOS is the sudden appearance of the commonplace in otherwise elevated matter or style. How to use bathos in a sentence.

Bathos, (from Greek bathys, “deep”), unsuccessful, and therefore ludicrous, attempt to portray pathos in art, i.e., to evoke pity, sympathy, or sorrow. The term was first used in this sense by Alexander Pope …

Aug 12, 2025 · Discover the meaning of bathos in literature, how it differs from pathos, and see famous American examples from Twain, Fitzgerald, O’Connor, and more.

Bathos is a literary device where a serious or important subject is suddenly turned into a ridiculous or ordinary one. It is an anticlimax that surprises the reader and disrupts their thoughts and emotions.

In literary criticism, bathos is a sudden change in speech or writing from a serious or important subject to a ridiculous or very ordinary one.

BATHOS meaning: 1. a sudden change from a beautiful or important subject to a silly or very ordinary one…. Learn more.

Oct 13, 2025 · bathos (usually uncountable, plural bathoses) Overdone or treacly attempts to inspire pathos. quotations

Bathos turns tear-ridden, serious, emotionally-compelling scenes into awkward, twisted, and comedic scenes in just a moment. Whether on purpose or by mistake, bathos provides audiences with an …