Bathos
noun
A sudden change from something important or serious to something silly or unimportant, usually in writing.
The film begins as a serious drama, but descends into bathos with a farcical ending.
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A depth or profound part of something, especially in the context of literature or art.
The bathos of the novel surpasses any traditional understanding of tragedy.
Usage tips
Approving
Literary
noun
A sudden change from something important or serious to something silly or unimportant, usually in writing.
The film begins as a serious drama, but descends into bathos with a farcical ending.
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A depth or profound part of something, especially in the context of literature or art.
The bathos of the novel surpasses any traditional understanding of tragedy.
Usage tips
Approving
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Shift
Bathos is often intentional, creating an abrupt shift from serious to silly to stimulate humor or irony.
The noble speech had bathos when it ended with a joke about chickens.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Device
Authors may use bathos to critique or mock high-minded writing or ideas by contrasting them with the trivial.
His poetic verse fell into bathos with the mention of his lost socks.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Unintentional
Bathos can be a literary pitfall; avoid unintentional shifts that may undermine serious content.
Her sentimental novel unintentionally reached bathos with its clichéd happy ending.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Shift
Bathos is often intentional, creating an abrupt shift from serious to silly to stimulate humor or irony.
The noble speech had bathos when it ended with a joke about chickens.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Device
Authors may use bathos to critique or mock high-minded writing or ideas by contrasting them with the trivial.
His poetic verse fell into bathos with the mention of his lost socks.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Unintentional
Bathos can be a literary pitfall; avoid unintentional shifts that may undermine serious content.
Her sentimental novel unintentionally reached bathos with its clichéd happy ending.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Shift
Bathos is often intentional, creating an abrupt shift from serious to silly to stimulate humor or irony.
The noble speech had bathos when it ended with a joke about chickens.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Device
Authors may use bathos to critique or mock high-minded writing or ideas by contrasting them with the trivial.
His poetic verse fell into bathos with the mention of his lost socks.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Unintentional
Bathos can be a literary pitfall; avoid unintentional shifts that may undermine serious content.
Her sentimental novel unintentionally reached bathos with its clichéd happy ending.
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Quote examples
Howard Jacobson
British Novelist
If it's bathos you want - and I suspect we are all bathos junkies in the end - nothing gives it to you quite like watching sport. Unless it's playing sport.
Quote examples
Howard Jacobson
British Novelist
If it's bathos you want - and I suspect we are all bathos junkies in the end - nothing gives it to you quite like watching sport. Unless it's playing sport.
Example 1 of 1
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