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Bathos

usgb/ˈbeɪθɑːs/Volume
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Unexpected Shift

Bathos is often intentional, creating an abrupt shift from serious to silly to stimulate humor or irony.

Illustration for Unexpected Shift
The noble speech had bathos when it ended with a joke about chickens.
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Literary Device

Authors may use bathos to critique or mock high-minded writing or ideas by contrasting them with the trivial.

Illustration for Literary Device
His poetic verse fell into bathos with the mention of his lost socks.
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Avoid Unintentional

Bathos can be a literary pitfall; avoid unintentional shifts that may undermine serious content.

Illustration for Avoid Unintentional
Her sentimental novel unintentionally reached bathos with its clichéd happy ending.
Visual representation of the word "Bathos"

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