6 Questions
What is Pathetic Fallacy?
A literary term for attributing human emotions to inanimate objects
Who coined the term Pathetic Fallacy?
John Ruskin
Which of the following best describes an example of Pathetic Fallacy?
Attributing human emotions to inanimate objects to reflect a character's mood
In the given examples, how is Pathetic Fallacy used to mirror a character's emotion?
By attributing emotions to nature or weather elements
Which statement best reflects the purpose of using Pathetic Fallacy in literature?
To show characters' inner emotions through external elements
How does Pathetic Fallacy contribute to the tone and atmosphere of a text?
By attributing human emotions to inanimate objects for mood enhancement
Study Notes
John Ruskin
- John Ruskin was an English writer, philosopher, art critic, historian, and polymath of the Victorian era.
- He coined the term "Pathetic Fallacy".
Pathetic Fallacy
- Pathetic Fallacy is a literary term that attributes human emotions to inanimate objects.
- It is used to show characters' moods by describing the weather, creating tone or atmosphere in the text.
Examples of Pathetic Fallacy
- The sun rising "beaming gloriously" and the breeze being "gentle" as it brushes past daffodils.
- A "cruel wind" howling through trees, with a "mournful gray sky" that "wept" and "great drops" trickling down the faces of leaves.
Pathetic Fallacy in Literature
- In "The Scarlet Heart" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Chapter 15-19 (A Forest Walk):
- A stream's "babbles" are described as "kind, quiet, soothing, but melancholy, like the voice of a young child that was spending its infancy without playfulness" to mirror Hester's guilt.
- The "melancholy brook" symbolizes nature's sadness for Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale's harsh situation.
Learn about John Ruskin, an English writer, philosopher, and art critic who coined the term Pathetic Fallacy. Understand the concept of Pathetic Fallacy, a literary term attributing human emotions to inanimate objects to convey characters' mood and enhance the atmosphere in the text.
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