There is an abundance of pathetic fallacy all around us. 

Consider how some masterpieces would have missed their charm if this literary strategy had not been employed.

The pathetic fallacy may be seen in a multitude of distinct literary masterpieces. But what is the definition of the pathetic fallacy, and how may it be used proficiently? If you want to enhance your knowledge, keep reading for some unexpected truths about the pathetic fallacy that are sure to surprise you.

Pathetic fallacy: Definition

Pathetic fallacy is a literary element in which inanimate items, nature, or creatures are associated with human emotions. The pathetic fallacy is frequently employed to depict the author’s or the inner experiences of other characters as they interact with their surroundings. For instance, in several novels, a severe thunderstorm rages during a dramatic combat scene, or rainfall happens as death occurs. In Keats’ ‘Ode to Melancholy,’ another illustration of the pathetic fallacy can be discovered:

“Sudden from heaven like a weeping cloud”

The term ‘weeping cloud’ indicates that clouds have been given the human feeling of weeping. As a result, this is a pathetic fallacy example.

Here are some crucial facts regarding the pathetic fallacy to help you understand it better.

The difference between personification and pathetic fallacy

Anyone who learns about the pathetic fallacy would immediately associate it with personification, another similar literary term. However, don’t be tricked into believing they’re the same thing. Here’s how they’re different:

• Pathetic fallacy-

It’s a sort of personification in which inanimate natural items are presented with human feelings. For instance, “unruly” is the human emotion assigned to the night in the sentence “The night has been unruly.” The pathetic fallacy is frequently related to attributing human emotions to various aspects of nature. 

• Personification-

Personification, however, allows any human action, character, or trait to be assigned to nonhuman entities. “The Sun grinned at us,” for example, is an example of personification. The Sun has been attributed to human actions here. Both nature and man-made objects can be personified.

The term’s origin-

Ruskin Bond first coined this term in his publication ‘Modern Painters,’ according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. The overuse of fallacy, according to Ruskin, was a hallmark of a poor poet. He used the phrase “emotional falseness” to describe the emotional attitude of 18th century Romantics. Later authors of the early twentieth century, such as Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot, employed the pathetic fallacy skilfully and widely. The definition of the phrase has moved or changed through time. It is currently used to symbolize. It also does not deny the perception of feelings to inanimate objects.

The word’s etymology-

‘Pathetic’ is derived from the Latin word ‘pathos,’ which means ‘feeling.’ As a result, the term ‘pathetic’ does not imply ‘lame’ or ‘awful’ in this context. The term “fallacy” comes from the Latin word “fallax,” which translates to “dishonest” or “untruthful.” Juxtaposing these two words signifies that attributing human sentiments to inanimate objects is incorrect. However, it does not imply that using the pathetic fallacy is necessarily a mistake. Instead, the literary term is employed to elicit a specific emotional response.

Anthropomorphism is not the same as Pathetic Fallacy.

Anthropomorphism is a metaphorical language in which human attributes are ascribed to inanimate objects or animals. It is, however, different when compared to the pathetic fallacy.

• Pathetic fallacy-

The literary method imbues nonhuman entities or animals with human emotions. It is, nonetheless, not a literal description; instead, it is a metaphorical description intended to imbue the visual with a specific mood.

• Anthropomorphism-

Inanimate objects and animals are given human features in this figure of speech. The nonhuman entities are given human attributes in a literal rather than figurative sense. In Anthropomorphism, inanimate objects and animals perform human-like activities such as conversing, grinning, and so on. Po from “Kung Fu Panda” and Simba from “The Lion King” are two anthropomorphized characters.

The usage of the pathetic fallacy by Shakespeare-

We may observe Shakespeare’s implementation of the pathetic fallacy in his play “Macbeth”. It was utilized to portray Duncan’s terrible murder.

The pathetic fallacy is being used to illustrate the dismal environment of Duncan’s murder. The lines, ‘the night has been unruly’, ‘Lamenting heard I’ th’ air, strange screams of death’, as well as ‘Earth was feverous and did shake’ everything characterized the wicked crime that was committed last night.

So, there you have it: everything you need to understand about the pathetic fallacy, as well as some intriguing trivia about it. Use this knowledge to improve the quality of your writing.

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