English Literature GCSE
Pathos
What Pathos means in English Literature GCSE, as defined for OCR.
Definitions of Pathos
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A quality that evokes pity or sadness. The final scene, with Ralph weeping for the loss of innocence, is filled with pathos.
A quality that evokes pity or sadness. Shakespeare creates immense pathos in the final scene.
Topics that use Pathos
- Lord of the Flies (OCR GCSE)
- Romeo and Juliet (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
Using Pathos in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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