pathetic fallacy

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Definition

Noun: A literary device or rhetorical figure in which human emotions, sensations, or characteristics are attributed to inanimate objects, animals, or elements of nature. It is a type of personification that specifically projects human feelings onto the non-human world, often to reflect the emotional state of a character or to create a specific mood.

Usage

The term is used primarily in literary criticism and analysis to describe and evaluate a specific technique in writing. It is not typically used in everyday conversation. * It is often employed to analyze poetry and descriptive prose. * It can be used to discuss how an author uses the environment to mirror a character's inner feelings.

Examples
  • The poet's description of "the weeping willow" is a classic example of the pathetic fallacy.
  • In the storm scene, the pathetic fallacy is evident as "the angry clouds" mirror the protagonist's fury.
  • Critics noted the author's use of pathetic fallacy when she wrote of "the lonely mountain" standing against the sky.
Advanced Usage & Notes
  • The term was coined by the Victorian art critic John Ruskin, who initially used it in a somewhat critical sense to describe what he considered an emotional inaccuracy in poetry.
  • In modern usage, it is a neutral, descriptive term for a common and effective literary device.
  • It is distinct from simple personification in its specific focus on attributing (e.g., sadness, fury, kindness) rather than any human action or form.
Variants and Related Words
  • Personification (n): A broader literary device of giving human qualities to non-human things. All instances of pathetic fallacy are a form of personification, but not all personification is pathetic fallacy.
  • Anthropomorphism (n): The attribution of human form, characteristics, or behavior to a god, animal, or object. This is often more sustained and literal than the fleeting emotional projection of pathetic fallacy.
Synonyms
  • Emotional personification
  • Anthropopathism (a more technical, less common synonym)
Related Concepts
  • Symbolism: Using an object or action to represent an abstract idea. Pathetic fallacy can function as a form of symbolism.
  • Mood/Tone: The emotional atmosphere of a literary work, which pathetic fallacy is frequently used to establish.
Noun
  1. the fallacy of attributing human feelings to inanimate objects; `the friendly sun' is an example of the pathetic fallacy