pathos

Noun

• a style that has the power to evoke feelings

• a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
  • the blind are too often objects of pity
    

• a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow)
  • the film captured all the pathos of their situation
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  commiseration , pity , ruth , poignancy