Catharsis

• Catharsis, from the Greek meaning ‘cleansed’, refers to the process whereby strong emotions are released, either by the characters in a fictional work or by the audience participating in the work.
• For example, crying acts as a catharsis, enabling the sufferer to relax.

Pathos

• Pathos, from the Greek meaning ‘suffering’, refers to the power of the speaker to evoke strong feelings in an audience, often of pity, by argument.

Back to Literary devices