bathos etymology

Etymology:

The word "bathos" comes from the Greek word βάθος (bathos), meaning "depth" or "deepness."

Meaning:

In literary terms, bathos is a sudden and jarring descent from the sublime to the trivial, often resulting in an unintended comedic effect. It is also known as "anti-climax" or "anticlimax."

Origin:

The concept of bathos was first described by the ancient Greek philosopher Longinus in his treatise "On the Sublime" (c. 1st century AD). Longinus argued that true sublimity could only be achieved through a graceful and sustained elevation of language and thought, and that any sudden drop into the mundane would weaken the overall effect.

In the 18th century, English literary critic John Dennis used the term "bathos" to describe a particular literary device in which a writer deliberately descends from the elevated to the trivial in order to evoke a humorous response. Dennis believed that bathos could be an effective tool for satire or parody.

Examples:

• "O for a muse of fire, that would ascend / The brightest heaven of invention! / A kingdom for a stage, princes to act / And monarchs to behold the swelling scene! / Then should the warlike Harry, like a steer, / Turn'd out of pasture, be compelled to draw / That gilded chariot in the Irish wars" (William Shakespeare, "Henry V")
• "Thus ended the most remarkable scene in the history of man; and thus was fulfilled the prediction of the inspired bard, who said that 'Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall'" (Edward Gibbon, "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire")

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