Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Pathos refers to the use of emotions and feelings in persuasive writing or speaking. It aims to evoke empathy, sympathy, or other emotional responses from the audience.
Rhetorical devices are techniques used in persuasive writing to create emotional impact. Examples include metaphors, similes, anecdotes, imagery, and rhetorical questions.
Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share someone else's feelings or experiences. Pathos often relies on creating empathy with the audience by appealing to their emotions.
Tone refers to the writer's attitude towards their subject matter or audience. In persuasive writing with pathos appeal, tone plays an important role in evoking specific emotions from readers.