What is Pathos? Examples of Emotional Appeal in Fitzgerald's Prose

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🎭 Pathos Definition: Pathos is a rhetorical device used to evoke emotions (sadness, pity, anger) in the audience. It's a key element of persuasive writing and speaking.
• ✍️ Emotional Appeal: Writers use specific language, imagery, and storytelling techniques to trigger emotional responses.
• 📖 Fitzgerald's Prose: F. Scott Fitzgerald masterfully employs pathos to highlight themes of love, loss, disillusionment, and the American Dream.
• 💔 Common Techniques:
  • 😢 Vivid descriptions of suffering
  • 😔 Nostalgic reflections on the past
  • 😥 Portrayals of unfulfilled dreams
• 💡 Identifying Pathos: Look for passages that make you feel strong emotions or connect with the characters' experiences on a personal level.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following best describes pathos?
   1. A) A logical argument
   2. B) An appeal to ethics and morality
   3. C) An appeal to emotions
   4. D) A reference to authority
2. In *The Great Gatsby*, which element contributes MOST to the feeling of pathos?
   1. A) Gatsby's extravagant parties
   2. B) The green light across the bay
   3. C) Gatsby's unrequited love for Daisy
   4. D) Nick's objective narration
3. Which technique is Fitzgerald most likely using when describing the Valley of Ashes?
   1. A) Logos
   2. B) Ethos
   3. C) Pathos
   4. D) Kairos
4. Which of these quotes from *The Great Gatsby* is the BEST example of pathos?
   1. A) "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
   2. B) "I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
   3. C) "He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it."
   4. D) "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one... just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."
5. What emotion is Fitzgerald MOST likely trying to evoke when describing Gatsby's childhood?
   1. A) Excitement
   2. B) Envy
   3. C) Pity
   4. D) Anger
6. How does Fitzgerald's use of pathos affect the reader's understanding of Gatsby's character?
   1. A) It makes Gatsby seem less sympathetic.
   2. B) It encourages the reader to admire Gatsby's wealth.
   3. C) It allows the reader to empathize with Gatsby's struggles.
   4. D) It makes Gatsby seem more realistic.
7. Which of the following BEST exemplifies the use of pathos in literature?
   1. A) A character presenting statistical data to support an argument.
   2. B) A character recounting a tragic event with vivid, emotional detail.
   3. C) A character making a logical deduction based on available evidence.
   4. D) A character appealing to a sense of justice and fairness.