Pathos

[Ionaecius]

I think that the creation of poignant moments in any serious work is a requirement, and I think it is a sign of a good writer when an event in a text can create a painful emotional response in the reader.

I thought I would start this thread for folks to post what poignant moments they have enjoyed in books and what sort of event tugs at their heart strings.

For me, the most poignant thing I have read thus far has been Hemingway, especially in A Farewell to Arms (caution: spoiler) when Frederic Henry leaves the hospital with his wife and child dead in the rain and night.

Of course, there is also The Grapes of Wrath, too. I seem to recall one of the intercalary chapters has a farmer trying to understand why the bank is taking his land, and he makes a comment about how it isn't right that land his father fought for could be taken so easily from him. All throughout the story, the Okies just have this feeling of utter defeat and hopelessness about them. *sniff* Oh good gods, where are my tissues...(ok, maybe that was a little melodramatic for this topic. I apologize)

[Spiderkeg]

I love movies and I love the stories being told. While I'll be the first to admit that Hollywood is seemingly bankrupt nowadays on creativity... there is one aspect that always seems to get me in a movie.

I love the classic movie montage. Gets me every time. Where the hero is getting ready to do the good fight, and there's that mesmerizing music followed by scene after scene which illustrate an association of ideas.

[SchoolTheOld]

I think pathos itself is starting to become an overrated tool to incite emotion...and therefore is nowhere near as effective in everyday movies...

Take King Kong for example...that was just horrible.