Pathos (from the Greek "pathos" — suffering) is the quality in speech, writing, behaviour, etc. that arouses emotions, esp. those of pity, sadness or sorrow

The word "pathos" refers to a situation that is larger than life, when it is a suitable occasion for people to try to reach as high a level of expression as possible

It requires a special style of speaking

One of the most effective devices Shakespeare uses in his poetry on such occasions is his way of compounding Latinate elements with his native English

There are many passages which show a condensation of long and rare words of Latin origin in contexts of unusually pure English

The contrast between unusual and foreign-looking Latin words and the Anglo-Saxon background produces the most powerful poetic effect

The introduction of the Latinate element signals the highest level of poetic expression