Bathos: Portrayed Through Examples in Rape of the Lock and Two Atoms in a Molecule

Bathos occurs when the author creates an anticlimax that alters the mood of the passage. While this is often done unintentionally, a purposeful use of bathos helps to create a mock-heroic or a mocking tone of something in general.

In Rape of the Lock, Pope uses bathos in order to create a mock-heroic. The following passage from the conflict between Belinda and the Baron demonstrates the use of bathos in order to create a mocking tone towards the conflict and characters in order to establish the mock-heroic nature of the poem:  

“See, fierce Belinda on the Baron flies,
With more than usual lightning in her eyes:
Nor fear'd the Chief th' unequal fight to try,

Who sought no more than on his foe to die.
But this bold Lord with manly strength endu'd,
She with one finger and a thumb subdu'd:
Just where the breath of life his nostrils drew,
A charge of Snuff the wily virgin threw;
The Gnomes direct, to ev'ry atom just,
The pungent grains of titillating dust.
Sudden, with starting tears each eye o'erflows,
And the high dome re-echoes to his nose” (Pope 79).

The conflict and the fight had been built up to a point of epic proportions; however, the battle is won after the Baron simply sneezes. In this moment, the Baron had been made into one of fantastic characteristics, but once he sneezes, the Baron becomes a simple man again. The fight turns from one of amazing characters to an argument of two humans in one simple sneeze. These characters are no longer part of a heroic journey, and the poem becomes mock-heroic. Pope employs bathos in this moment in order to create his poem of mock-heroism.

In the song Two Atoms in a Molecule, the band Noah and the Whale use te literary device of bathos. They do this in order to create the light-hearted and fun tone of much of their music even when describing a somewhat depressing romantic situation. This is exemplified by the following quote from the lyrics of the song:

"But then I woke from the dream to realise I was alone
A tragic event I must admit but let's not be overblown
I'm not trying to write a love song just a sad, pathetic moan
Maybe I just need a change, maybe I just need a new cologne".

Noah and the Whale have altered the original tone of a romantic song into one that is of sorrow but with a light-hearted tone. The bathos present in the song lead to an entirely different listening experience. Additionally, the light-hearted tone of the song is an important part of the music; Noah and the Whale have this tone in much of their music—even when the topic is bleak, and the tone is what attracts many listeners to the band and their themes. People are much more receptive to the theme of sorrow when it is expressed in a way that seems light-hearted. Noah and the Whale employ bathos in their song in order to create an attracting, light-hearted tone from a rather bleak topic.

The following is a link to a video of Two Atoms in a Molecule:

http://youtu.be/ld4RFdwx-yk