Which term refers to persuasion through emotional appeal?

• A. Ethos
• B. Pathos
• C. Metaphor
• D. Alliteration

Answer: (B)

Pathos is the persuasive appeal that targets the audience's emotions. When a speaker or writer uses feelings—sharing touching stories, stirring language, or eliciting fear or pity—to influence beliefs or actions, that’s pathos. It’s different from ethos, which relies on the speaker’s credibility and character, and logos, which depends on logical arguments and evidence. Metaphor and alliteration are stylistic devices used in writing, not the specific mechanism of emotional persuasion.