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WAEC Literature in English 2022 Objective — Question 18

Question 18 of 48 from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Literature in English 2022 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation.

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At the fall of their house, the widow lost her husband, her sewing machine and her ear-rings illustrates

  • A. bathosCorrect
  • B. epigram
  • C. pathos
  • D. Oxymoron

Explanation

The expression illustrates bathos (from the sublime to the ridiculous). Bathos, in writing or speech, is a sudden descent in style or manner from the elevated, producing a ridiculous or ludicrous effect. The expression assumes a descent from the serious and important 'house' to the unserious and unimportant 'ear-rings'.

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