Literary term
Pathetic fallacy
When weather or nature reflects the mood of a character or scene.
What it means
Pathetic fallacy is a technique in which the weather or natural surroundings mirror a character's emotions or the mood of a scene. Storms may accompany anger or conflict, sunshine may reflect happiness, and fog may suggest confusion or secrecy. It is a specialised kind of personification.
But where personification gives human qualities to any non-human thing, pathetic fallacy specifically uses the natural world to echo feeling. Writers rely on it because readers instinctively connect weather with emotion. The setting itself can shape how a moment feels.
Why it matters in the exam
Examiners often set reading and Literature passages where the weather does emotional work. Recognising pathetic fallacy lets you explain how setting builds mood. Commenting on the link between environment and feeling shows you can read atmosphere, not just events.
In descriptive and narrative writing, using pathetic fallacy thoughtfully is a controlled way to set the emotional tone of a scene.
Example
A grey sky pressing low over a silent house at the start of a story quietly warns the reader that something sorrowful is coming.
How to use it
Point to the natural detail and the emotion it reflects. Then explain how the match between them shapes the mood the reader feels. Link it to what is happening to the characters.
In your own writing, choose weather that supports your scene's feeling. But avoid the most obvious pairings so your description feels fresh rather than predictable.
Knowing the term is the first step. In a paid one-hour trial, a teacher helps your child use "Pathetic fallacy" accurately in an answer.