Considering various methods of entertainment like music, literature, movies, Pathos is the emotional appeal that stirs an emotion appeal, like anger, sympathy, laughter, horror, etc. Versus two other styles: Ethos (character appeal) and Logos (intellectual appeal) You ask why Pathos is important in literature, can you imagine a book, play, movie, etc that has no emotional, heart and soul? You would toss out a lot of the great works. Leaving only a discourse style of writing, like a lecture by some recognized authority (Ethos) or a debate of reasoning by some authorities (Logos) using logic to present their side of the discussion.
