Anti Climax Literary Term | Definition & Examples

Anti-Climax:

Anti-climax is a statement in which there is a sudden decline from the serious to the trivial or from the sublime to the ridiculous. It is an effect that spoils a climax. Actually, anti-climax is one kind of throwing water on the burning fire. Unintentional anticlimax is known as BATHOS.

Example:

Not louder shrieks to pitying heaven are cast,
When husbands, or when lapdogs breathe their last;

                                               ( Rape of the Lock by Alexgender Pope )

Here, we find a sudden fall in importance from husbands to dogs. The poet uses Anti-Climax to produce humour.