What is the term for excessive sentimentality that can lead to a laughable effect?

The term that refers to excessive sentimentality leading to a laughable effect is bathos. Bathos occurs when an attempt to evoke deep emotions falls flat, often resulting in humor instead of pathos. It typically arises when a serious tone is abruptly replaced by a trivial one, creating an unintended comedic effect.

This concept plays a crucial role in literature, where writers may purposely employ bathos to highlight the absurdity of a situation or to critique overly sentimental expressions. In contrast, pathos refers to the quality that evokes pity or sadness and does not necessarily imply the same level of exaggeration or humor. Referentiality involves the relationship of a text to other texts or contexts, whereas sentimentality describes a tendency towards excessive emotional response but does not specifically address the humorous outcome associated with bathos. Thus, bathos is the most fitting term for describing this particular phenomenon.