GlossariesGCSE GlossariesGCSE English GlossaryHamartia

Hamartia - GCSE English Definition

Reviewed by: Deb Orrock

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Hamartia is a literary term which refers to a character's tragic flaw or error in judgement, which ultimately leads to their downfall. This concept is essential in understanding how protagonists in tragedies, like Shakespeare's Macbeth or King Lear, meet their tragic fates due to a combination of personal weaknesses and unfortunate circumstances.

Recognising hamartia in literature allows students to analyse how character traits and decisions drive the narrative and explore themes like fate and free will.

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Deb Orrock

Reviewer: Deb Orrock

Expertise: English Content Creator

Deb is a graduate of Lancaster University and The University of Wolverhampton. After some time travelling and a successful career in the travel industry, she re-trained in education, specialising in literacy. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in education, teaching English Literature, English Language, Functional Skills English, ESOL and on Access to HE courses. She has also held curriculum and quality manager roles, and worked with organisations on embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational curriculums. She most recently managed a post-16 English curriculum as well as writing educational content and resources.

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