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Glossary

Hubris: GCSE English Definition

Nick Redgrove

Written by: Nick Redgrove

Reviewed by: Deb Orrock

Published

Last updated

Contents

  1. 1. What is hubris?
  2. 2. Why do writers use hubris?
  3. 3. Example of hubris
  4. 4. Revision resources to ace your exams

What is hubris?

In GCSE English Literature, hubris refers to excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to a character’s downfall. It is a common theme in tragedy and is closely linked to the concept of a tragic flaw (hamartia), which causes the protagonist’s downfall.

Why do writers use hubris?

Writers use hubris to highlight a character’s arrogance and how it blinds them to their fate. In classical tragedy, hubris often leads to divine punishment or a dramatic reversal of fortune. It serves as a caution, warning against the dangers of overestimating one’s abilities or defying moral or natural laws.

Example of hubris

A clear example of hubris appears in Macbeth by William Shakespeare:

"I bear a charmed life, which must not yield
To one of woman born."

Here, Macbeth believes he is invincible due to the witches' prophecies. His overconfidence blinds him to the true meaning of their words, leading to his downfall when Macduff, not of woman born, ultimately kills him. Macbeth’s hubris prevents him from seeing the limits of his power, making his downfall inevitable.

Revision resources to ace your exams

Learn how to explore a writer’s use of hubris by using our detailed GCSE revision notes.

GCSE English Literature Revision Notes

For more literary techniques, check out our list of 127 top literary devices, complete with student-friendly definitions.

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Author
Reviewer
Nick Redgrove

Author: Nick Redgrove

Expertise: English Senior Content Creator

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

Deb Orrock

Author: 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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