1. • Topic:-Hamartia
• P.3-Literary Theory & Criticism-Western Poetics-1
• Name:-BHAVNESHKUMAR MAHYAVANSHI
• PG.Reg.No-2069108420190025
• Roll no-04
• bhavneshkumar5@gmail.com
• Submitted to Smt. S.B. Gardi Department of
English
• Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar
University
2. Hamartia
• Origin of The Term
–The Term Hamartia derives from the Greek
Hamartanein which means “to miss the
mark” or “to err”.
–It is most often associated with Greek
tragedy, although it is also used in Christian
theology.
–Hamartia as it relates to dramatic literature
was first used by Aristotle in his poetics.
3. Definition of Hamartia
• Hamartia is a Personal error in
Protagonist’s personality, which
brings about his tragic downfall in
tragedy. This defect in a hero’s
personality is also know as a “tragic
flaw”
4. Hamartia In Aristotle’s Poetics.
• Hamartia is first described in the subject of literary
criticism by Aristotle in his poetics.
• In his Introduction to S.H.Butcher translation of
poetics. Francis Fergusson describes Hamartia as
inner quality that initiates in Dante’s words, a
“moment of spirit” within the protagonist to commit
actions which drive the plot towards its tragic end.
