Hamartia Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RL.9-10.2

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Hamartia is a well-known literary device often used by authors to insert a catastrophic defect into the judgement or actions of a significant character found within the story. This often will result in a reversal of the protagonist’s end result or fortune. The character’s flaw will end in some level of disgrace or complete downfall. The three most commonly used instances used regularly include the projection of a subject within the story being projected to be overly being ambiguous, selfish, or arrogant. These are traits that can make a seemingly upstanding individual choose an inverted path. As the concept has perpetuated from generation to generation it has been perpetuated as something that has been outside of the characters choice and more likely an environmental factor caused by the sign of times. The worksheets present in this section help student understand how to identify hamartia in literature and how to use it in their own writing.

Hamartia Worksheets To Print:

The Concept - What is the derivation of the word? What is the typical effect on an audience?

True or False - Explore this concept a little deeper.

vs. Hubris - Compare and contrast the these two techniques.

The Tragic Hero - Discuss the characteristics of a tragic hero. What are the positive and negative aspects of this kind of character?

End of Thoughts - Choose a word from the box to complete each sentence.

The Downfall - Think of a story you have read or seen in a movie or on television in which some aspect of the main character's own personality was the cause of their downfall.

Breakout Organizer - This is perfect to help your class fully understand discuss the concepts.

Macbeth - Where in the story does this technqiue drive the plot and cause his downfall?

Othello - A story that explores how jealousy can be all consuming.

Hamlet - We explore another work of Shakespeare that exhibits the use of this technique once again.

Antigone - What does Antigone think her hamartia is? How does this misunderstanding of her own character contribute to the events of the story?

Reflection Essay - Why is it a key element in tragedy?

Oedipus Rex - This is a play that has a great deal going on within it. The work dates to 430 B.C.

My Story - Use this worksheet to help you evaluate a story of your own.

Today's Movies - Think of a modern movie that you would classify as a tragedy. Answer the questions.

What Is Hamartia in Literature?

Hamartia comes from the Greek word 'hamartanein,' which means 'to err.' It is a literary concept used to describe a tragic story where a character's tragic flaw or error ultimately leads to their downfall in the end.


Note that there are two interpretations of hamartia, one as a tragic flaw and the other as a tragic error. Both are very different from each other. Let's look at both of them in detail.

 

Tragic Flaw - According to this interpretation, hamartia is an internal weakness or a personality defect in a character that affects them negatively. It can be called a bias, limitation, or imperfection that not only hinders the character from achieving what they want but also holds tragic results for them. For example, Shakespeare's famous tragic hero, Othello, faces his downfall because of his extreme jealousy.


However, a tragic flaw does not always point toward a morally wrong trait. Sometimes, a positive quality in excess can also become a character's flaw and cause destruction for them. For example, people who trust others blindly sometimes face betrayal from their close ones.

 

Tragic Error - Another interpretation of hamartia is a mistake. A character's downfall may also stem from a mistake based on external circumstances, situations that are not part of their personality, and out of their control. For example, Romeo and Juliet fell in love with each other even though their families were arch-enemies; falling in love was not something they could control.

Origin of Hamartia in Literature


Hamartia was first introduced as a literary device by Aristotle in 'Poetics,' a book on dramatic theory written in 335 BCE.


Aristotle believed that misfortune is not always brought upon a hero by a villain. He argued that heroes are also humans who can have flaws and make mistakes. These flaws and mistakes can reverse their fortune. To explain the concept of hamartia further, he used the example of Oedipus Rex, a tragic play by Sophocles. Oedipus was a king who made several mistakes that led to his tragic demise.


The concept of hamartia makes a story more relatable to the audience because every human is flawed and a lot of tragedies, in reality, are a result of one's own mistakes.

 

Key Details of Hamartia - In some tragedies, the consequences of a tragic error are much larger in proportion than the error itself. This shows how fate and hamartia can combine to unravel the events of a tragedy.


Hamartia is not any random flaw or a mistake of a character. It refers to a particular flaw or mistake that ultimately brings downfall for them. For example, James Bond is portrayed as a character that breaks laws, kills people, and destroys things. These flaws get him into trouble but he still wins in the end, so they cannot be called hamartia.


Hamartia can be complex to understand because it is linked to both good and bad qualities. Some examples of hamartia have portrayed how a positive quality can also bring tragic outcomes for a character.