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Tragic flaw

Concept
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A character defect or error in judgment that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero

Detailed Definition
Tragic flaw, or hamartia, in poetry refers to a protagonist’s inherent defect—such as hubris, jealousy, or indecision—that precipitates their downfall; rooted in classical drama, this concept appears in narrative or dramatic monologues where the speaker’s internal weakness drives the poem’s emotional arc toward inevitable consequence.
Example
Example in poetry:
Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind” prophesies poetic renewal; William Blake’s “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell” reveals divine contraries; Rumi’s ecstatic verses envision union with the divine; Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” channels apocalyptic social vision
Additional Notes
Tragic flaw (hamartia) is a protagonist’s fatal weakness leading to downfall—pride (hubris), jealousy, etc.—central to classical and Shakespearean tragedy; in lyric poetry, it may manifest in the speaker’s self-awareness.
Also Known As
Hamartia fatal flaw tragic imperfection heroic shortcoming
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