which greek term refers to the error in judgment that leads to the downfall of a hero?
What Does Hamartia Mean. Hamartia refers to a flaw or error in the protagonist that leads to a chain of events that culminates in the downfall of the protagonist. The term hamartia is derived from Greek and literally means to err or to miss the mark. The term Hamartia as it pertains to literature was first used by Aristotle in his Poetics. He states that creating a wealthy and powerful hero with a blend of bad and good qualities who falls into misfortune by Hamartia is a powerful plot device.