deus ex machina
E457120
Deus ex machina is a dramatic device in which an unexpected, often divine or external intervention suddenly resolves a seemingly unsolvable conflict or plot situation.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| deus ex machina canonical | 1 |
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
literary term
ⓘ
narrative device ⓘ plot device ⓘ |
| affects | plot outcome ⓘ |
| associatedWith | use of stage crane to lower gods onto stage ⓘ |
| canBeUsedFor |
allegorical meaning
ⓘ
comic effect ⓘ satirical effect ⓘ |
| contrastsWith |
character-driven resolution
ⓘ
foreshadowed resolution ⓘ logically developed plot solution ⓘ |
| criticizedFor |
breaking internal story logic
ⓘ
reducing character agency ⓘ undermining narrative tension ⓘ |
| discussedIn |
literary criticism
ⓘ
narratology ⓘ |
| evaluatedAs | weak storytelling technique by many critics ⓘ |
| hasCharacteristic |
external intervention
ⓘ
often criticized as contrived ⓘ often divine intervention ⓘ often implausible ⓘ sudden plot resolution ⓘ unexpected resolution ⓘ |
| hasEtymology | derived from ancient Greek theatre practice ⓘ |
| hasLiteralMeaning | god from the machine ⓘ |
| hasOriginalLanguage | Latin ⓘ |
| involves | introduction of new element late in plot ⓘ |
| oftenInvolves |
powerful authority figure
ⓘ
sudden discovery ⓘ supernatural forces ⓘ unexpected rescue ⓘ unexplained coincidence ⓘ |
| originatedIn | ancient Greek drama ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
happy ending
ⓘ
narrative closure ⓘ plot twist ⓘ |
| requires | suspension of disbelief ⓘ |
| resolves |
apparently hopeless situation
ⓘ
seemingly unsolvable conflict ⓘ |
| usedBy |
novelists
ⓘ
playwrights ⓘ screenwriters ⓘ |
| usedIn |
drama
ⓘ
film ⓘ literature ⓘ storytelling ⓘ television ⓘ theatre ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.