MacGuffin plot device
E92904
The MacGuffin plot device is a narrative element—often an object, goal, or secret—that drives the characters’ actions and advances the story’s plot while ultimately having little intrinsic importance itself.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| MacGuffin | 1 |
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
narrative device
ⓘ
plot device ⓘ storytelling concept ⓘ |
| associatedWith | Alfred Hitchcock ⓘ |
| canBe |
a person
ⓘ
a piece of information ⓘ a place ⓘ intangible ⓘ tangible ⓘ |
| contrastedWith |
character-driven storytelling
ⓘ
theme-driven storytelling ⓘ |
| differsFrom | red herring because it is not primarily meant to mislead the audience ⓘ |
| discussedIn |
film theory
ⓘ
narratology ⓘ |
| emphasizes | external objectives over internal change ⓘ |
| hasAlternativeName |
McGuffin
ⓘ
surface form:
MacGuffin
|
| hasAlternativeSpelling | McGuffin ⓘ |
| hasCharacteristic |
can be interchangeable with other similar objects or goals
ⓘ
its specific nature is usually unimportant ⓘ may be forgotten by the audience later in the story ⓘ often introduced early in the narrative ⓘ often of little intrinsic importance ⓘ primarily important for its effect on characters ⓘ |
| hasDefinition | a narrative element that motivates characters and advances the plot while having little intrinsic importance ⓘ |
| hasEtymology | term associated with British screenwriter Angus MacPhail and director Alfred Hitchcock ⓘ |
| hasExample |
Ark of the Covenant
ⓘ
surface form:
the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark
the Maltese Falcon in The Maltese Falcon ⓘ The One Ring ⓘ
surface form:
the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings
the briefcase in Pulp Fiction ⓘ the plans for the Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope ⓘ |
| hasForm |
goal
ⓘ
object ⓘ secret ⓘ |
| hasFunction |
to drive the plot forward
ⓘ
to motivate characters ⓘ to provide a pretext for action ⓘ |
| hasTemporalPosition | typically introduced in the first act ⓘ |
| influences |
character motivations
ⓘ
plot structure ⓘ |
| popularizedBy | Alfred Hitchcock ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
quest narrative
ⓘ
red herring ⓘ treasure hunt plot ⓘ |
| usedIn |
comics
ⓘ
film ⓘ literature ⓘ television ⓘ theatre ⓘ video games ⓘ |
Referenced by (2)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
MacGuffin