Deus ex machina
Defined
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Literal translation: “god of the machine” or “gods
from the machine”
An improbable contrivance in a story (when
something suddenly shows up to resolve a
situation); the employment of some unexpected or
improbable incident to make things turn out right,
such as the timely appearance of a god to extricate
characters from a situation so
perplexing/dangerous that the solution seemed
beyond mortal powers
An artificial or improbable character, device, or
event introduced suddenly in a work of fiction or
drama to resolve the situation or untangle the plot
The author solves a situation by a forced
intervention
Authorial intervention for a happy ending
Origins & More
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Originated in Greek tragedy
Name came from when a “mechane” (a
crane/structure/machine above the stage) was
used to lower actors playing gods onto the stage in
Greek theater
Challenges logic and asks for one to suspend
disbelief
Can also apply to plot twists, where everything in
the story suddenly and conveniently intertwines at
the right time
Challenged by Aristotle who felt that plot resolution
should come from within to make it truly relevant
Example: Athena intervenes at the end of The
Odyssey and insists on a peace instead of war.