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class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Plot device</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Plot_device-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Plot device subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Plot_device-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Examples" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Examples"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Examples</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Examples-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-In_medicine" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#In_medicine"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>In medicine</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-In_medicine-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Criticism" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Criticism"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Criticism</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Criticism-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Criticism subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Criticism-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Ancient_criticism" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ancient_criticism"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Ancient criticism</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ancient_criticism-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Modern_criticism" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Modern_criticism"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Modern criticism</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Modern_criticism-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Associated_concepts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Associated_concepts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Associated concepts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Associated_concepts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><i>Deus ex machina</i></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 46 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-46" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">46 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%AF_%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%A8%D9%8A_(%D8%A3%D8%AF%D8%A8)" title="مدد غيبي (أدب) – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="مدد غيبي (أدب)" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%91%CF%80%CF%8C_%CE%BC%CE%B7%CF%87%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AE%CF%82_%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%8C%CF%82" title="Από μηχανής θεός – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Από μηχανής θεός" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eml mw-list-item"><a href="https://eml.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Emiliano-Romagnolo" lang="egl" hreflang="egl" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Emiliàn e rumagnòl" data-language-local-name="Emiliano-Romagnolo" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Emiliàn e rumagnòl</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF_%D8%BA%DB%8C%D8%A8%DB%8C_(%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%86%DA%AF_%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86)" title="امداد غیبی (پیرنگ داستان) – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="امداد غیبی (پیرنگ داستان)" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fy mw-list-item"><a href="https://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Western Frisian" lang="fy" hreflang="fy" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Frysk" data-language-local-name="Western Frisian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Frysk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl mw-list-item"><a href="https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_m%C3%A1china" title="Deus ex máchina – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl" data-title="Deus ex máchina" data-language-autonym="Galego" data-language-local-name="Galician" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Galego</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%8D%B0%EC%9A%B0%EC%8A%A4_%EC%97%91%EC%8A%A4_%EB%A7%88%ED%82%A4%EB%82%98" title="데우스 엑스 마키나 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="데우스 엑스 마키나" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%93%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A1_%D7%90%D7%A7%D7%A1_%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%94" title="דאוס אקס מכינה – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="דאוס אקס מכינה" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka mw-list-item"><a href="https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="ქართული" data-language-local-name="Georgian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ქართული</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-la mw-list-item"><a href="https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Latin" lang="la" hreflang="la" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Latina" data-language-local-name="Latin" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mk mw-list-item"><a href="https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%94%D0%B5%D1%83%D1%81_%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81_%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0" title="Деус екс макина – Macedonian" lang="mk" hreflang="mk" data-title="Деус екс макина" data-language-autonym="Македонски" data-language-local-name="Macedonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Македонски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina_(verhaallijn)" title="Deus ex machina (verhaallijn) – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Deus ex machina (verhaallijn)" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%87%E3%82%A6%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A8%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9E%E3%82%AD%E3%83%8A" title="デウス・エクス・マキナ – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="デウス・エクス・マキナ" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3_%D0%B8%D0%B7_%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B" title="Бог из машины – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Бог из машины" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq mw-list-item"><a href="https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Shqip" data-language-local-name="Albanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Shqip</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh mw-list-item"><a href="https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Serbo-Croatian" lang="sh" hreflang="sh" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски" data-language-local-name="Serbo-Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%94" title="เทวดามาโปรด – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="เทวดามาโปรด" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina" title="Deus ex machina – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Deus ex machina" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a 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searchaux" style="display:none">Contrived device to resolve the plot of a dramatic work</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For other uses, see <a href="/wiki/Deus_ex_machina_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="Deus ex machina (disambiguation)">Deus ex machina (disambiguation)</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Medea_rappresentation_(2009)_07.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Medea_rappresentation_%282009%29_07.JPG/220px-Medea_rappresentation_%282009%29_07.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="293" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Medea_rappresentation_%282009%29_07.JPG/330px-Medea_rappresentation_%282009%29_07.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Medea_rappresentation_%282009%29_07.JPG/440px-Medea_rappresentation_%282009%29_07.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1536" data-file-height="2048" /></a><figcaption><i>Deus ex machina</i> in Euripides' <i><a href="/wiki/Medea_(play)" title="Medea (play)">Medea</a></i>, performed in 2009 in Syracuse, Italy; the sun god sends a golden chariot to rescue Medea.</figcaption></figure> <p><i><b>Deus ex machina</b></i> (<span class="rt-commentedText nowrap"><span class="IPA nopopups noexcerpt" lang="en-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA/English" title="Help:IPA/English">/<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ˈ/: primary stress follows">ˈ</span><span title="'d' in 'dye'">d</span><span title="/eɪ/: 'a' in 'face'">eɪ</span><span title="/ə/: 'a' in 'about'">ə</span><span title="'s' in 'sigh'">s</span></span><span class="wrap"> </span><span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ɛ/: 'e' in 'dress'">ɛ</span><span title="'k' in 'kind'">k</span><span title="'s' in 'sigh'">s</span></span><span class="wrap"> </span><span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ˈ/: primary stress follows">ˈ</span><span title="'m' in 'my'">m</span><span title="/æ/: 'a' in 'bad'">æ</span><span title="'k' in 'kind'">k</span><span title="/ɪ/: 'i' in 'kit'">ɪ</span><span title="'n' in 'nigh'">n</span><span title="/ə/: 'a' in 'about'">ə</span></span>,<span class="wrap"> </span><span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ˈ/: primary stress follows">ˈ</span><span title="'m' in 'my'">m</span><span title="/ɑː/: 'a' in 'father'">ɑː</span><span title="'k' in 'kind'">k</span></span>-/</a></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key" title="Help:Pronunciation respelling key"><i title="English pronunciation respelling"><span style="font-size:90%">DAY</span>-əs ex-<span style="font-size:90%">MA(H)K</span>-in-ə</i></a>;<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1177148991">.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}</style><span class="IPA-label IPA-label-small">Latin:</span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="la-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA/Latin" title="Help:IPA/Latin">[ˈdɛ.ʊs<span class="wrap"> </span>ɛks<span class="wrap"> </span>ˈmaːkʰɪnaː]</a></span>; plural: <i>dei ex machina</i>; 'God from the machine')<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is a <a href="/wiki/Plot_device" title="Plot device">plot device</a> whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem in a story is suddenly or abruptly resolved by an unexpected and unlikely occurrence.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Its function is generally to resolve an otherwise irresolvable plot situation, to surprise the audience, to bring the tale to a <a href="/wiki/Happy_ending" title="Happy ending">happy ending</a> or act as a comedic device.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Origin_of_the_expression">Origin of the expression</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Origin of the expression"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><i>Deus ex machina</i> is a Latin <a href="/wiki/Calque" title="Calque">calque</a> from <a href="/wiki/Greek_language" title="Greek language">Greek</a> <i> </i>ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεός<i> (apò mēkhanês theós)</i> <span class="gloss-quot">'</span><span class="gloss-text">god from the machine</span><span class="gloss-quot">'</span>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The term was coined from the conventions of ancient Greek theater, where actors who were playing gods were brought on stage using a machine. The machine could be either a crane (<i><a href="/wiki/Mechane" title="Mechane">mechane</a></i>) used to lower actors from above or a riser that brought them up through a trapdoor. <a href="/wiki/Aeschylus" title="Aeschylus">Aeschylus</a> introduced the idea and it was used often to resolve the conflict and conclude the drama. The device is associated mostly with Greek tragedy, although it also appeared in comedies.<sup id="cite_ref-machine_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-machine-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_examples">Ancient examples</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Ancient examples"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Aeschylus" title="Aeschylus">Aeschylus</a> used the device in his <i><a href="/wiki/The_Eumenides" class="mw-redirect" title="The Eumenides">Eumenides</a></i> but it became an established stage machine with <a href="/wiki/Euripides" title="Euripides">Euripides</a>. More than half of Euripides' extant tragedies employ a <i>deus ex machina</i> in their resolution and some critics claim that Euripides invented it, not Aeschylus.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A frequently cited example is Euripides' <i><a href="/wiki/Medea_(play)" title="Medea (play)">Medea</a></i> in which the <i>deus ex machina</i> is a dragon-drawn chariot sent by the sun god <a href="/wiki/Helios" title="Helios">Helios</a>, used to convey his granddaughter <a href="/wiki/Medea" title="Medea">Medea</a> away from her husband <a href="/wiki/Jason" title="Jason">Jason</a> to the safety of Athens. In <i><a href="/wiki/Alcestis_(play)" title="Alcestis (play)">Alcestis</a></i>, the heroine agrees to give up her own life to spare the life of her husband Admetus. At the end, <a href="/wiki/Heracles" title="Heracles">Heracles</a> appears and seizes Alcestis from Death, restoring her to life and to Admetus. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Aristophanes" title="Aristophanes">Aristophanes</a>' play <i><a href="/wiki/Thesmophoriazusae" title="Thesmophoriazusae">Thesmophoriazusae</a></i> parodies Euripides' frequent use of the crane by making Euripides himself a character in the play and bringing him on stage by way of the <i>mechane</i>. </p><p>The device produced an immediate emotional response in Greek audiences. They would have a feeling of wonder and astonishment at the appearance of the gods, which would often add to the moral effect of the drama.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Modern_theatrical_examples">Modern theatrical examples</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Modern theatrical examples"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Set_design_Act5_of_Androm%C3%A8de_by_P_Corneille_1650_-_Gallica_2010.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Set_design_Act5_of_Androm%C3%A8de_by_P_Corneille_1650_-_Gallica_2010.jpg/220px-Set_design_Act5_of_Androm%C3%A8de_by_P_Corneille_1650_-_Gallica_2010.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="149" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Set_design_Act5_of_Androm%C3%A8de_by_P_Corneille_1650_-_Gallica_2010.jpg/330px-Set_design_Act5_of_Androm%C3%A8de_by_P_Corneille_1650_-_Gallica_2010.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Set_design_Act5_of_Androm%C3%A8de_by_P_Corneille_1650_-_Gallica_2010.jpg/440px-Set_design_Act5_of_Androm%C3%A8de_by_P_Corneille_1650_-_Gallica_2010.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5075" data-file-height="3430" /></a><figcaption>Characters ascend into heaven to become gods at the end of the 1650 play <i><a href="/wiki/Androm%C3%A8de" title="Andromède">Andromède</a></i>.</figcaption></figure> <p><a href="/wiki/Shakespeare" class="mw-redirect" title="Shakespeare">Shakespeare</a> uses the device in <i><a href="/wiki/As_You_Like_It" title="As You Like It">As You Like It</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Pericles,_Prince_of_Tyre" title="Pericles, Prince of Tyre">Pericles, Prince of Tyre</a></i>, and <i><a href="/wiki/Cymbeline" title="Cymbeline">Cymbeline</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/John_Gay" title="John Gay">John Gay</a> uses it in <i><a href="/wiki/The_Beggar%27s_Opera" title="The Beggar's Opera">The Beggar's Opera</a></i> where a character breaks the action and rewrites the ending as a reprieve from hanging for MacHeath. During the politically turbulent 17th and 18th centuries, the <i>deus ex machina</i> was sometimes used to make a controversial thesis more palatable to the powers of the day. For example, in the final scene of <a href="/wiki/Moli%C3%A8re" title="Molière">Molière</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/Tartuffe" title="Tartuffe">Tartuffe</a></i>, the heroes are saved from a terrible fate by an agent of the compassionate, all-seeing King <a href="/wiki/Louis_XIV" title="Louis XIV">Louis XIV</a> – the same king who held Molière's career and livelihood in his hands.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Plot_device">Plot device</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Plot device"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Aristotle" title="Aristotle">Aristotle</a> (in the Poetics 15 1454b1) was the first to use a Greek term equivalent to the Latin phrase <i>deus ex machina</i> to describe the technique as a device to resolve the plot of tragedies.<sup id="cite_ref-machine_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-machine-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is said by one person to be undesirable in writing and often implies a lack of creativity on the part of the author. The reasons for this are that it damages the story's internal logic and is often so unlikely that it challenges the reader's <a href="/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief" title="Suspension of disbelief">suspension of disbelief</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Examples">Examples</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Examples"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Avengers:_Endgame" title="Avengers: Endgame">Avengers: Endgame</a></i> writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely admitted the time travel plot device in the 2019 film was the result of having written themselves into a corner in <a href="/wiki/Avengers:_Infinity_War" title="Avengers: Infinity War">the previous movie</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Also, the sudden arrival of <a href="/wiki/Carol_Danvers_(Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)" title="Carol Danvers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)">Captain Marvel</a> in the climax of the film has been criticized as bordering on a <i>deus ex machina</i> because "her late arrival to the final battle ... feels like a function of her powers being too strong".<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Eagle_(Middle-earth)" class="mw-redirect" title="Eagle (Middle-earth)">Great Eagles</a> in <a href="/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien" title="J. R. R. Tolkien">J. R. R. Tolkien</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings" title="The Lord of the Rings">The Lord of the Rings</a></i> carrying <a href="/wiki/Frodo" class="mw-redirect" title="Frodo">Frodo</a> and <a href="/wiki/Samwise_Gamgee" title="Samwise Gamgee">Samwise</a> out of <a href="/wiki/Mordor" title="Mordor">Mordor</a> have been critiqued as a <i>deus ex machina</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-worst_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-worst-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Lord_of_the_Flies" title="Lord of the Flies">Lord of the Flies</a></i>: A passing navy officer rescues the stranded children. <a href="/wiki/William_Golding" title="William Golding">William Golding</a> called that a "gimmick"; other critics view it as a <i>deus ex machina</i>. The abrupt ending conveys the terrible fate that would have afflicted the children if the officer had not arrived at that moment.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Oliver_Twist" title="Oliver Twist">Oliver Twist</a></i>: <a href="/wiki/Charles_Dickens" title="Charles Dickens">Charles Dickens</a> used the device when Rose Maylie turns out to be the long-lost sister of Agnes, and therefore Oliver's aunt; she marries her long-time sweetheart Harry, allowing Oliver to live happily with his savior Mr. Brownlow.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds" title="The War of the Worlds">The War of the Worlds</a></i>: The Martians in H. G. Wells's novel have destroyed everything in their path and apparently triumphed over humanity, but they are suddenly killed by bacteria.<sup id="cite_ref-Greenwood_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Greenwood-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="In_medicine">In medicine</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: In medicine"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Medicine" title="Medicine">medicine</a>, the phrase is often used for supposedly "magical remedies" which are not likely to work in practice. For instance, in the <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic" title="COVID-19 pandemic">2020 COVID-19 outbreak</a>, when <a href="/wiki/Double_lung_transplantation" class="mw-redirect" title="Double lung transplantation">double lung transplantation</a> for terminal COVID-19 patients was suggested, it was immediately denounced as a <i>deus ex machina.</i><sup id="cite_ref-Wadowski_2020_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wadowski_2020-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2006, when electronic fetal heart monitoring was being touted as a preventive measure for <a href="/wiki/Cerebral_palsy" title="Cerebral palsy">cerebral palsy</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_England_Journal_of_Medicine" title="The New England Journal of Medicine">The New England Journal of Medicine</a></i> denounced it as <i>deus ex machina</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Greene_2006_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Greene_2006-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Criticism">Criticism</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Criticism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <i>deus ex machina</i> device is often criticized as inartistic, too convenient, and overly simplistic. However, champions of the device say that it opens up ideological and artistic possibilities.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ghosts_24-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ghosts-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_criticism">Ancient criticism</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Ancient criticism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Antiphanes_(comic_poet)" title="Antiphanes (comic poet)">Antiphanes</a> was one of the device's earliest critics. He believed that the use of the <i>deus ex machina</i> was a sign that the playwright was unable to properly manage the complications of his plot.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>when they don't know what to say </p><p>and have completely given up on the play </p><p>just like a finger they lift the machine </p><p> and the spectators are satisfied. </p><div class="templatequotecite">— <cite>Antiphanes</cite></div></blockquote> <p>Another critical reference to the device can be found in <a href="/wiki/Plato" title="Plato">Plato</a>'s dialogue <i><a href="/wiki/Cratylus_(dialogue)" title="Cratylus (dialogue)">Cratylus</a></i>, 425d, though it is made in the context of an argument unrelated to drama. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Aristotle" title="Aristotle">Aristotle</a> criticized the device in his <i><a href="/wiki/Poetics_(Aristotle)" title="Poetics (Aristotle)">Poetics</a></i>, where he argued that the resolution of a plot must arise internally, following from previous action of the play:<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712" /><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>In the characters, too, exactly as in the structure of the incidents, [the poet] ought always to seek what is either necessary or probable, so that it is either necessary or probable that a person of such-and-such a sort say or do things of the same sort, and it is either necessary or probable that this [incident] happen after that one. It is obvious that the solutions of plots, too, should come about as a result of the plot itself, and not from a contrivance, as in the <i>Medea</i> and in the passage about sailing home in the <i><a href="/wiki/Iliad" title="Iliad">Iliad</a></i>. A contrivance must be used for matters outside the drama — either previous events, which are beyond human knowledge, or later ones that need to be foretold or announced. For we grant that the gods can see everything. There should be nothing improbable in the incidents; otherwise, it should be outside the tragedy, e.g., that in <a href="/wiki/Sophocles" title="Sophocles">Sophocles</a>' <i><a href="/wiki/Oedipus_Rex" title="Oedipus Rex">Oedipus</a></i>. </p><div class="templatequotecite">— <cite><i><a href="/wiki/Poetics_(Aristotle)" title="Poetics (Aristotle)">Poetics</a></i>, (1454a33–1454b9)</cite></div></blockquote> <p>Aristotle praised Euripides, however, for generally ending his plays with bad fortune, which he viewed as correct in tragedy, and somewhat excused the intervention of a deity by suggesting that "astonishment" should be sought in tragic drama:<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712" /><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>Irrationalities should be referred to what people say: That is one solution, and also sometimes that it is not irrational, since it is probable that improbable things will happen.</p></blockquote> <p>Such a device was referred to by <a href="/wiki/Horace" title="Horace">Horace</a> in his <i><a href="/wiki/Ars_Poetica_(Horace)" title="Ars Poetica (Horace)">Ars Poetica</a></i> (lines 191–2), where he instructs poets that they should never resort to a "god from the machine" to resolve their plots "unless a difficulty worthy of a god's unraveling should happen" [<i>nec deus intersit, nisi dignus uindice nodus inciderit; nec quarta loqui persona laboret</i>].<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Modern_criticism">Modern criticism</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Modern criticism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Following Aristotle, Renaissance critics continued to view the <i>deus ex machina</i> as an inept plot device, although it continued to be employed by Renaissance dramatists. </p><p>Toward the end of the 19th century, <a href="/wiki/Friedrich_Nietzsche" title="Friedrich Nietzsche">Friedrich Nietzsche</a> criticized Euripides for making tragedy an optimistic <a href="/wiki/Genre" title="Genre">genre</a> by use of the device, and was highly skeptical of the "Greek cheerfulness," prompting what he viewed as the plays' "blissful delight in life."<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <i>deus ex machina</i> as Nietzsche saw it was symptomatic of <a href="/wiki/Socrates" title="Socrates">Socratic</a> culture, which valued knowledge over <a href="/wiki/Apollonian_and_Dionysian" title="Apollonian and Dionysian">Dionysiac</a> music and ultimately caused the death of tragedy:<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712" /><blockquote class="templatequote"><p> But the new non-Dionysiac spirit is most clearly apparent in the <i>endings</i> of the new dramas. At the end of the old tragedies there was a sense of metaphysical conciliation without which it is impossible to imagine our taking delight in tragedy; perhaps the conciliatory tones from another world echo most purely in <i><a href="/wiki/Oedipus_at_Colonus" title="Oedipus at Colonus">Oedipus at Colonus</a></i>. Now, once tragedy had lost the genius of music, tragedy in the strictest sense was dead: for where was that metaphysical consolation now to be found? Hence an earthly resolution for tragic dissonance was sought; the hero, having been adequately tormented by fate, won his well-earned reward in a stately marriage and tokens of divine honour. The hero had become a gladiator, granted freedom once he had been satisfactorily flayed and scarred. Metaphysical consolation had been ousted by the <i>deus ex machina</i>.</p><div class="templatequotecite">— <cite>Friedrich Nietzsche</cite></div></blockquote> <p>Nietzsche argued that the <i>deus ex machina</i> creates a false sense of consolation that ought not to be sought in phenomena.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> His denigration of the plot device has prevailed in critical opinion. </p><p>In <i>Euripides the Rationalist</i> (1895), <a href="/wiki/Arthur_Woollgar_Verrall" class="mw-redirect" title="Arthur Woollgar Verrall">Arthur Woollgar Verrall</a> surveyed and recorded other late 19th-century responses to the device. He recorded that some of the critical responses to the term referred to it as 'burlesque', 'coup de théâtre', and 'catastrophe'. Verrall notes that critics have a dismissive response to authors who deploy the device in their writings. He comes to the conclusion that critics feel that the <i>deus ex machina</i> is evidence of the author's attempt to ruin the whole of his work and to prevent anyone from putting any importance on his work.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_25-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>However, other scholars have looked at Euripides' use of <i>deus ex machina</i> and described its use as an integral part of the plot, designed for a specific purpose. Often, Euripides' plays would begin with gods, so it is argued that it would be natural for the gods to finish the action. The conflict throughout Euripides' plays would be caused by the meddling of the gods, so it would make sense both to the playwright and to the audience of the time that the gods would resolve all conflict that they began.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Half of Euripides' eighteen extant plays end with the use of <i>deus ex machina</i>, therefore it was not simply a device to relieve the playwright of the embarrassment of a confusing plot-ending. This device enabled him to bring about a natural and more dignified dramatic and tragic ending.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Other champions of the device believe that it can be a spectacular agent of subversion. It can be used to undercut generic conventions and challenge cultural assumptions and the privileged role of tragedy as a literary/theatrical model.<sup id="cite_ref-ghosts_24-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ghosts-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Some 20th-century revisionist criticism suggests that <i>deus ex machina</i> cannot be viewed in these simplified terms, and contends that the device allows mortals to "probe" their relationship with the divine.<sup id="cite_ref-Rehm_1992,_71_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rehm_1992,_71-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Rush_Rehm" title="Rush Rehm">Rush Rehm</a> in particular cites examples of Greek tragedy in which the <i>deus ex machina</i> complicates the lives and attitudes of characters confronted by the deity, while simultaneously bringing the drama home to its audience.<sup id="cite_ref-Rehm_1992,_71_34-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rehm_1992,_71-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Sometimes, the unlikeliness of the <i>deus ex machina</i> plot device is employed deliberately. Note for example the comic effect generated in a scene in <i><a href="/wiki/Monty_Python%27s_Life_of_Brian" title="Monty Python's Life of Brian">Monty Python's Life of Brian</a></i> when Brian, who lives in <a href="/wiki/Judea" title="Judea">Judea</a> at the time of <a href="/wiki/Christ_(title)" title="Christ (title)">Christ</a>, is saved from a high fall by a passing <a href="/wiki/Ancient_astronauts" title="Ancient astronauts">alien space-ship</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Associated_concepts">Associated concepts</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Associated concepts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Thought experiments and speculations in theology, computer science, robotics and <a href="/wiki/Artificial_intelligence" title="Artificial intelligence">AI</a> technology have considered the possibilities and consequences of a <i>machina ex machina</i> – a <a href="/wiki/Self-replicating_machine" title="Self-replicating machine">self-reproducing automaton</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Plot_armor" title="Plot armor">Plot armor</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i><a href="/wiki/Random_House_Dictionary" class="mw-redirect" title="Random House Dictionary">Random House Dictionary</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFBecksonGanz1961" class="citation book cs1">Beckson, Karl E.; Ganz, Arthur F. (1961). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=-2NkAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Deus+Ex+Machina%22+%22god+out+of+the+machine%22"><i>A Reader's Guide to Literary Terms: A Dictionary</i></a>. Noonday Press.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Reader%27s+Guide+to+Literary+Terms%3A+A+Dictionary&rft.pub=Noonday+Press&rft.date=1961&rft.aulast=Beckson&rft.aufirst=Karl+E.&rft.au=Ganz%2C+Arthur+F.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D-2NkAAAAMAAJ%26q%3D%2522Deus%2BEx%2BMachina%2522%2B%2522god%2Bout%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bmachine%2522&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://literarydevices.net/deus-ex-machina/">"Deus Ex Machina - Examples and Definition"</a>. <i>Literary Devices</i>. 2013-11-03<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-04-23</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Literary+Devices&rft.atitle=Deus+Ex+Machina+-+Examples+and+Definition&rft.date=2013-11-03&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fliterarydevices.net%2Fdeus-ex-machina%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation encyclopaedia cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deus%20ex%20machina">"deus ex machina"</a>. <i>Merriam-Webster</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 Apr</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=deus+ex+machina&rft.btitle=Merriam-Webster&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.merriam-webster.com%2Fdictionary%2Fdeus%2520ex%2520machina&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/deus-ex-machina">"Deus ex machina"</a>. <i>Encyclopaedia Britannica</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 Apr</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Encyclopaedia+Britannica&rft.atitle=Deus+ex+machina&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fart%2Fdeus-ex-machina&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://oxfordstudycourses.com/blog/god-out-of-the-machine-theatrical-literary-devices">"God Out of the Machine – Theatrical Literary Devices - Oxford Study Courses"</a>. <i>oxfordstudycourses.com</i>. 14 September 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-04-23</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=oxfordstudycourses.com&rft.atitle=God+Out+of+the+Machine+%E2%80%93+Theatrical+Literary+Devices+-+Oxford+Study+Courses&rft.date=2015-09-14&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Foxfordstudycourses.com%2Fblog%2Fgod-out-of-the-machine-theatrical-literary-devices&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">One of the earliest occurrences of the phrase is in fragment 227 of <a href="/wiki/Menander" title="Menander">Menander</a>: ἀπὸ μηχανῆϛ θεὸς ἐπεφάνηϛ "You are by your epiphany a veritable god from the machine", as quoted in <i>The Woman Possessed with a Divinity</i>, as translated in <i>Menander: The Principal Fragments</i> (1921) by <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Greenleaf_Allinson" class="extiw" title="de:Francis Greenleaf Allinson">Francis Greenleaf Allinson</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-machine-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-machine_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-machine_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFChondrosMilidonisVitzilaiosVaitsis2013" class="citation journal cs1">Chondros, Thomas G.; Milidonis, Kypros; Vitzilaios, George; Vaitsis, John (September 2013). "<span class="cs1-kern-left"></span>"Deus-Ex-Machina" reconstruction in the Athens theater of Dionysus". <i>Mechanism and Machine Theory</i>. <b>67</b>: <span class="nowrap">172–</span>191. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.mechmachtheory.2013.04.010">10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2013.04.010</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Mechanism+and+Machine+Theory&rft.atitle=%22Deus-Ex-Machina%22+reconstruction+in+the+Athens+theater+of+Dionysus&rft.volume=67&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E172-%3C%2Fspan%3E191&rft.date=2013-09&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1016%2Fj.mechmachtheory.2013.04.010&rft.aulast=Chondros&rft.aufirst=Thomas+G.&rft.au=Milidonis%2C+Kypros&rft.au=Vitzilaios%2C+George&rft.au=Vaitsis%2C+John&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Rehm (1992, 72) and Walton (1984, 51).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFCunningham1954" class="citation journal cs1">Cunningham, Maurice P. (July 1954). "Medea ΑΠΟ ΜΗΧΑΝΗΣ". <i>Classical Philology</i>. <b>49</b> (3): <span class="nowrap">151–</span>160. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1086%2F363788">10.1086/363788</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/265931">265931</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:163893448">163893448</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Classical+Philology&rft.atitle=Medea+%CE%91%CE%A0%CE%9F+%CE%9C%CE%97%CE%A7%CE%91%CE%9D%CE%97%CE%A3&rft.volume=49&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E151-%3C%2Fspan%3E160&rft.date=1954-07&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A163893448%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F265931%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1086%2F363788&rft.aulast=Cunningham&rft.aufirst=Maurice+P.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Rehm (1992, 70).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/dfs_18/dfs_18_00023.html">"Tartuffe: Novel Guide"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120121065505/http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/dfs_18/dfs_18_00023.html">Archived</a> 2012-01-21 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>. 2003. Retrieved 2 November 2011.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFDr._L._Kip_Wheeler" class="citation web cs1">Dr. L. Kip Wheeler. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_D.html">"Literary Terms and Definitions: D"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2008-07-26</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Literary+Terms+and+Definitions%3A+D&rft.au=Dr.+L.+Kip+Wheeler&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.cn.edu%2Fkwheeler%2Flit_terms_D.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2477366/even-the-avengers-endgame-writers-admit-time-travel-is-ludicrous">Even The Avengers: Endgame Writers Admit Time Travel Is Ludicrous</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/04/27/avengers-endgame-gets-captain-marvel-so-wrong-spoilers/3572243002/">How did 'Avengers: Endgame' get Captain Marvel so wrong?</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-worst-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-worst_16-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200502180545/https://bestforfilm.com/film-blog/top-10-deus-ex-machina-moments/">"Top 10 Deus Ex Machina moments"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://bestforfilm.com/film-blog/top-10-deus-ex-machina-moments/">the original</a> on 2020-05-02.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Top+10+Deus+Ex+Machina+moments&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbestforfilm.com%2Ffilm-blog%2Ftop-10-deus-ex-machina-moments%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFVaninskaya2019" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Anna_Vaninskaya" title="Anna Vaninskaya">Vaninskaya, Anna</a> (26 December 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=tRvHDwAAQBAJ&dq=deus+ex+machina+eagles+Tolkien+OR+%22lord+of+the+rings%22&pg=PA184"><i>Fantasies of Time and Death: Dunsany, Eddison, Tolkien</i></a>. Springer. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781137518385" title="Special:BookSources/9781137518385"><bdi>9781137518385</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Fantasies+of+Time+and+Death%3A+Dunsany%2C+Eddison%2C+Tolkien&rft.pub=Springer&rft.date=2019-12-26&rft.isbn=9781137518385&rft.aulast=Vaninskaya&rft.aufirst=Anna&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DtRvHDwAAQBAJ%26dq%3Ddeus%2Bex%2Bmachina%2Beagles%2BTolkien%2BOR%2B%2522lord%2Bof%2Bthe%2Brings%2522%26pg%3DPA184&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFriedman2008" class="citation book cs1">Friedman, Lawrence S. (2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=j1ZJcFqQ7V8C&q=Lord+of+the+Flies,+deus+ex+machina&pg=PA67">"Grief, grief, grief: <i>Lord of the Flies</i>"</a>. In Bloom, Harold (ed.). <i>William Golding's Lord of the Flies</i>. Infobase Publishing. pp. <span class="nowrap">67–</span>68. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780791098264" title="Special:BookSources/9780791098264"><bdi>9780791098264</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Grief%2C+grief%2C+grief%3A+Lord+of+the+Flies&rft.btitle=William+Golding%27s+Lord+of+the+Flies&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E67-%3C%2Fspan%3E68&rft.pub=Infobase+Publishing&rft.date=2008&rft.isbn=9780791098264&rft.aulast=Friedman&rft.aufirst=Lawrence+S.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dj1ZJcFqQ7V8C%26q%3DLord%2Bof%2Bthe%2BFlies%2C%2Bdeus%2Bex%2Bmachina%26pg%3DPA67&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFAbrams1993" class="citation book cs1">Abrams, MH, ed. (1993). <i>A Glossary of Literary Terms</i>. Harcourt Brace & Company, USA. pp. <span class="nowrap">44–</span>45.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Glossary+of+Literary+Terms&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E44-%3C%2Fspan%3E45&rft.pub=Harcourt+Brace+%26+Company%2C+USA&rft.date=1993&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Greenwood-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Greenwood_20-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFWestfahl2005" class="citation book cs1">Westfahl, Gary, ed. (2005). <i>The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Themes, Works, and Wonders, Volume 1</i>. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=SQMQQyIaACYC&pg=PA195">195</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0313329516" title="Special:BookSources/0313329516"><bdi>0313329516</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Greenwood+Encyclopedia+of+Science+Fiction+and+Fantasy%3A+Themes%2C+Works%2C+and+Wonders%2C+Volume+1&rft.pages=195&rft.pub=Greenwood+Publishing+Group&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=0313329516&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Wadowski_2020-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Wadowski_2020_21-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFWadowskiBacchettaKon2020" class="citation journal cs1">Wadowski BJ, Bacchetta M, Kon ZN (December 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7455797">"Beware the Deus Ex Machina of COVID-19"</a>. <i>Ann Thorac Surg</i>. <b>110</b> (6): <span class="nowrap">1787–</span>1788. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.athoracsur.2020.08.001">10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.08.001</a>. <a href="/wiki/PMC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMC (identifier)">PMC</a> <span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7455797">7455797</a></span>. <a href="/wiki/PMID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMID (identifier)">PMID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32871108">32871108</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Ann+Thorac+Surg&rft.atitle=Beware+the+Deus+Ex+Machina+of+COVID-19&rft.volume=110&rft.issue=6&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E1787-%3C%2Fspan%3E1788&rft.date=2020-12&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC7455797%23id-name%3DPMC&rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F32871108&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1016%2Fj.athoracsur.2020.08.001&rft.aulast=Wadowski&rft.aufirst=BJ&rft.au=Bacchetta%2C+M&rft.au=Kon%2C+ZN&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC7455797&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Greene_2006-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Greene_2006_22-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFGreene2006" class="citation journal cs1">Greene MF (November 2006). "Obstetricians still await a deus ex machina". <i>N Engl J Med</i>. <b>355</b> (21): <span class="nowrap">2247–</span>2248. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1056%2FNEJMe068176">10.1056/NEJMe068176</a>. <a href="/wiki/PMID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMID (identifier)">PMID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17124023">17124023</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=N+Engl+J+Med&rft.atitle=Obstetricians+still+await+a+deus+ex+machina&rft.volume=355&rft.issue=21&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E2247-%3C%2Fspan%3E2248&rft.date=2006-11&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1056%2FNEJMe068176&rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F17124023&rft.aulast=Greene&rft.aufirst=MF&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFVaatmann2022" class="citation journal cs1">Vaatmann, Veiko (2022-07-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/intellect/josc/2022/00000013/00000002/art00002;jsessionid=4piirddiqfbob.x-ic-live-02">"In defence of deus ex machina"</a>. <i>Journal of Screenwriting</i>. <b>13</b> (2): <span class="nowrap">155–</span>167. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1386%2Fjosc_00091_1">10.1386/josc_00091_1</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:252424778">252424778</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Journal+of+Screenwriting&rft.atitle=In+defence+of+deus+ex+machina&rft.volume=13&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E155-%3C%2Fspan%3E167&rft.date=2022-07-01&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1386%2Fjosc_00091_1&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A252424778%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.aulast=Vaatmann&rft.aufirst=Veiko&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ingentaconnect.com%2Fcontent%2Fintellect%2Fjosc%2F2022%2F00000013%2F00000002%2Fart00002%3Bjsessionid%3D4piirddiqfbob.x-ic-live-02&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ghosts-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ghosts_24-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ghosts_24-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFBreton2005" class="citation journal cs1">Breton, Rob (Summer 2005). "Ghosts in the Machina: Plotting in Chartist and Working-Class Fiction". <i>Victorian Studies</i>. <b>47</b> (4): <span class="nowrap">557–</span>575. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1353%2Fvic.2006.0003">10.1353/vic.2006.0003</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Victorian+Studies&rft.atitle=Ghosts+in+the+Machina%3A+Plotting+in+Chartist+and+Working-Class+Fiction&rft.ssn=summer&rft.volume=47&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E557-%3C%2Fspan%3E575&rft.date=2005&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1353%2Fvic.2006.0003&rft.aulast=Breton&rft.aufirst=Rob&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ReferenceA-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_25-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_25-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFHandley1999" class="citation journal cs1">Handley, Miriam (January 1999). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=rfUCAgAACAAJ">"Shaw's response to the deus ex machina: From the Quintessence of Ibsenism to <i>Heartbreak House</i>"</a>. <i>Theatre: Ancient & Modern, January 1999 Conference</i>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780749285777" title="Special:BookSources/9780749285777"><bdi>9780749285777</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Theatre%3A+Ancient+%26+Modern%2C+January+1999+Conference&rft.atitle=Shaw%27s+response+to+the+deus+ex+machina%3A+From+the+Quintessence+of+Ibsenism+to+Heartbreak+House&rft.date=1999-01&rft.isbn=9780749285777&rft.aulast=Handley&rft.aufirst=Miriam&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DrfUCAgAACAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Janko (1987, 20)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Poetics</i> 11.5, Penguin (1996, 45).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/essay/237830?page=3">"Ars Poetica by Horace"</a>. <i>Poetry Foundation</i>. 21 September 2017.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Poetry+Foundation&rft.atitle=Ars+Poetica+by+Horace&rft.date=2017-09-21&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Flearning%2Fessay%2F237830%3Fpage%3D3&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Nietzsche (2003, 85).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Nietzsche (2003, 84–86).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Nietzsche (2003, 80).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFAbel1954" class="citation journal cs1">Abel, D. Herbert (December 1954). "Euripides' Deus ex Machina: Fault or Excellence". <i>The Classical Journal</i>. <b>50</b> (3): <span class="nowrap">127–</span>130.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Classical+Journal&rft.atitle=Euripides%27+Deus+ex+Machina%3A+Fault+or+Excellence&rft.volume=50&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E127-%3C%2Fspan%3E130&rft.date=1954-12&rft.aulast=Abel&rft.aufirst=D.+Herbert&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFlickinger1926" class="citation book cs1">Flickinger, Roy Caston (1926). <i>The Greek Theatre and its Drama</i>. Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Greek+Theatre+and+its+Drama&rft.place=Chicago%2C+Illinois&rft.pub=The+University+of+Chicago+Press&rft.date=1926&rft.aulast=Flickinger&rft.aufirst=Roy+Caston&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Rehm_1992,_71-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Rehm_1992,_71_34-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Rehm_1992,_71_34-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Rehm (1992, 71).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">James Berardinelli, James. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/l/life_brian.html">"Review: Life of Brian"</a>. Reelviews Movie Reviews. 2003</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFShanks2002" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Niall_Shanks" title="Niall Shanks">Shanks, Niall</a> (21 June 2002). "Darwinism Developed: The Ontogeny of an Idea". <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=mb7OEAAAQBAJ"><i>Animals and Science: A Guide to the Debates</i></a>. Controversies in Science. Santa Barbara, California: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 155. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781576078822" title="Special:BookSources/9781576078822"><bdi>9781576078822</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 July</span> 2024</span>. <q>This is the <i>machina ex machina hypothesis</i>. In <a href="/wiki/William_Paley" title="William Paley">Paley</a>'s self-replicating machine, it is imagined that the machine has a mechanical program and equipment to first manufacture the components of a watch and then to assemble these parts into a new, functioning, offspring watch that inherits the ability to replicate itself from the parent watch. [...] <a href="/wiki/John_von_Neumann" title="John von Neumann">Von Neumann</a>'s development of a <i>machina ex machina</i> hypothesis did not have a theological motivation. Instead, it grew out of a puzzle in computer theory.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Darwinism+Developed%3A+The+Ontogeny+of+an+Idea&rft.btitle=Animals+and+Science%3A+A+Guide+to+the+Debates&rft.place=Santa+Barbara%2C+California&rft.series=Controversies+in+Science&rft.pages=155&rft.pub=Bloomsbury+Publishing+USA&rft.date=2002-06-21&rft.isbn=9781576078822&rft.aulast=Shanks&rft.aufirst=Niall&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dmb7OEAAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeus+ex+machina" class="Z3988"></span> </span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin" style=""> <ul><li>Bushnell, Rebecca ed. 2005. <i>A Companion to Tragedy</i>. Malden, MA and Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-4051-0735-9" title="Special:BookSources/1-4051-0735-9">1-4051-0735-9</a>.</li> <li>Heath, Malcolm, trans. 1996. <i>Poetics.</i> By <a href="/wiki/Aristotle" title="Aristotle">Aristotle</a>. Penguin: London. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-14-044636-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-14-044636-4">978-0-14-044636-4</a>.</li> <li>Janko, Richard, trans. 1987. <i>Poetics with Tractatus Coislinianus, Reconstruction of Poetics II and the Fragments of the On Poets.</i> By <a href="/wiki/Aristotle" title="Aristotle">Aristotle</a>. Cambridge: Hackett. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87220-033-7" title="Special:BookSources/0-87220-033-7">0-87220-033-7</a>.</li> <li>Mastronarde, Donald, 1990. <i>Actors on High: The Skene roof, the Crane and the Gods in Attic Drama</i>. Classical Antiquity, Vol 9, October 1990, pp 247–294. University of California.</li> <li>Rehm, Rush, 1992. <i>Greek Tragic Theatre</i>. Routledge, London. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-415-04831-1" title="Special:BookSources/0-415-04831-1">0-415-04831-1</a>.</li> <li>Tanner, Michael ed. 2003. <i>The Birth of Tragedy</i>. By <a href="/wiki/Nietzsche,_Friedrich" class="mw-redirect" title="Nietzsche, Friedrich">Nietzsche, Friedrich</a>. Penguin: London. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-14-043339-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-14-043339-5">978-0-14-043339-5</a>.</li> <li>Taplin, Oliver, 1978. <i>Greek Tragedy in Action</i>. Methuen, London. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-416-71700-4" title="Special:BookSources/0-416-71700-4">0-416-71700-4</a>.</li> <li>Walton, J Michael, trans. 2000. <i>Euripides: Medea</i>. Methuen, London. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-413-75280-1" title="Special:BookSources/0-413-75280-1">0-413-75280-1</a>.</li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deus_ex_machina&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/20px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 1.5x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="512" /></a></span> The dictionary definition of <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/deus_ex_machina" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:Special:Search/deus ex machina"><i>deus ex machina</i></a> at Wiktionary</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation encyclopaedia cs1"><span class="cs1-ws-icon" title="s:The New International Encyclopædia/Deus ex Machina"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_New_International_Encyclop%C3%A6dia/Deus_ex_Machina">"Deus ex Machina" </a></span>. <i><a href="/wiki/New_International_Encyclopedia" class="mw-redirect" title="New International Encyclopedia">New International Encyclopedia</a></i>. 1905.</cite><span 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template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Narrative321" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Narrative" title="Narrative">Narrative</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Character_(arts)" title="Character (arts)">Character</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Antagonist" title="Antagonist">Antagonist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Archenemy" title="Archenemy">Archenemy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Character_arc" title="Character arc">Character arc</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Character_flaw" title="Character flaw">Character flaw</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Characterization" title="Characterization">Characterization</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Confidant" title="Confidant">Confidant</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deuteragonist" title="Deuteragonist">Deuteragonist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/False_protagonist" title="False protagonist">False protagonist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Focal_character" title="Focal character">Focal character</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foil_(narrative)" title="Foil (narrative)">Foil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gothic_double" title="Gothic double">Gothic double</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Hamartia" title="Hamartia">Hamartia</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hero" title="Hero">Hero</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Antihero" title="Antihero">Anti</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Byronic_hero" title="Byronic hero">Byronic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tragic_hero" title="Tragic hero">Tragic</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narration" title="Narration">Narrator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protagonist" title="Protagonist">Protagonist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stock_character" title="Stock character">Stock character</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Straight_man" title="Straight man">Straight man</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Supporting_character" title="Supporting character">Supporting character</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Title_character" title="Title character">Title character</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tritagonist" title="Tritagonist">Tritagonist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Villain" title="Villain">Villain</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Plot_(narrative)" title="Plot (narrative)">Plot</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Ab_ovo" title="Ab ovo">Ab ovo</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Action_(narrative)" title="Action (narrative)">Action</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Backstory" title="Backstory">Backstory</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Origin_story" title="Origin story">Origin story</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chekhov%27s_gun" title="Chekhov's gun">Chekhov's gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Clich%C3%A9" title="Cliché">Cliché</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cliffhanger" title="Cliffhanger">Cliffhanger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conflict_(narrative)" title="Conflict (narrative)">Conflict</a></li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Deus ex machina</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dialogue_in_writing" title="Dialogue in writing">Dialogue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dramatic_structure" class="mw-redirect" title="Dramatic structure">Dramatic structure</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eucatastrophe" title="Eucatastrophe">Eucatastrophe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foreshadowing" title="Foreshadowing">Foreshadowing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flashback_(narrative)" title="Flashback (narrative)">Flashback</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flashforward" title="Flashforward">Flashforward</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frame_story" title="Frame story">Frame story</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/In_medias_res" title="In medias res">In medias res</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kish%C5%8Dtenketsu" title="Kishōtenketsu">Kishōtenketsu</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MacGuffin" title="MacGuffin">MacGuffin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pace_(narrative)" title="Pace (narrative)">Pace</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plot_device" title="Plot device">Plot device</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plot_twist" title="Plot twist">Plot twist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Poetic_justice" title="Poetic justice">Poetic justice</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Red_herring" title="Red herring">Red herring</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reveal_(narrative)" title="Reveal (narrative)">Reveal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-insertion" title="Self-insertion">Self-insertion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shaggy_dog_story" title="Shaggy dog story">Shaggy dog story</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stereotype" title="Stereotype">Stereotype</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Story_arc" title="Story arc">Story arc</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Story_within_a_story" title="Story within a story">Story within a story</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Subplot" title="Subplot">Subplot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Suspense" title="Suspense">Suspense</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trope_(literature)" title="Trope (literature)">Trope</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Setting_(narrative)" title="Setting (narrative)">Setting</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Alternate_history" title="Alternate history">Alternate history</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Backstory" title="Backstory">Backstory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crossover_(fiction)" title="Crossover (fiction)">Crossover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dream_world_(plot_device)" title="Dream world (plot device)">Dreamworld</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dystopia" title="Dystopia">Dystopia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fictional_location" title="Fictional location">Fictional location</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fictional_city" class="mw-redirect" title="Fictional city">city</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fictional_country" title="Fictional country">country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fictional_universe" title="Fictional universe">universe</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Parallel_universes_in_fiction" title="Parallel universes in fiction">parallel</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Utopia" title="Utopia">Utopia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Worldbuilding" title="Worldbuilding">Worldbuilding</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Theme_(narrative)" title="Theme (narrative)">Theme</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Irony" title="Irony">Irony</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Leitmotif" title="Leitmotif">Leitmotif</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Metaphor" title="Metaphor">Metaphor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moral" title="Moral">Moral</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moral_development" title="Moral development">Moral development</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Motif_(narrative)" title="Motif (narrative)">Motif</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Deal_with_the_Devil" title="Deal with the Devil">Deal with the Devil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Good_and_evil" title="Good and evil">Conflict between good and evil</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-fulfilling_prophecy" title="Self-fulfilling prophecy">Self-fulfilling prophecy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Time_travel" title="Time travel">Time travel</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Writing_style" title="Writing style">Style</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Allegory" title="Allegory">Allegory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bathos" title="Bathos">Bathos</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Comic_relief" title="Comic relief">Comic relief</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Diction" title="Diction">Diction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Figure_of_speech" title="Figure of speech">Figure of speech</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Imagery" title="Imagery">Imagery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mode_(literature)" title="Mode (literature)">Mode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mood_(literature)" title="Mood (literature)">Mood</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narration" title="Narration">Narration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_narrative_techniques" title="List of narrative techniques">Narrative techniques</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Narrative_hook" title="Narrative hook">Hook</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Show,_don%27t_tell" title="Show, don't tell">Show, don't tell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stylistic_device" title="Stylistic device">Stylistic device</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief" title="Suspension of disbelief">Suspension of disbelief</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Symbolism_(arts)" class="mw-redirect" title="Symbolism (arts)">Symbolism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tone_(literature)" title="Tone (literature)">Tone</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Dramatic_structure" class="mw-redirect" title="Dramatic structure">Structure</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Act_(drama)" title="Act (drama)">Act</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dramatic_structure" class="mw-redirect" title="Dramatic structure">Act structure</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Three-act_structure" title="Three-act structure">Three-act structure</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Freytag%27s_Pyramid" class="mw-redirect" title="Freytag's Pyramid">Freytag's Pyramid</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Exposition_(narrative)" title="Exposition (narrative)">Exposition</a>/<a href="/wiki/Protasis" title="Protasis">Protasis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Epitasis" title="Epitasis">Rising action/Epitasis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Climax_(narrative)" title="Climax (narrative)">Climax</a>/<a href="/wiki/Peripeteia" title="Peripeteia">Peripeteia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Catastasis" title="Catastasis">Falling action/Catastasis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Catastrophe_(drama)" title="Catastrophe (drama)">Denouement/Catastrophe</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narrative_structure" class="mw-redirect" title="Narrative structure">Linear narrative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nonlinear_narrative" title="Nonlinear narrative">Nonlinear narrative</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_nonlinear_narrative_films" title="List of nonlinear narrative films">films</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_nonlinear_narrative_television_series" title="List of nonlinear narrative television series">television series</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Premise_(narrative)" title="Premise (narrative)">Premise</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Types_of_fiction_with_multiple_endings" title="Types of fiction with multiple endings">Types of fiction with multiple endings</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_narrative_forms" title="List of narrative forms">Form</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Drama" title="Drama">Drama</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Fabliau" title="Fabliau">Fabliau</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flash_fiction" title="Flash fiction">Flash fiction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Folklore" title="Folklore">Folklore</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fable" title="Fable">Fable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fairy_tale" title="Fairy tale">Fairy tale</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Legend" title="Legend">Legend</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Myth" title="Myth">Myth</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tall_tale" title="Tall tale">Tall tale</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gamebook" title="Gamebook">Gamebook</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narrative_art" title="Narrative art">Narrative art</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narrative_poetry" title="Narrative poetry">Narrative poetry</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Epic_poetry" title="Epic poetry">Epic poetry</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Novel" title="Novel">Novel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Novella" title="Novella">Novella</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parable" title="Parable">Parable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Short_story" title="Short story">Short story</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vignette_(literature)" title="Vignette (literature)">Vignette</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Literary_genre" title="Literary genre">Genre</a><br />(<a href="/wiki/List_of_writing_genres" title="List of writing genres">List</a>)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fiction" title="Fiction">Fiction</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Action_fiction" title="Action fiction">Action fiction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Adventure_fiction" title="Adventure fiction">Adventure</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Comic_novel" title="Comic novel">Comic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crime_fiction" title="Crime fiction">Crime</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Docufiction" title="Docufiction">Docu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Epistolary_novel" title="Epistolary novel">Epistolary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ergodic_literature" title="Ergodic literature">Ergodic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Erotic_literature" title="Erotic literature">Erotic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Historical_fiction" title="Historical fiction">Historical</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Western_fiction" title="Western fiction">Western</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mystery_fiction" title="Mystery fiction">Mystery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nautical_fiction" title="Nautical fiction">Nautical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paranoid_fiction" title="Paranoid fiction">Paranoid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Philosophical_fiction" title="Philosophical fiction">Philosophical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Picaresque_novel" title="Picaresque novel">Picaresque</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_fiction" title="Political fiction">Political</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pop_culture_fiction" title="Pop culture fiction">Pop culture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Psychological_fiction" title="Psychological fiction">Psychological</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inspirational_fiction" title="Inspirational fiction">Religious</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rogue_literature" title="Rogue literature">Rogue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Romance_novel" title="Romance novel">Romance</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chivalric_romance" title="Chivalric romance">Chivalric</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Romance_(prose_fiction)" title="Romance (prose fiction)">Prose</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saga" title="Saga">Saga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Satire" title="Satire">Satire</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Speculative_fiction" title="Speculative fiction">Speculative fiction</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fantasy" title="Fantasy">Fantasy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gothic_fiction" title="Gothic fiction">Gothic</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Southern_Gothic" title="Southern Gothic">Southern</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Horror_fiction" title="Horror fiction">Horror</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Magic_realism" class="mw-redirect" title="Magic realism">Magic realism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Science_fiction" title="Science fiction">Science</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hard_science_fiction" title="Hard science fiction">Hard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Utopian_and_dystopian_fiction" title="Utopian and dystopian fiction">Utopian and dystopian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_underwater_science_fiction_works" title="List of underwater science fiction works">Underwater</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Superhero_fiction" title="Superhero fiction">Superhero</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theological_fiction" title="Theological fiction">Theological</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thriller_(genre)" title="Thriller (genre)">Thriller</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Urban_fiction" title="Urban fiction">Urban</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nonfiction" class="mw-redirect" title="Nonfiction">Nonfiction</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Autobiography" title="Autobiography">Autobiography</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Biography" title="Biography">Biography</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Non-fiction_novel" title="Non-fiction novel">Novel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Creative_nonfiction" title="Creative nonfiction">Creative</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Narration" title="Narration">Narration</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Diegesis" title="Diegesis">Diegesis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/First-person_narrative" title="First-person narrative">First-person</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Second-person_narrative" class="mw-redirect" title="Second-person narrative">Second-person</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Third-person_narrative" class="mw-redirect" title="Third-person narrative">Third-person</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Third-person_omniscient_narrative" class="mw-redirect" title="Third-person omniscient narrative">Third-person omniscient narrative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narration#Subjective_or_objective" title="Narration">Subjectivity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unreliable_narrator" title="Unreliable narrator">Unreliable narrator</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multiperspectivity" title="Multiperspectivity">Multiple narrators</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness" title="Stream of consciousness">Stream of consciousness</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stream_of_unconsciousness" title="Stream of unconsciousness">Stream of unconsciousness</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Grammatical_tense" title="Grammatical tense">Tense</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Past_tense" title="Past tense">Past</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Present_tense" title="Present tense">Present</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Future_tense" title="Future tense">Future</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dominant_narrative" title="Dominant narrative">Dominant narrative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fiction_writing" title="Fiction writing">Fiction writing</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Continuity_(fiction)" title="Continuity (fiction)">Continuity</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Canon_(fiction)" title="Canon (fiction)">Canon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reboot_(fiction)" title="Reboot (fiction)">Reboot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Retroactive_continuity" title="Retroactive continuity">Retcon</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parallel_novel" title="Parallel novel">Parallel novel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prequel" title="Prequel">Prequel</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sequel" title="Sequel">Sequel</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Genre" title="Genre">Genre</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_genres" title="List of genres">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_criticism" title="Literary criticism">Literary science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_theory" title="Literary theory">Literary theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narrative_identity" title="Narrative identity">Narrative identity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narrative_paradigm" title="Narrative paradigm">Narrative paradigm</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narrative_therapy" title="Narrative therapy">Narrative therapy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Narratology" title="Narratology">Narratology</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Metafiction" title="Metafiction">Metafiction</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_narrative" title="Political narrative">Political narrative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rhetoric" title="Rhetoric">Rhetoric</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_rhetorical_terms" title="Glossary of rhetorical terms">Glossary</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Screenwriting" title="Screenwriting">Screenwriting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Works_series" title="Template:Works series">Series of works</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Storytelling" title="Storytelling">Storytelling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tellability" title="Tellability">Tellability</a></li> <li><a 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