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Story writing technique
A plot device or plot mechanism is any technique in a narrative used to move the plot forward. A clichéd plot device may annoy the reader and a contrived
Plot_device
Literary and dramatic plot device
A deathtrap is a literary and dramatic plot device in which a villain who has captured the hero or another sympathetic character attempts to use an elaborate
Deathtrap_(plot_device)
Topics referred to by the same term
trio from the mid 1980s Device (Device album), 2013 Device (Eon album), 2006 Plot device, as in storytelling Rhetorical device, a technique used in writing
Device
Background information within a narrative
This information can be about the setting, characters' backstories, prior plot events, historical context, etc. In literature, exposition appears in the
Exposition_(narrative)
Reliance on exact conditions of an agreement
quibble in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. In fiction, a quibble is a plot device used to fulfill the exact verbal conditions of an agreement in order
Quibble_(plot_device)
Type of plot device
metaphorically left to "dangle" or "hang". A dangler, or dangling plotline, is a plot device in fiction where a plotline is forgotten, phased out and eventually dropped
Dangler_(plot_device)
Narrative technique
Forsyth's The Odessa File. A cliffhanger, or cliffhanger ending, is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult
Plot_twist
Plot device
Mistaken identity is a plot device whereby one person is taken for another and, often, vice versa. It is used in many comical plays, exemplified by the
Mistaken identity (plot device)
Mistaken_identity_(plot_device)
Cause-and-effect events in a narrative
the unraveling or untying of the complexities of a plot. A plot device is a means of advancing the plot in a story. It is often used to motivate characters
Plot_(narrative)
Plot device wherein a fictional character is preserved from harm
Plot armor is a plot device wherein a fictional character is preserved from harm due to their necessity for the plot to proceed. The Oxford English Dictionary
Plot_armor
Fantasy about worlds accessed through dreams
(also called dream realms, illusory realms, or dreamscape) are a common plot device in fictional works, most notably in science fiction and fantasy fiction
Dream_world_(plot_device)
Literary technique used to persuade
A literary device, literary technique, figure of speech, rhetorical device, stylistic device, or trope is any deliberate strategy of using language that
Literary_device
Fallacious approach to mislead an audience
or important question. It may be either a logical fallacy or a literary device that leads readers or audiences toward a false conclusion. A red herring
Red_herring
Device to resolve the plot of a dramatic work
ɛks ˈmaːkʰɪnaː]; plural: dei ex machina; 'God from the machine') is a plot device, a type of denouement in which a seemingly unsolvable problem in a story
Deus_ex_machina
Hitchcock's films show an interesting tendency towards recurring themes and plot devices throughout his life as a director. Hitchcock preferred the use of suspense
Themes and plot devices in Hitchcock films
Themes_and_plot_devices_in_Hitchcock_films
characters or issues and may have same-sex romance or relationships as a plot device. Cárceles, Fran (March 8, 2026). "Los embarazos trans, una realidad «aún
List of LGBTQ-related films of 2026
List_of_LGBTQ-related_films_of_2026
Story plot device
fiction, a MacGuffin (sometimes McGuffin) is an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant
MacGuffin
multiverse) are a common plot device in fiction. This is a list of notable fictional works which feature parallel universes as a plot element. Burt, Stephanie
List of fictional works featuring parallel universes
List_of_fictional_works_featuring_parallel_universes
2025 film by Akiva Schaffer
the "P.L.O.T. Device"'s influence. Beth plans to kill Cane, but he sees this coming as telegraphed in her book. Frank finds the "P.L.O.T. Device" inside
The_Naked_Gun_(2025_film)
Plot device in fiction where a character changes time periods
A time slip is a plot device in fantasy and science fiction in which a person, or group of people, seem to accidentally travel through time by unknown
Time_slip
Supernatural hindrance, or incantation intended to bestow such a hindrance
the stone. Curses have also been used as plot devices in literature and theater. When used as a plot device, they involve one character placing a curse
Curse
Literary trope
disproportionate harm, such as death, maiming, or assault, to serve as plot devices to motivate male characters, an event colloquially known as "fridging"
Women_in_refrigerators
Portal device within the Stargate fictional universe
as a plot device, allowing the main characters to visit alien planets without the need for spaceships or any other type of technology. The device allows
Stargate_(device)
Fantasy narratives involving travel through portals
called portal-quest fantasy, gateway fantasy or crossworld fantasy, is a plot device in speculative fiction, particularly fantasy fiction and science fiction
Portal_fantasy
literature, incest is an important yet controversial thematic element and plot device in films, anime and manga, television, and video games. Pier Paolo Pasolini's
Incest_in_media
Plot device in fiction
universe, also known as an alternate universe, world, or dimension, is a plot device in fiction which uses the notion of a hypothetical universe co-existing
Parallel_universes_in_fiction
Implausible plot device in fiction
"Alien space bats" ("ASBs") is a neologism for plot devices used in alternate history to mean an implausible point of divergence. "Alien space bats" was
Alien_space_bats
Explosive device hidden in a body cavity of a person or animal
is an explosive device hidden inside the body of a person in order to commit a suicide attack. Although this is a common plot device in fiction, very
Body_cavity_bomb
Plot device used in fiction
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious situation, facing a difficult dilemma
Cliffhanger
List of 2025 LGBT movies
characters or issues and may have same-sex romance or relationships as a plot device. Dominik Böhler, "David Pablos' 'En el Camino' Wins the Queer Lion in
List of LGBTQ-related films of 2025
List_of_LGBTQ-related_films_of_2025
Character of a work actively opposing the protagonist
norms or other rules may also be antagonists. An antagonist is used as a plot device, to set up conflicts, obstacles, or challenges for the protagonist. Though
Antagonist
Plot device that resets continuity in works of fiction
the idea of status quo ante) is a plot device for interrupting continuity in works of fiction. The reset button device is used to return all characters
Reset_button_technique
English mystery and detective writer (1890–1976)
honour. She was buried in the nearby churchyard of St Mary's, Cholsey, in a plot she had chosen with her husband 10 years previously. The simple funeral service
Agatha_Christie
Plot device used in science-fiction stories
mind, mind coalescence, or gestalt intelligence in science fiction is a plot device in which multiple minds, or consciousnesses, are linked into a single
Group_mind_(science_fiction)
Plot device in fiction
The time loop or temporal loop is a plot device in fiction whereby characters re-experience a span of time which is repeated, sometimes more than once
Time_loop
2011 American science fiction crime drama television series
had been transformed from a "crime-fighting show" with an entertaining plot device into "one of the best science-fiction series ever broadcast". The show
Person of Interest (TV series)
Person_of_Interest_(TV_series)
List of methods used to convey information in a narrative
of narrative, rather than being merely optional strategies. Plot device Rhetorical device Orehovec, Barbara (2003). Revisiting the Reading Workshop: A
List_of_narrative_techniques
Fictional character
a small purple dragon with a runaway imagination, which serves as a plot device in Journey into Imagination with Figment, the most recent edition of
Figment_(Disney)
American film franchise
Crusade, Lucas let the series end as he felt he could not think of a good plot device to drive the next installment and chose instead to produce The Young
Indiana_Jones
Dramatic principle
Foreshadowing – a plot device where what is to come is hinted at, to arouse interest or to guard against disappointment MacGuffin – a plot motivator that
Chekhov's_gun
Plot device involving substituting one partner in bed with a third person
The bed trick is a plot device in traditional literature and folklore; it involves a substitution of one partner in the sex act with a third person (in
Bed_trick
Hypothesis that reality could be a computer simulation
idea have also been featured in science fiction, appearing as a central plot device in many stories and films, such as Simulacron-3 (1964) and The Matrix
Simulation_hypothesis
Portrayal and stereotypes of people or animals with albinism
albinism. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "evil albino" plot device. The "evil albino" stereotype or stock character is a villain in fiction
Albinism_in_popular_culture
Shared fictional universe based on the work of H. P. Lovecraft
would actively write about the Mythos rather than treat it as a discrete plot device within Lovecraft's own stories. Derleth expanded the boundaries of the
Cthulhu_Mythos
Topics referred to by the same term
Look up plot, plots, or plotting in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Plot or plotting may refer to: Plot (narrative), the connected story elements of a
Plot
American actress (born 1997)
film The Equalizer because her character "felt so real", rather than a "plot device". In October 2014, Moretz was named one of the 25 Most Influential Teens
Chloë_Grace_Moretz
Deliberately complex contraption
creativity, number of interventions, and number of steps. Deathtrap (plot device) Domino effect "Rube Goldberg - History of Creating Inventions, Machines
Rube_Goldberg_machine
Artefacts in Tolkien's legendarium
fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. The One Ring first appeared as a plot device, a magic ring in Tolkien's children's fantasy novel, The Hobbit. Tolkien
Rings_of_Power
Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona
psychological thriller Olivia used the relocation of the bridge as a central plot device.[unreliable source?] The 1985 made-for-TV movie Bridge Across Time, a
London Bridge (Lake Havasu City)
London_Bridge_(Lake_Havasu_City)
Film by Adrian Lyne
war in Vietnam and reading chronicles of near-death experiences. The plot device of a long period of subjective time passing in an instant was inspired
Jacob's_Ladder_(1990_film)
Homosexual woman or girl
one gender for another to seduce an unsuspecting woman was a common plot device, seen for instance in Twelfth Night (1601), The Faerie Queene (1590)
Lesbian
Plot device used for an effect in fictional works
A shoulder angel is a plot device used for dramatic and/or humorous effect in fiction, mainly in animation and comic books/strips. The angel represents
Shoulder_angel
Story whose beginning can follow its end
"99 Bottles of Beer", a "reverse counting" song Repetition (rhetorical device) Groundhog Day circular tale "Circular Tale", In: The Borzoi Book of French
Circular_tale
Topics referred to by the same term
to mistakes in eyewitness identification Mistaken identity (plot device), literary device Mistaken identification of any kind Mistaken Identity (Kim Carnes
Mistaken_identity
American film director and writer (born 1984)
entitled Plot Device. The short was created to highlight features of Red Giant's Magic Bullet Suite of video tools. His short films include: Plot Device (2011)
Seth_Worley
Treasure motif in Arthurian literature
his continuing quest to find the Holy Grail. His quest is primarily a plot device, as the episode's action revolves not around the quest but rather around
Holy_Grail
Hypothetical device to cause seismic events
doubtful." Though no such device is known to have been built, tectonic weapons have occasionally appeared as plot devices in works of fiction. Theoretically
Tectonic_weapon
1984 film by Steven Spielberg
writer George Lucas decided to regard this film as a prequel. Three plot devices were rejected before Lucas wrote a film treatment that resembled the
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana_Jones_and_the_Temple_of_Doom
1991 American film by Michael Lehmann
technology à la Coburn's Our Man Flint films of the 1960s. A recurring plot device in the film has Hudson Hawkins and his partner Tommy "Five-Tone" Messina
Hudson_Hawk
Species of bird
a soul departing, and can capture it as it flees. This is used as a plot device in H. P. Lovecraft's story The Dunwich Horror. Lovecraft based this idea
Eastern_whip-poor-will
Extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media
A story arc (also narrative arc) is the chronological construction of a plot in a novel or story. It can also mean an extended or continuing storyline
Story_arc
Fantasy subgenre about being transferred to another world or time
Accidental travel is a speculative fiction plot device in which ordinary people accidentally find themselves outside of their normal place or time, often
Accidental_travel
Literary element
chosen order and sometimes specifically referring to the ordering of the plot: the narrative series of events, though this can vary based on culture. In
Story_structure
Iranian mythological bird
Simurgh card from a fictional collectible card game serves as a major plot device in the sci-fi novel Entanglement, by Gibson Monk. A simurgh appeared
Simurgh
Japanese manga series
were "very happy" to have the story in Weekly Shōnen Jump. The core plot device of the story is the "Death Note" itself, a black notebook with instructions
Death_Note
Sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors
based on a book of the same name by Ira Levin. Voyeurism is a common plot device in both: Serious films, e.g., Rear Window (1954), Klute (1971), Blue
Voyeurism
Fictional entity from the 1967 British television programme The Prisoner
</noinclude> Rover is a plot device from the 1967 British television programme The Prisoner, and was a crucial tool used to keep 'prisoners' from escaping
Rover_(The_Prisoner)
Secondary strand of a narrative plot
story is a strand of the plot that is a supporting side story for any story or for the main plot. Subplots may connect to main plots, in either time and place
Subplot
Incest is an important thematic element and plot device in literature, with famous early examples such as Sophocles' classic Oedipus Rex, a tragedy in
Incest_in_literature
1923 poem by Robert Lee Frost
the lyrics and rhyme scheme. The last stanza of the poem is used as a plot device in the 1977 spy film Telefon. The words are used as a spoken code phrase
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Stopping_by_Woods_on_a_Snowy_Evening
Fictional character from American TV series Sex and the City
relationship issues and Carrie's coping with the ambiguity are frequent plot devices. Carrie repeatedly returns to the relationship even though he is clearly
Mr._Big_(Sex_and_the_City)
2007 video game
the genetic memories of his ancestor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. Through this plot device, details emerge about a millennia-old struggle between two factions:
Assassin's_Creed_(video_game)
1976 film by Alfred Hitchcock
Family Plot is a 1976 American black comedy thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock in his final directorial feature, and starring Karen Black, Bruce
Family_Plot
Science fiction character
succeeding actor is explained within the show's narrative through the plot device of regeneration, a biological function of Time Lords that allows a change
The_Doctor
Literary or social stereotype story character
cases, they can also enhance narrative elements like suspense, irony, or plot twists if those expectations end up subverted. There is often confusion between
Stock_character
1977 Franco-British-German experimental film
Nazi tourism and entertainment industry for foreigners. One particular plot device, especially for mocking post-war fascination and cliches about Hitler
Hitler:_A_Film_from_Germany
4th episode of the 7th series of Black Mirror
Alex (10 April 2025). "How Netflix Turned a Terrifying 'Black Mirror' Plot Device Into a Real-Life Video Game". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 April
Plaything_(Black_Mirror)
2008 film directed by Steven Spielberg
(1989), Lucas let the series end as he felt he could not think of a good plot device to drive the next installment. He chose instead to produce the prequel
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana_Jones_and_the_Kingdom_of_the_Crystal_Skull
Concept and accompanying genre in fiction
means, for example brought on by angels or spirits. A time slip is a plot device in fantasy and science fiction in which a person, or group of people
Time_travel_in_fiction
Area in Idaho section of Yellowstone National Park
The main plot of the novel Free Fire written by C. J. Box centers on four murders that occur in the Zone of Death. A recurring plot device in the TV
Zone_of_Death_(Yellowstone)
Star Wars character
Therefore, instead of being a major character in the film, Luke became a plot device. Hamill attended script readings, during which he read stage directions
Luke_Skywalker
Dramatic structure
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. As the story moves along, the plot usually progresses in such a way as to pose a major dramatic question. For
Three-act_structure
Compendium of images by Swiss artist H. R. Giger
Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire Lovecraft invented and used as a plot device in his stories. Giger's Necronomicon was influential in the design of
Necronomicon_(Giger_book)
Second most important character in a narrative
supporting and opposing the protagonist, depending on their own conflict or plot. Ancient Greek drama began with simply one actor, the protagonist, and a
Deuteragonist
who is able to beat most people in the other world by fighting. This plot device typically allows the audience to learn about the new world at the same
List_of_genres
1140 battle between the Welfs and Hohenstaufens dynasties
The women's unique interpretation of the king's orders was used as a plot device in the modern film adaptation of the Cinderella story Ever After (1998)
Siege_of_Weinsberg
1992 point-and-click adventure game
the final concept while researching real-world sources for a suitable plot device. Fate of Atlantis was acclaimed by critics and received several awards
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana_Jones_and_the_Fate_of_Atlantis
2025 film by Bong Joon Ho
although having Pattinson's character repeatedly die is an interesting plot-device, and the highlight of the film, that "much of this film devolves into
Mickey_17
Fictional character from American Dad!
have a life outside the house. Roger's personas have become a major plot device, with his myriad of alter egos frequently being the subject or facilitator
Roger_(American_Dad!)
Theoretical device to render objects invisible
cloaking devices have been used as plot devices in various media for many years. Developments in scientific research show that real-world cloaking devices can
Cloaking_device
Study of narrative structures
contest and puzzles. Development and exclusive consumption of digital devices and interactivity are key characteristics of electronic literature. This
Narratology
Fictional artifact in The Legend of Zelda series
The first game established it as an object of desire and a central plot device that binds the three characters. Initially comprising two pieces, the
Triforce
2021 American apocalyptic comedy-drama film
the reality of 2020 COVID-19 protocols while serving the underlying plot device of walking through the deserted streets of Los Angeles. The film had
How_It_Ends_(2021_film)
2nd episode of the 2nd series of Black Mirror
considered useful for a sequel story. The main change was the addition of a plot twist at the end of the script, which was noted as the most impressive aspect
White_Bear_(Black_Mirror)
Literary technique
Foreshadowing is a narrative device in which suggestions or warnings about events to come are dropped or planted. Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning
Foreshadowing
Plot device in science fiction
sphere – Hypothetical megastructure around a star MacGuffin – Story plot device Megastructure – Very large artificial object Ringworld – 1970 science
Big_Dumb_Object
Group of Wizards (Istari) in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium
third Wizard, Radagast the Brown, appears briefly, more or less as a plot device. Two Blue Wizards are mentioned in passing. Saruman is installed as the
Wizards_in_Middle-earth
Common plot device in works of fantasy, mythology, and science fiction
A sentient weapon is a common plot device in many works of fantasy, mythology, and science fiction, and is related to the classic motif of the magic sword
Sentient_weapon
Fictional court case created by Charles Dickens
progressing in the English Court of Chancery. The case is a central plot device in the novel and has become a byword for seemingly interminable legal
Jarndyce_and_Jarndyce
2016 film by Roland Emmerich
2013, Emmerich and Devlin mentioned that wormholes would be used as a plot device in ID: Forever. The following month, Devlin and Emmerich brought in the
Independence_Day:_Resurgence
PLOT DEVICE
PLOT DEVICE
Boy/Male
Hindu, Indian
Boat Pilot
Boy/Male
French
From the flat land.
Girl/Female
Hebrew
Plow.
Girl/Female
Biblical
Suspension of the plow.
Girl/Female
Biblical
Lot.
Boy/Male
Arabic
Coffee-pot
Girl/Female
Biblical
Lot.
Boy/Male
Welsh
From the plow land.
Biblical
Lotan, wrapt up; hidden; covered; myrrh; rosin
Girl/Female
Hindu, Indian
Like Pot
Male
Arthurian
, king of Orkney.
Surname or Lastname
English
English : from the personal name Pilot, a Middle English pet form of the Old English personal name PÄ«la.
Surname or Lastname
English
English : topographic name for someone who lived on a small plot of land, from late Old English plot.Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic) : occupational name for a fence maker or carpenter, from Slavic ‘fence’ (Polish płot, Russian plot). Compare Plotnik.
Boy/Male
Arthurian Legend Biblical Hebrew
Name of a king.
Male
Greek
(Λώτ) Greek form of Hebrew Lowt, LOT means "covering, veil." In the bible, this is the name of a nephew of Abraham and father of Moab.
Girl/Female
Australian, Hebrew
Plow
Boy/Male
Latin
Pilot of Aeneas's boat.
Girl/Female
British, English, German
Defensive
Girl/Female
Hindu, Indian
Earthen Pot
Boy/Male
Gujarati, Hindu, Indian, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Telugu
Sacred Pot
PLOT DEVICE
PLOT DEVICE
Female
Egyptian
, recluse.
Boy/Male
Scottish
Fair-haired stranger.
Boy/Male
Tamil
Abhimoda | அபிமோதாÂ
Joy, Delight
Boy/Male
Tamil
Noble Man
Boy/Male
Indian, Sanskrit
Whose Eyes Reflect Auspiciousness
Girl/Female
Hindu, Indian
Never do Bad
Boy/Male
Irish
from John.
Boy/Male
Norse
Dwells at the village.
Girl/Female
Biblical
Possessing, or building up, of the people.
Girl/Female
British, English
Lighthearted; Happy
PLOT DEVICE
PLOT DEVICE
PLOT DEVICE
PLOT DEVICE
PLOT DEVICE
v. t.
To shut with violence; to slam; as, to slot a door.
imp. & p. p.
of Plot
v. t.
To make a plot, map, pr plan, of; to mark the position of on a plan; to delineate.
n.
A crucible; as, a graphite pot; a melting pot.
n.
A distinct portion or plot of land, usually smaller than a field; as, a building lot in a city.
n.
The quantity contained in a pot; a potful; as, a pot of ale.
n.
A small extent of ground; a plat; as, a garden plot.
p. pr. & vb. n.
of Plot
n.
A metallic or earthen vessel, appropriated to any of a great variety of uses, as for boiling meat or vegetables, for holding liquids, for plants, etc.; as, a quart pot; a flower pot; a bean pot.
n.
A share in such a plot or scheme; a participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.
n.
A small piece or plot of ground laid out with some design, or for a special use; usually, a portion of flat, even ground.
v. i.
To take a blot; as, this paper blots easily.
v. t.
To lay out in plats or plots, as ground.
n.
Contrivance; deep reach of thought; ability to plot or intrigue.
a.
Secure against harm by plots.
a.
Alt. of Polt-footed
n.
A plot; a plan; a design; a diagram; a map; a chart.
n.
Any scheme, stratagem, secret design, or plan, of a complicated nature, adapted to the accomplishment of some purpose, usually a treacherous and mischievous one; a conspiracy; an intrigue; as, the Rye-house Plot.
n.
A separate portion; a number of things taken collectively; as, a lot of stationery; -- colloquially, sometimes of people; as, a sorry lot; a bad lot.
v. t.
To obliterate, as writing with ink; to cancel; to efface; -- generally with out; as, to blot out a word or a sentence. Often figuratively; as, to blot out offenses.