Deus Ex Machina
A plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem in a story is suddenly and abruptly resolved by an unexpected and seemingly unlikely occurrence, such as the appearance of hero or deity, unknown inventory, or other contrived denouement.
EverydayConcepts.io
Origin
In ancient Greek theater, a mechanical crane called the mēkhanē lowered actors portraying gods onto the stage to untangle impossible plots. Aristotle critiqued the convention in his Poetics (c. 335 BC), arguing that good resolutions should arise from the story itself rather than divine intervention. The Latin translation — 'god from the machine' — became a lasting term of literary criticism.
Updated February 22, 2026