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Deus ex Machina
Deus ex Machina, literally ‘the god from the machine’, in classical drama the character, usually a god, who enters at the end of a play to resolve the complexities of a plot which would otherwise be insoluble. In Greek tragedy he was lowered from above by a crane (mechane). The use of this device was later criticized as showing the dramatist's lack of skill in resolving his plot naturally. By extension, the term has come to mean any arbitrary form of plot resolution.
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PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Deus ex Machina." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Deus ex Machina." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-DeusexMachina.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Deus ex Machina." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-DeusexMachina.html |
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deus ex machina
deus ex machina an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel. The phrase is modern Latin, a direct translation of Greek theos ek mēkhanēs ‘god from the machinery’, since in Greek theatre, actors representing gods were suspended above the stage, the denouement of the play being brought about by their intervention.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "deus ex machina." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "deus ex machina." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-deusexmachina.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "deus ex machina." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-deusexmachina.html |
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deus ex machina
deus ex machina, ‘God from the machine’, an unexpected event or intervention in a play or novel, which resolves a difficult situation. When a god was introduced in the ancient Greek drama, he was brought on to the stage by some mechanical means (μηχανή). Euripides was particularly fond of the device.
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "deus ex machina." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "deus ex machina." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-deusexmachina.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "deus ex machina." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-deusexmachina.html |
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Deus ex machina
Deus ex machina (Lat., ‘God out of the machine’). The device in classical theatre of bringing God on to the stage and into the action to resolve a problem in the plot; hence the introduction of an artificial solution to a problem.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Deus ex machina." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Deus ex machina." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Deusexmachina.html JOHN BOWKER. "Deus ex machina." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Deusexmachina.html |
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Deus Ex Machina
Deus Ex MachinaSee God of the Gaps; Skyhooks |
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"Deus Ex Machina." Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Deus Ex Machina." Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404200143.html "Deus Ex Machina." Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404200143.html |
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deus ex machina
deus ex machina
•abstainer, arcana, campaigner, Cana, caner, cantilena, complainer, container, detainer, drainer, entertainer, explainer, Gaenor, gainer, Gaynor, grainer, Jena, Lena, maintainer, Marlene, N'Djamena, obtainer, ordainer, planar, planer, profaner, Rayner, retainer, scena, seiner, Sinn Feiner, strainer, sustainer, trainer, uniplanar
•straightener
•Adelina, Angelina, arena, Argentina, ballerina, Ballymena, Bettina, Bukovina, Burkina, cantina, Cartagena, casuarina, catena, Christina, cleaner, concertina, congener, contravener, convener, Cortina, demeanour (US demeanor), deus ex machina, duodena, Edwina, Ena, farina, Filipina, galena, Georgina, Gina, gleaner, hyena, Ina, intervener, kachina, kina, Magdalena, marina, Martina, Medina, Messalina, Messina, misdemeanour (US misdemeanor), Nina, novena, ocarina, Palestrina, Pasadena, Philomena, piscina, retsina, Rowena, Sabrina, scarlatina, screener, Selina, semolina, Seraphina, Serena, Sheena, signorina, sonatina, subpoena, Taormina, tsarina, verbena, vina, weaner, wiener, Wilhelmina, Zena
•sweetener • pipecleaner
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Cite this article
"deus ex machina." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "deus ex machina." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-deusexmachina.html "deus ex machina." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-deusexmachina.html |
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