Deus Ex Machina Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: CCRA.R.3, CCRA.SL.1

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When authors are constructing their narratives, they will often use plot devices to move the plot of the story further along. Deus ex machina is plot device that is used by authors to solve an unfathomable conflict or moment of stress by the sudden appearance of an improbably character, object, action, or event. This often results in an unexpected outcome and surprises the audience. The goal for authors is to bring an abrupt resolution to the plot. This type of technique is often discouraged by most writing teachers, but when Deus ex machina is used at the right time and with the right setup it can an element of comic relief. You will find this technique used more often in plays and roles played by actors. The collection of worksheets that we have for you will help you explore where and when it is appropriate to use this plot device.

Deus Ex Machina Worksheets To Print:

Plot Twist - How does this technique differ from your basic plot twist?

The Big Concept - Let us review all the major points that you need to understand.

Do You Sense It? - Read each story summary. Does it use this technique towards the ending? Write yes or no on the line.

Worldbuilding - We look at the these two concepts and how the connect.

Eucatastrophe - These are very closely related, but one heads in a focused direction.

Where It Came From - The Latin phrase translates literally to "a god from the machine" and is a reference to the scene in Ancient Greek theatre at the end of the play when an actor playing a god would be lowered onto the set by a mechanical crane and resolve all the conflict in the story.

What it Means - We look at specific reasons you may want to use this as an author.

How Does It End? - This provides you with an outline to follow when you are the author.

True and False - You will need to spend sometime on background before tackling this one.

Complete It - Complete all the missing blanks of the reading passage.

Peripeteia - This is usually a bit of downer, but can make for some interesting narratives.

Plot Flaw - Some view this technique as a flaw, but it all depends on how you pull it off.

Begin with the End in Mind - What needs to exist, happen, or be possible within your narrative world in order for this resolution to feel both inevitable and unexpected, and thus satisfying for the reader?

Text Walk Along - This can help you evaluate a story.

Story Analysis - What is the central conflict of the story?

What is Deus Ex Machina of a Story?

Have you ever watched or read a story where the character manages to get themselves out of a difficult situation by chance? As in The Phantom Menace, a large fish goes after Qui Gon and Obi-Wan, while an even bigger fish appears out of nowhere and devours the first one-that's Deus Ex Machina. From traditional and modern literature to contemporary blockbuster scenes, here's everything you need to know about this common literary device.


The Origin


Deus Ex Machina (DAY-us ex MACK-in-uh) is a Latin phrase directly translated from a Greek word meaning "a god created by machines." It referred to the stage apparatus used to transport sculptures of divinities or people portraying gods during performances. The machine was a crane that lifted the actor or statue or it could be a system that allowed the actor or statue to ascend via a trapdoor in the ground. Using this mechanism, the "gods" may arrive and give divine intervention to create an unexpected situation or a happy ending to the play.


How Authors Use It


Deus Ex Machina occurs when a new force, character, or event appears out of nowhere in the story to make a hopeless situation manageable. If you think about it, it's as if the author has taken us to the pinnacle of stress and anxiety to say, "But then everything was suddenly okay." As a result, the story's intensity is undermined, suggesting that the hero's fate is ultimately determined by pure chance.


Examples in Literature


Over the years, Deus Ex Machina has been used in many literary books; some of them are highlighted below. (This section discusses the endings of some popular stories. Read with caution).


Charles Perrault's Little Red Riding Hood


The story Little Red Riding Hood (or at least certain versions) has perhaps the most prominent example of Deus Ex Machina. The wolf devours Little Red Riding Hood in the earliest version of the tale. However, it is eventually killed by a random woodsman who emerges after the story since some subsequent writers felt it was too depressing for small children. The woodsman has played no role in the tale, and his emergence seems to result from sheer chance.


Deus Ex Machina can also be found in various classical works:


- Euripides's Medea (431 BCE)


- Aeschylus's Oresteia (458 BCE)


- H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds (1898)


- William Shakespeare's As You Like It (1603)


The Deus Ex Machina is often seen as a literary device; nevertheless, some writers feel that the phrase alludes to the appearance of a new character, the application of magic, or even the discovery that "it was all a nightmare." Considering that it is a hopeless situation suddenly solved by an unexpected occurrence, what would you prefer it to be; happy or sad?