This document defines and provides examples of three common literary devices: deus ex machina, in which an unexpected event abruptly solves an unsolvable problem; poetic justice, where virtue is rewarded or vice punished by ironic fate; and plot twist, a surprise change in the expected direction of the plot. It gives the Spiderwick Chronicles, Scaregiver, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas as examples that illustrate these three devices.

1. •DEUS EX MACHINA
•POETIC JUSTICE
•PLOT TWIST

2. •DEUS EX MACHINA
Is a plot device whereby a
seemingly inextricable problem is
suddenly and abruptly solved with
the contrived and unexpected
intervention of some new event,
character, ability, or object.

3. EXAMPLE OF DEUS EX MACHINA
SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES

4. POETIC JUSTICE
Is a literary device in which virtue
is ultimately rewarded or vice
punished, often in modern literature
by an ironic twist of fate intimately
related to the character's own
conduct.

5. EXAMPLE OF POETIC JUSTICE
SCAREGIVER

6. PLOT TWIST
Is a change in the expected direction or
outcome of the plot of a film, television series,
video game, novel, comic or other fictional work.
It is a common practice in narration used to keep
the interest of an audience, usually surprising
them with a revelation. Some “twist” are
foreshadowed and can thus be predicted by many
viewers/readers, whereas other are a complete
shock.

7. EXAMPLE OF PLOT TWIST
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas