A Comprehensive List of 50+ Plot Devices

A List of Plot Devices

1. Chekhov's Gun: A seemingly insignificant object or detail introduced early in the story that becomes crucially important later.
   • Example: A loaded gun hanging on the wall in the first act is likely to be fired by the third act.
2. Cliffhanger: An ending with unresolved tension, creating suspense and a desire to continue the story.
   • Example: The episode ends with the protagonist trapped in a burning building.
3. Dead End: A plot thread introduced but intentionally left unresolved. Can create intrigue or mislead the audience.
   • Example: A mysterious figure appears only once and is never explained.
4. Death Trap: A seemingly inescapable situation with a countdown until the hero's demise, increasing suspense.
   • Example: The villain rigs an elaborate trap where the walls slowly close in.
5. Deus Ex Machina: An unexpected, improbable, or artificial solution that resolves a hopeless situation. Often seen as a weak plot device due to lack of internal logic.
   • Example: An unknown relative suddenly leaves the protagonist a vast inheritance, solving their financial woes.
6. Flashback: Interruption of the present narrative to depict past events, providing context or revealing backstory.
   • Example: A character facing a difficult situation remembers a crucial experience from their childhood.
7. Flashforward: Interruption of the current narrative to show a future event, hinting at possible outcomes or raising questions.
   • Example: The story opens with a glimpse of the protagonist's funeral, making the reader wonder how it happened.
8. Foreshadowing: Hints or clues about events to come, creating expectation and building suspense.
   • Example: A dark and stormy night might foreshadow imminent danger or misfortune.
9. Frame Narrative: A story within a story, providing an additional layer of perspective or context.
   • Example: A character recounts their adventures to a listener within the larger narrative.
10. In Medias Res: Starting the story in the middle of the action, hooking the reader and revealing the plot through exposition later.
    • Example: Opening with a car chase, then gradually explaining who's involved and why.
11. MacGuffin: Object or goal driving the plot and motivating characters, but its specific nature is less important than its pursuit.
    • Example: The stolen briefcase everyone wants in a spy thriller, but its contents may never be revealed.
12. Red Herring: A false clue intentionally misleading the audience, creating surprise and shifting suspicion.
    • Example: A character with suspicious behavior turns out to be innocent, masking the real culprit.
13. Twist: An unexpected turn of events in the conclusion that radically changes the audience's understanding of what preceded it.
    • Example: The protagonist was the villain all along.
14. Meet Cute: Humorous or charming initial encounter between romantic leads, setting the stage for their relationship.
    • Example: Spilling coffee on each other at a cafe, bumping carts in a supermarket.
15. Metaphor: An implied comparison between two things to emphasize a shared quality, without using "like" or "as".
    • Example: "Her love was a storm, both fierce and beautiful."
16. Montage: A series of short scenes or images edited together to quickly show a passage of time or multiple events.
    • Example: A workout montage showing a character's physical transformation.
17. Motif: A recurring image, symbol, or idea that contributes to the overall theme of the work.
    • Example: The recurring image of a raven in Edgar Allan Poe's works.
18. Narrative Hook: A compelling element (event, question, character) introduced early to capture the audience's attention and make them want to keep reading.
    • Example: The story opens with a murder scene.
19. Obstacle: A challenge or problem the protagonist must overcome to progress towards their goal.
20. Paradox: A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth.
    • Example: "You must be cruel to be kind."
21. Parallelism: Using similar grammatical structures to highlight a connection between ideas or characters.
    • Example: "She likes cooking, jogging, and reading."
22. Pathetic Fallacy: Attributing human emotions and responses to nature, often mirroring the mood of the story.
    • Example: Rain falls mournfully at a character's funeral.
23. Plot Armor: Unrealistic protection for a main character, where they survive situations defying logic, reducing suspense and stakes.
24. Poetic Justice: A satisfying outcome where a character gets what they deserve, either a fitting reward or punishment.
25. Quest: A journey with a specific goal, often involving challenges and character growth.
    • Example: A knight seeking the Holy Grail.
26. Reversal/Peripeteia: A sudden shift in a character's fortunes, from good to bad or vice versa.
27. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: A prediction or belief that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true.
28. Situational Irony: A contrast between what's expected and what actually happens, often with a humorous or darkly ironic twist.
29. Symbolism: Using an object, person, or event to represent a larger abstract idea.
    • Example: A white dove symbolizing peace.
30. Ticking Clock: A time limit or rapidly approaching deadline raising tension and urgency in the plot.
31. Unreliable Narrator: A narrator whose perspective is biased, flawed, or untrustworthy, making the reader question the truth they present.
32. Arc Words: A word, phrase, or motif that's repeated throughout the narrative tied to a character's development. The changing use of the word(s) reveals their growth.
33. Call to Adventure: The moment a protagonist is pushed out of their ordinary life and into the larger adventure of the story.
34. Delayed Reveal: Intentionally withholding key information from the audience to create suspense, mystery, or surprise.
    • Example: The true identity of the killer isn't revealed until the end.
35. Dramatic Irony: The audience knows something the characters don't, creating tension, humor, or a sense of impending doom.
    • Example: The audience knows there's a killer behind the door, but the unsuspecting character walks right in.
36. Epiphany: A sudden moment of realization or understanding that shifts a character's perspective or actions.
37. False Protagonist: A character introduced as the main protagonist but later dies or is revealed to be less central than initially thought.
38. False Victory: A moment where it seems like the hero has triumphed, only for a new, greater threat or complication to emerge.
39. Juxtaposition: Placing two contrasting elements side-by-side to highlight their differences or create a specific effect.
    • Example: A scene of extreme wealth followed immediately by one of poverty.
40. Moment of Highest Tension: The peak of the story's conflict, where the outcome is about to be decided, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
41. Oxymoron: Combining two contradictory words for dramatic effect.
    • Example: "Deafening silence."
42. Personification: Giving inanimate objects or abstract concepts human-like qualities.
    • Example: "The wind whispered secrets."
43. Plot Coupon: A more generic term for a MacGuffin, any item whose main purpose is to push the plot forward.
44. Prophecy: A prediction about the future that shapes characters' actions and potentially sets events in motion.
45. Repetition: Repeating words, phrases, or images for emphasis and to create a rhythmic effect.
46. Satire: Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize society, individuals, or institutions.
47. Subplot: A secondary storyline running parallel to the main plot, often used to add complexity and explore different themes.
48. Doppelganger: A mysterious double of a character, often with contrasting traits or representing a hidden aspect of the individual.
49. Hyperbole: Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or humor, not meant to be taken literally.
    • Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."
50. Mistaken Identity: A character is mistaken for someone else, leading to confusion, danger, intrigue, or comic situations.
51. The Power of Love: Love (familial, romantic, platonic) serves as a major motivation, overcoming obstacles or leading to redemption.
52. Time Travel: Movement through time (past or future), altering the course of events, and exploring potential consequences.