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What is the name for a literary device involving extremely improbable coincidences that advance a story?
Examples:
The protagonist of a prime time crime procedural drama solves the murder of her neighbor when it is extremely unlikely she would be put on the case.
A super heroes long time friend or love interest just happens to be kidnaped or held hostage by the villain who had no idea of the relationship between the two.
Monks brother witnesses a murder involving himself in Monks case and simultaneously allowing for character development.
5 Answers
- Anonymous10 years agoFavorite Answer
In general it is frowned on to have any incidence or turn of fate help your protagonist in any way - the only acceptable why is for fate to place even more obstacles in the way for them to overcome . Fate helping is viewed as damaging credulity
Situations such as you reference above are contrived coincidence
Fate is often linked to destiny
- 10 years ago
I'm not sure it has a proper name. I'd just call it an improbable coincidence or a contrived event. It could be deus ex machina, but that's normally applied to the resolution of a plot or subplot.
- Anonymous10 years ago
Uh ... plot device? That's probably not what you're after, but I always hear that term for that type of writing.
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