Types of Twists

Chekhov's gun is a dramatic principle that states that every element in a story must be necessary, and irrelevant elements should be removed; elements should not appear to make "false promises" by never coming into play.

The phrase deus ex machina is Latin for “God in the machine.” The definition of deus ex machina first came from the Greek phrase apò mēkhanês theós, which has the same meaning. Common Examples of Deus Ex Machina. There are many examples of deus ex machina in films.

A flashback, or analepsis, is the classic narrative device that shows something set in a past time in relation to the present time of the narration. The flashback technique is commonly used in literature, television, cinema and in every form of narration.

Peripeteia is meant to cause fear and pity in the audience upon witnessing the tragic twist of fate which abruptly ruins the life of the protagonist. Peripeteia provides plays, poems, novels, movies, and television shows with a dark moment when the plot twists and the protagonist’s life changes forever.

Poetic Justice Definition. In literature, poetic justice is an ideal form of justice, in which the good characters are rewarded and the bad characters are punished, by an ironic twist of fate. It is a strong literary view that all forms of literature must convey moral lessons. Therefore, writers employ poetic justice to conform to moral principles.

The Red Herring Twist trope as used in popular culture. A plot element is given sufficient play and attention over the course of a season that the audience … The Red Herring Twist trope as used in popular culture.

Seven Unreliable Narrators to Twist Your Plot #1: The Self-Preservationist The self-preservationist is a deliberate liar. He might lie to save his life. He might lie to escape a sticky situation. Either way, his side of the story is suspect. Which means, of course, the whole story is suspect.