Plotapparaten

Plotapparaten is a term often used in creative writing and storytelling to refer to a contrived or artificial plot device. It is a narrative element that is introduced solely to advance the plot or resolve a difficult situation, often without sufficient foreshadowing or organic integration into the story. The term implies that the device feels unearned or forced, serving the needs of the narrative rather than arising naturally from the characters or established circumstances.

The use of plotapparaten can sometimes be a weakness in a story, as it can break the reader's immersion and make the plot feel less believable. Examples might include a character suddenly developing a new, previously unmentioned skill to escape a predicament, or the opportune arrival of a deus ex machina to solve an insurmountable problem. However, in some genres, such as comedy or certain types of fantasy, plotapparaten might be used intentionally for humorous or stylistic effect. Identifying plotapparaten can be a subjective exercise, as what one reader perceives as a forced contrivance, another might accept as a creative liberty within the established rules of the fictional world. Critical analysis of storytelling often involves distinguishing between organic plot development and the introduction of plotapparaten.