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Origin of "deus ex machina"
Posted by ESC on January 26, 2000
In Reply to: Origin of "deus ex machina" posted by liz on January 26, 2000
: What does "deus ex machina" mean when used in a contemporary novel? Thanks for this. liz
DEUS EX MACHINA - literally: god from a machine; being or device invoked to solve a particular problem otherwise insoluble; (in classic drama) the intervention of the gods to solve a problem: the "god" was lowered on to the stage by means of a crane-like device. From "Le Mot Juste" edited by John Buchanon-Brown & others (Vintage Books).
