There are a number of common plot devices that use objects to advance a story in a convenient way, by providing motivation, conflict or a needed resource later on. These plot tokens can be used to good effect, but all to often they become a lazy stop-gap to save an author from actually thinking out a stronger narrative structure.
The best known is Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘MacGuffin’. This is a common staple of thrillers and crime stories, but it crops up in fantasy as well. The MacGuffin is an object of no inherent importance to the plot, but which all the major characters desire. It gives a reason for the protagonist and antagonist to come into conflict with one another, but usually ends up forming no more than an afterthought to the end of the story. Many MacGuffins are never actually described. “We must find the Last Seal before the Dark Lord gets to it.”
One of modern cinema's best known (and most blatant) McGuffins
Another common plot token is ‘Chekhov’s Gun’. The name comes from playwright Anton Chekhov’s famous declaration, towards the end of the 19th century, that “…if in Act 1 you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act.” Chekhov wanted to illustrate the importance of only showing relevant items on a stage, but the term Chekhov’s Gun is used with a slightly different emphasis now. It refers to any apparently-useless object provided early on in a story which will, fortuitously, turn out to be vital later on. Critics argue whether this is good use of foreshadowing, or a lazy form of deus ex machina. “Keep this locket with you at all times, my child.”
The ‘Dingus’ is related to Chekhov’s Gun. Taking its name from the old High German for ‘thing’, is any implausibly useful technical device or magical artifact that just happens to be available when required. Almost always a clear misuse of deus ex machina, the Dingus is still a surprisingly common feature in fantasy stories. “We’ll never re-forge the sword without meteoric iron, but look, is that a crater I spy?”
The ‘plot coupon’, named by Nick Lowe, is an object which is the only item that will allow the protagonist to achieve victory, with that victory coming chiefly through possessing or using the item. Plot coupons are often broken down into several pieces; the joke then states that when the hero has collected enough of them, she can trade them in for a victory. “But now I have the Amulet of Rodney! Prepare to die!”
All the various forms of Plot Token have their place, but be very cautious. They are often a sign that the story really has not been properly thought through, or that the plot is lazy and malformed.
I seem to recall pointing out to you a few years back the Chekhov’s Gun in the movie Ghost Ship – in an early scene we see a meat hook hanging in (IIRC) a ball room in the aftermath of some massacre the cast happens upon. Sure enough, come act IV, someone’s hanging from it. I knew the quote, but not who originated it.
Yeah, I remember that :) I did enjoy Ghost Ship, broadly speaking, but it was certainly unsubtle!
Of course, that’s the problem with Chekhov’s Gun — it’s often a case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. There’s a fine tightrope to walk over the twin pits of the Gun and Deus Ex Machina. In general, it seems that being hacky with Chekhov’s Gun is more acceptable than erring the other way…
God forbid writers would actually try to think about such things and introduce them gracefully!
pulp fiction was a great movie!!