Plot hole

In fiction, a plot hole, plothole or plot error is a gap or inconsistency in a storyline that goes against the flow of logic established by the story's plot.[1] Such inconsistencies may include illogical, unlikely or impossible events,[2] and statements or events that contradict earlier events in the storyline.[3]

Plot holes are usually created unintentionally, often a result of editing or the writers simply forgetting that a new event would contradict previous events and not checking. However, the term is also frequently applied incorrectly - for example, a character being intentionally written to take irrational action would not be a plot hole, nor would "loose ends" or unexplained aspects.

Examples
  • Agatha Christie's seminal mystery play The Mousetrap is known for its large number of plot holes.[4][5] One of them is that the detective, despite knowing the identity of the murderer, lets him proceed to kill further people, rather than arresting him on the spot. This is considered a plot hole because there is no reason for the audience to believe that the detective would want for more murders to take place.
  • At the end of the Star Wars episode Revenge of the Sith, it is considered imperative to hide Luke Skywalker from Darth Vader. But Obi-Wan Kenobi does so in plain sight on Vader's home planet, even using Luke's real name. He himself only slightly alters his name and makes no secret of his Jedi heritage.[6][7]
  • At the end of the Lord of the Rings story The Return of the King, after destroying the One Ring, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee are rescued from Mordor and taken to safety by the giant eagles. While this is not actually a plot hole, many mistakenly think that the eagles could have flown the Ring there without being corrupted by the Ring or seen by Sauron's all-seeing eye, thereby obviating the need for Frodo to go in the first place.[8]

See also

References
  1. "plot hole | Definition of plot hole in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  2. "15 Movies You Thought Had Huge Plot Holes - But Didn't". ScreenRant. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  3. "Do You Know the Five Different Types of Plot Holes?". ScreenCraft. Mar 9, 2018.
  4. Brown, Dennis. "A Talented Cast Can't Overcome Flaws in Agatha Christie's Mousetrap". Riverfront Times.
  5. "Review of The Mousetrap". www.theatreguidelondon.co.uk.
  6. Miller, Matt (Jan 19, 2018). "A Comprehensive List of 'Star Wars' Plot Holes". Esquire.
  7. "14 Star Wars Plot Holes Bigger Than The Death Star". Ranker.
  8. "Why The Fellowship Couldn't Use The Eagles in Lord of the Rings".


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