FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Right on Cue Deus ex Machina in Film
Quiz about Right on Cue Deus ex Machina in Film

Right on Cue: Deus ex Machina in Film Quiz


First ascribed to the Greek poet Horace, the concept of "deus ex machina", or "god from the machine", can be seen in film and literature. A problem or dilemma is suddenly resolved without much explanation. Talk about taking the easy way out!

A multiple-choice quiz by trident. Estimated time: 6 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Movie Trivia
  6. »
  7. Movies Grab Bag
  8. »
  9. Grab Bag - Average 10

Author
trident
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
354,414
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
386
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Indiana Jones was in serious trouble in "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Tied to a stake and surrounded by Nazis, he had little hope to escape doom. Yet, in just a few seconds, he and his lovely sidekick, Marion Ravenwood, somehow survived while everyone else was struck down rather electrifyingly by the elusive Ark. How did the pair survive? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. While the movie "Signs" (or any film involving M. Night Shyamalan) might be considered to have set up a resolution through foreshadowing, the case of "deus ex machina" is still in effect. The aliens invading Earth are supposedly superior in the realm of technology. Apparently, they are also supremely dense in the realm of intelligence and attempt to invade a planet that is around 70% water, their biological weakness. Because of this, protagonist Merrill Hess is able to defeat the baddies with the help of what piece of sports equipment? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. A prime example of deus ex machina can be found in the film "The Princess Bride", where the Man in Black is set against the Sicilian genius, Vizzini. In a "battle of wits" to save Buttercup, Vizzini is offered a choice of two goblets, which one is said to be poisoned with Iocane powder. After much ado, Vizzini drinks from the one he believes is safe, then topples over. The Man in Black then reveals to Buttercup that both goblets were poisoned. How did he survive? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. How wonderful that in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) we are rewarded with Dorothy's very own deus ex machina when she misses her balloon home. But wait! It's okay because she can get home by accomplishing what now-iconic feat? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. While certain creatures were often deployed by J.R.R. Tolkien to help out the protagonists of Middle-earth, one was especially prominent. In the film "Return of the King", we see them once again, only this time they rescue the beleaguered Frodo. What creature (which apparently couldn't take him to Mordor in the first place) was his savior? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. There is a small field of study that goes into the use of deus ex machina in film and literature. One common joke amongst students of this plot device is to use the term "Deus Rex Machina" when discussing what movie? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Based on the novel by H.G. Wells and adapted by Orson Welles as a radio drama, the film "War of the Worlds" (2005) depicts an alien invasion that is suddenly halted due to the invaders no longer being "well". What has cost them their wellness? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The concept of deus ex machina can be traced back to Ancient Greece, and it is from this time period in history that the help of a Greek god can easily resolve a problem. But that hasn't stopped storytellers from other ages and religions from utilizing the device. In the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", the protagonist, Ulysses Everett McGill, says a heartfelt prayer right as he and his friends are about to be hanged. What biblical deus ex machina moment saves them, leading Ulysses to believe his prayer had worked? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. One would be remiss if they didn't mention the "Harry Potter" canon, and indeed in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" perhaps the most obvious example comes in our hero's slaying of the basilisk. All of this hullaballoo would not have been possible were it not for Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, that just happens to come to Harry's aid at the perfect moment(s). Harry would have been toast if not for this miraculous bird. Which of the following did Fawkes NOT do to help Harry survive in this film? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Perhaps my favorite moment of deus ex machina, and one that is so obviously self-aware, comes in "Monty Python's Life of Brian". Brian frantically tries to outrun the Roman legionnaires that are pursuing him, and in doing so, climbs the stairs to the top of a large tower. At the top he discovers--too late--that there is nowhere else to run and he falls comically from the tower. He is saved by what absurd deus ex machina? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 28 2024 : Guest 98: 10/10
Feb 08 2024 : Guest 174: 4/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Indiana Jones was in serious trouble in "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Tied to a stake and surrounded by Nazis, he had little hope to escape doom. Yet, in just a few seconds, he and his lovely sidekick, Marion Ravenwood, somehow survived while everyone else was struck down rather electrifyingly by the elusive Ark. How did the pair survive?

Answer: They closed their eyes.

The Ark, being the Biblical Ark of the Covenant, was said to behold the power of God, which might be why the Nazis wanted it in the first place. Yet the power was never meant to be looked upon by mankind. Hence, a simple shuttering of Indy's eyes let him escape the face-melting, Nazi-burning lightning that happened to burst forth.

When the pair opened their eyes, they stood before an army of the dead.
2. While the movie "Signs" (or any film involving M. Night Shyamalan) might be considered to have set up a resolution through foreshadowing, the case of "deus ex machina" is still in effect. The aliens invading Earth are supposedly superior in the realm of technology. Apparently, they are also supremely dense in the realm of intelligence and attempt to invade a planet that is around 70% water, their biological weakness. Because of this, protagonist Merrill Hess is able to defeat the baddies with the help of what piece of sports equipment?

Answer: Baseball bat

"Swing away," Merrill's deceased mother had given him as advice. His younger sister, Bo, had mysteriously left half-empty glasses of water around the house and that gave Merrill all the ammunition he needed against the invader. He swung his bat into the glasses, splashing the water-now-acid onto the alien, killing it.

Some might argue that since there was indeed foreshadowing, this is not a case of deus ex machina, but that isn't quite accurate. There is no explanation for why "superior" invaders wanted a planet composed primarily of their main weakness. Therefore it would be silly to believe that our protagonists would be saved by the liquid, and hence the supernatural nature of their escape makes it all the more puzzling.

Why does the mother whisper the advice to swing away and why does Bo leave around those glasses of water? It isn't explained, it just happens, therefore we have a resolution that could only be explained "from the god machine".
3. A prime example of deus ex machina can be found in the film "The Princess Bride", where the Man in Black is set against the Sicilian genius, Vizzini. In a "battle of wits" to save Buttercup, Vizzini is offered a choice of two goblets, which one is said to be poisoned with Iocane powder. After much ado, Vizzini drinks from the one he believes is safe, then topples over. The Man in Black then reveals to Buttercup that both goblets were poisoned. How did he survive?

Answer: He had conveniently spent years developing an immunity to the poison.

How terribly convenient that Westley (the Man in Black) was immune to the Iocane powder. The whole scene is played out without any prior knowledge of said immunity, yet the film seems to recognize this fact, and so the deus ex machina here is poking fun of itself.
4. How wonderful that in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) we are rewarded with Dorothy's very own deus ex machina when she misses her balloon home. But wait! It's okay because she can get home by accomplishing what now-iconic feat?

Answer: Tapping her heels together and saying, "There's no place like home."

Well, it seems like all that time on the yellow brick road was now a complete waste if she could just get home by tapping her ruby slippers from the beginning. But it gets even better. Dorothy was never in trouble in the first place since everything was a dream to begin with! Since it was used once, I'm sure that whole "it-was-a-dream-the-whole-time" plot device won't be used ever again...
5. While certain creatures were often deployed by J.R.R. Tolkien to help out the protagonists of Middle-earth, one was especially prominent. In the film "Return of the King", we see them once again, only this time they rescue the beleaguered Frodo. What creature (which apparently couldn't take him to Mordor in the first place) was his savior?

Answer: Eagle

In his writings, Tolkien commonly used the Great Eagles to this effect, especially concerning Gandalf's rescue. In the movie, Gandalf and the Eagles arrive just in time to save Frodo and Sam. While Gandalf is indeed the agent driving his rescue, the Great Eagles' previous absence and sudden helpful appearance helps lend to the case that we are witnessing a deus ex machina. After all, we aren't privy to the scene where Gandalf convinces these prideful beasts that they ought to help.

Some have speculated that the Great Eagles of Middle-earth were powerful enough to be kept in check by Saruman, and therefore would have drawn attention if the ring had been shuttled by them. Therefore, their use as rescue agents was appropriate to their characters.
6. There is a small field of study that goes into the use of deus ex machina in film and literature. One common joke amongst students of this plot device is to use the term "Deus Rex Machina" when discussing what movie?

Answer: Jurassic Park

The joke lies in the moment of deus ex machina in "Jurassic Park" in which a Tyrannosaurus Rex just happens to chomp down on a raptor as it's leaping for its kill. The kill happens to be our protagonists, who can now get away unharmed.

The catch is, why didn't we, or for that matter the raptors, hear the enormous beast on approach? And how the heck did it get into that building? It matters not. We move on, our protagonists happy that the ferocious beast that nearly killed them earlier has suddenly become an arbiter of justice.
7. Based on the novel by H.G. Wells and adapted by Orson Welles as a radio drama, the film "War of the Worlds" (2005) depicts an alien invasion that is suddenly halted due to the invaders no longer being "well". What has cost them their wellness?

Answer: Bacteria

It's funny that water and other simplicities are often the downfall of alien invaders, yet there is an implicit lesson in this for us humans. Ignoring the small things or believing mankind to be superior to them can lead to doom.
8. The concept of deus ex machina can be traced back to Ancient Greece, and it is from this time period in history that the help of a Greek god can easily resolve a problem. But that hasn't stopped storytellers from other ages and religions from utilizing the device. In the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", the protagonist, Ulysses Everett McGill, says a heartfelt prayer right as he and his friends are about to be hanged. What biblical deus ex machina moment saves them, leading Ulysses to believe his prayer had worked?

Answer: A flood

Loosely based on Homer's "The Odyssey", it's no surprise that "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" utilizes a deus ex machina effect that was popular in Ancient Greece. In this instance we can see a more literal sense of the term, since it is believed by Ulysses that God himself saved him and his fellow convicts.
9. One would be remiss if they didn't mention the "Harry Potter" canon, and indeed in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" perhaps the most obvious example comes in our hero's slaying of the basilisk. All of this hullaballoo would not have been possible were it not for Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, that just happens to come to Harry's aid at the perfect moment(s). Harry would have been toast if not for this miraculous bird. Which of the following did Fawkes NOT do to help Harry survive in this film?

Answer: Destroy Riddle's diary with breath of fire.

While it might all seem rather ridiculous when discussed in a detached manner (e.g. "a hat which contains a magic sword"), it doesn't seem quite so when we give names to these items:

It was the "Sorting Hat" which contained the "Sword of Godric Gryffindor"!

Let's stop pretending and just see them for what they were: deus ex machina. We would have five less books/films without them.
10. Perhaps my favorite moment of deus ex machina, and one that is so obviously self-aware, comes in "Monty Python's Life of Brian". Brian frantically tries to outrun the Roman legionnaires that are pursuing him, and in doing so, climbs the stairs to the top of a large tower. At the top he discovers--too late--that there is nowhere else to run and he falls comically from the tower. He is saved by what absurd deus ex machina?

Answer: A spaceship suddenly scoops him out of the sky.

The scene is so absurd and out of place that it can only be taken as knowingly self-effacing. And in a film that can be seen as religious satire, it is interesting that we also see a satire on the concept of "god from the machine"! Those guys really thought of everything!
Source: Author trident

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us