hi doug [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] i'm no real proficient, but what i understand of deus ex machina - hand of god - is that it is that literary device where the central conflict cannot be resolved by any related turn of event according to plot, but is suddenly resolved by a miracle or a miraculous turn of events- an act of god. the writer, of course, being god.
hmmm, in a way deus ex machina does apply to the role of manwë's eagles in resolving one or two grim situations in silm. like the case of maedhros hanging outside morgoth's tower by a cruel manacle, and fingon rescuing him with a prayer to manwë that sent thorondir lord of eagles swiftly to their aid. but if i can think about it longer i bet there'd be more deus ex machina in the beren-luthien story that anywhere else in the silm.
thought provoking topic...
[ February 21, 2003: Message edited by: Amarinth ]
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pity this busy monster,manunkind, not / -progress is a comfortable disease;/ your victim (death and life safely beyond) / plays with the bigness of his littleness
---ee cummings
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