Published: November 1, 2024 | Last Updated: December 4, 2024
plot hole Definition & Meaning
A plot hole is an inconsistency or gap in a storyline that contradicts a narrative’s established internal logic, rules, or characterization without explanation.
The Three Types of Plot Holes
Plot holes can occur in three ways: logical contradictions, character violations, and narrative inconsistencies in the plot. Below, you see some examples of each.
Logical Contradiction Plot Holes
This plot hole appears when the story contradicts its facts or rules.
Image Source: Film-Grab
Table 1 below shows some common types of logical contradiction plot holes often found in literature and film:
| Plot Holes (Logical Contradictions) | Examples |
|---|---|
| Technology/Power Inconsistencies | A character’s phone is dead, but they make a call in the next scene without charging it. A supernatural power works differently at convenient moments without explanation. |
| Time-Based Contradictions and Paradoxes | Events happen in impossible timeframes (traveling distances that would take days in mere hours) |
| Physical Impossibilities | Characters survive situations that contradict established lethal conditions. Objects appear in places they couldn’t logically be. |
| Resource Contradictions | Limited resources (money, ammunition, fuel) run out – then mysteriously replenish. Characters have access to items they couldn’t possibly possess. |
| Knowledge Contradictions | Characters know information they couldn’t have learned. Characters forget crucial information they knew earlier. |
Character Violation Plot Holes
When a character acts in a way that contradicts their established traits or abilities without justification
Table 2 below shows some common types of character violation plot holes often found in literature and film:
| Plot Holes (Character Violation) | Examples |
|---|---|
| Skill-Based Violations | A character suddenly has abilities they never learned, e.g., Rey in Star Wars: the Force Awakens (2015) using Force powers without training |
| Moral Violations | Characters acting against their established ethical code without justification, e.g., Superman killing in Man of Steel (2013) |
| Intelligence Violations | Smart characters making inexplicably stupid decisions, e.g., highly trained scientists in Prometheus (2012) removing helmets on an alien planet |
| Emotional Response Violations | Characters reacting in ways that contradict their established emotional patterns, e.g., a character with established PTSD suddenly fine in triggering situations |
| Relationship Violations | Characters betraying deep loyalties without sufficient motivation, e.g., a devoted parent abandoning their child without explanation |
Narrative Inconsistency Plot Holes
Plot holes due to narrative inconsistency appear when events break the story’s internal cause-and-effect relationship.
Table 3 below shows some common types of narrative inconsistency plot holes often found in literature and film:
| Plot Holes (Narrative Inconsistency) | Examples |
|---|---|
| Timeline Inconsistencies | Events happen out of possible sequence, e.g., Indiana Jones surviving a nuclear blast in a fridge in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). |
| World-Building Contradictions | Story elements that violate established universe rules, e.g., Midichlorians in Star Wars, contradicting earlier Force mythology. |
| Cause-and-Effect Violations | Events occur without logical precedent, e.g., characters know information never revealed. |
| Rule-Breaking Plot Devices | Story elements that shouldn’t work within established rules, e.g., the Time-Turners in Harry Potter not being used to fix major events. |
| Setting Inconsistencies | Physical locations or environments that contradict established geography, e.g., distances that change between scenes. |
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Logic Gaps vs. Plot Holes
There’s an important difference between genuine plot holes and logic gaps.
While plot holes represent direct contradictions of established story elements, logic gaps are moments where audiences must make reasonable assumptions.
For instance, we don’t need to see characters use the bathroom or eat every meal – these logical gaps don’t contradict established rules or impact the story’s integrity.
To be considered a true plot hole, the inconsistency must:
- Be unexplainable within the story’s established framework
- Contradict (not merely omit) previously established information
- Impact the story’s internal logic in a meaningful way
What is NOT a plot hole:
- Logical gaps requiring reasonable assumptions
- Convenient but possible plot developments
- Unexplained but non-contradictory events
- Minor continuity errors that don’t affect the story’s logic
Plot Holes vs. Deus Ex Machina
While often confused, plot holes and deus ex machina represent distinct narrative issues:
A plot hole occurs when a story contradicts its rules. In contrast, deus ex machina (“god from the machine”) describes an unexpected solution that resolves a seemingly impossible situation.
The critical difference lies in contradiction versus convenience. A deus ex machina might feel unsatisfying but doesn’t necessarily create a plot hole unless it explicitly violates established story rules.
Consider these examples:
- Plot Hole: A character uses a cell phone in a scene after it is established that all communications are down.
- Deus Ex Machina: A character is saved from certain death by the sudden arrival of allies, where their arrival, while convenient, doesn’t contradict any facts.
A narrative element can be both. For instance, if a character is saved by suddenly revealing a superpower that contradicts everything we know about them, this would be both a deus ex machina and a plot hole.
The Lord of the Rings eagles is a good example of this complexity. While their arrival is a clear deus ex machina, whether it constitutes a plot hole depends on how strictly one interprets the established rules of Middle-earth.
Solutions and Prevention
If you have the time, your screenplay shouldn’t have any plotholes. But in reality, film and TV shows often suffer from last-minute rewrites that might introduce a plot hole where there wasn’t one before.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have a couple of strategies to avoid plot holes. Many apparent plot holes can be resolved through simple narrative techniques, structuring your work, and “setting your house in perfect order,” as Jordan Peterson would say.
Planning
- Outline major plot points
- Map character development
- Establish world rules early
Documentation
- Maintain detailed story bibles
- Track character arcs and motivations
- Document world rules and limitations
Review Process
- Multiple revision passes
- Beta readers focused on consistency
- Dedicated continuity checking
Fix Plot Holes
- Adding explanatory dialogue
- Including brief scenes that establish new capabilities
- Providing contextual clues for character changes
How to Evaluate and Spot Plot Holes in your Script
To spot plot holes in your writing, consider three key factors:
- Characterization: Does the action align with established character traits?
- Conflict: Is the situation consistent with the story’s established challenges?
- Context: Does the broader narrative framework support the event?
The Production Factor
It’s worth noting that not all plot holes stem from poor writing. The complex nature of film and television production means that explanatory scenes might be cut during editing, creating unintended narrative gaps. What appears as a plot hole to viewers might have been properly explained in earlier story versions.
Even continuity errors can cause plot holes. These could be as simple as a character holding an object left behind or wearing something they weren’t wearing in the previous shot.
Summing Up
Plot holes are inconsistencies within a narrative that disrupt the story’s internal logic or established rules, leading to unresolved questions and breaks in believability.
These can include timeline issues, character actions that contradict previous behavior or knowledge, sudden abilities without explanation, or violations of the world’s rules.
Plot holes often emerge when narrative elements—such as character motivations, cause-and-effect logic, or established setting details—are overlooked to advance the plot.
Identifying and addressing plot holes is important for filmmakers and screenwriters. After all, it’s your job to maintain narrative coherence and ensure audiences remain engaged without distractions from illogical storytelling elements.
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