A plot hole is an illogical element in a story that can be caused by a lack of character action or sudden appearance of an unestablished element. It can be caused by a writer wanting a scene to work a certain way without logical reasoning. Common types include characters having knowledge they shouldn’t or lacking common knowledge. Events can also create plot holes if they are solved for convenience rather than logical progression. This can destroy realism for the audience.
A plot hole is an element within a story that doesn’t make logical sense or that illustrates that something is missing in terms of character action. This can take a number of different forms and be as simple as characters knowing information they shouldn’t, or not understanding something that is known. A more elaborate plot hole can be an event within a story that doesn’t make sense, such as the sudden appearance of an element in a scene that hasn’t previously been introduced. The severity of this type of moment can be quite minor, although in some cases it can serve to unravel the logic of an entire narrative.
There are several ways a plot hole can develop into a story. These moments are often the result of a writer wanting a scene to work a certain way, without establishing a logical reason behind it. If a writer thinks of a moment between two characters that is particularly dramatic or appealing, then he might make it part of a story. However, this kind of decision can create a plot hole, as the setup needed for the scene to actually make sense may not have been added.
One of the most common types of plot holes is an instance where a character has knowledge they shouldn’t reasonably have. Often, this is seen in movies or television shows when a new character arrives with answers to all the questions already established in the story. This device allows a storyteller to provide answers without the characters finding them through more elaborate means, but often ignores how the savvy new addition found this information in the first place.
Likewise, a plot hole can develop when a character seems to lack common knowledge. If a reasonable audience member can determine something about the events of a story to come, then the characters should be able to as well. Ignorance of character can create dramatic irony within a story, but can be detrimental to realism if taken too far.
Actual events within a story can often create a plot hole, especially if problems are solved for convenience rather than a logical progression of events. Common examples of this include minor details such as characters finding their car keys in a vehicle’s flap or glove box. In the real world, most people don’t keep a spare set of keys in such a convenient location, for fear of theft. When a plot hole like this plays out in a story, it can be so daunting that it destroys realism for the audience.
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