Thrillers and mysteries – and many other kinds of stories – rely on MacGuffins: an object or event that motivates the characters and figures into the plot, but is insignificant by itself. The Maltese Falcon, R2D2, and the Ark of the Covenant are famous examples of objects that are given meaning by the characters’ pursuit of them.
Need a MacGuffin for your plot? Here are three interesting historical objects for inspiration:
