[1][2] The plot of The Automata[3] follows a series of interconnected stories shared during an evening gathering of men exploring supernatural and philosophical themes.
The narrator arrives late to a gathering, finding the group mesmerized by a swinging gold ring, which sparks debate over whether it moves by their collective will.
To substantiate the supernatural, Cyprian recounts a story about a colonel’s family and his haunted daughter Adelgunda, who experiences nightly visions of a terrifying figure despite manipulated clocks.
The conversation then shifts as Theodore narrates the story of the "Talking Turk," a mechanical automaton known for its human-like appearance and cryptic but accurate answers.
Katherine Hirt draws on Hoffmann's musical training to explain the way in which the story critiques the mechanical production of sound, using the characters to support the limitations of human performance.