There’s nothing quite like a perfect ending. It’s what your reader carries with them: the last impression, the final emotional note, the conclusion that makes (or breaks) everything that came before.
Let’s break down four classic ways to end a story, with examples from literature that showcase each in action, and then we’ll look at a few unconventional endings you might want to consider if you're writing your novel.
1. Resolved Ending
Everything is wrapped up. The major conflicts are settled, the characters have changed, and the reader leaves with closure.
This is the most traditional and most satisfying ending for many readers. A resolved ending answers the big questions: Who won? Who changed? What does it all mean? The hero achieves their goal (or fails definitively), and loose ends are tied up.
Example: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Elizabeth and Darcy overcome their misunderstandings and pride to finally recognize their love. The novel ends with marriage and mutual respect: a clear, emotionally satisfying resolution. The reader knows where every major character stands.
Why it works:
- Offers closure and catharsis
- Leaves readers with emotional satisfaction
- Reinforces the story’s themes clearly
Use this ending if: You want your story to feel complete and emotionally resolved, especially in romance, mystery, or coming-of-age stories.
2. Unresolved Ending
The story stops, but the conflict doesn’t.
Unresolved endings leave questions hanging. Maybe a major conflict isn’t resolved, or the future of a character remains unknown. These endings reflect the complexity of real life, where not everything ties up neatly.
Example: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
After a bleak, post-apocalyptic journey, the boy is left alone when his father dies. The ending offers a faint hope as he joins a new family, but nothing is certain. The world is still brutal. The danger hasn’t disappeared. We don’t know what happens next.
Why it works:
- Feels realistic and emotionally honest
- Encourages readers to keep thinking after the final page
- Fits stories with complex or unresolved themes
Use this ending if: You want to highlight ambiguity, realism, or the cyclical nature of conflict.
3. Ambiguous Ending
It ends... but we’re not exactly sure how.
Similar to unresolved endings, but here the uncertainty is deliberate. Ambiguous endings leave room for interpretation: the reader decides what really happened.
Example: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Is the governess mad? Are the ghosts real? The story builds a sense of dread and unreliability and the ending refuses to give a definitive answer. Readers are left debating the truth of the events.
Why it works:
- Sparks discussion and re-reading
- Lets readers project their own meaning onto the story
- Leaves a lasting impression
Use this ending if: Your story is rooted in mystery, psychological tension, or questions of perception and truth.
4. Unexpected Ending
A twist, a revelation, or a final surprise turns the story on its head.
This kind of ending flips the reader’s expectations. Done well, it recontextualizes the entire story or delivers a final shock that sticks. Think of it like pulling the rug out — but with purpose.
Example: Life of Pi by Yann Martel
The story we believe (a boy survives with wild animals) is challenged at the end by a brutal, more realistic version. The ambiguity is part of the twist, but the twist itself is in the choice given to the reader: Which version do you believe?
Why it works:
- Leaves a strong emotional or intellectual impact
- Can offer powerful commentary on truth or perception
- Makes the story memorable and discussion-worthy
Use this ending if: You want to challenge your reader’s assumptions, reframe the story’s meaning, or deliver a final emotional jolt.
A Few Less Common Ways to End a Story
While those four are the most familiar narrative strategies, there are other, less conventional ways to close your story. Consider these creative options:
The Circular Ending
The story ends where it began, either literally or thematically. It emphasizes cycles, fate, or the idea that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Example: The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Framed Ending
The ending returns to a narrator or frame introduced at the beginning. The “story within a story” concludes, and the frame brings closure, or a new layer of meaning.
Example: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Metafictional Ending
The story ends by drawing attention to itself as fiction: a wink to the reader, or a twist that makes them reconsider the author’s role.
Example: If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino
The Poetic or Symbolic Ending
The plot may resolve quietly or not at all, but the final image, line, or gesture carries metaphorical weight. These endings are often lyrical, open to interpretation, and deeply emotional.
Example: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
There’s no one right way to end a story. The best ending is the one that feels earned, emotionally, thematically, and narratively. Whether you choose to resolve everything or leave your readers questioning, the key is to be intentional. A great ending doesn’t just close a story. It resonates.
So ask yourself: What do you want your reader to feel when they turn the final page?
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