dénouement
Story's final unraveling
Dénouement is the final resolution of a story's plot—the aftermath where loose ends are tied up and consequences unfold.
It follows the climax: the mystery is solved, the lovers reunite or part, the villain meets his fate.
The term extends beyond fiction to any situation reaching its conclusion: We watched the dénouement of the scandal play out in the press.
Also spelled denouement.
Concluding part of performance
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- endingFinal portion of something
- outcomeFinal result of events
- closureSense of emotional resolution
wrap-up · epilogue · coda · finality · settlement · endgame · culmination · payoff
Concluding portion of drama
- last chapterConcluding portion of text
- closing sceneFinal segment of production
- third actFinal dramatic segment
- falling actionPost-climax narrative decline
Separating twisted strands
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- explanationStatement making something clear
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
elucidation · exposition · unfolding · decoding · discovery · twist · surprise · unveiling
finale
Concluding part of performance
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- endingFinal portion of something
- outcomeFinal result of events
closure · wrap-up · epilogue · coda · finality · settlement · endgame · culmination · payoff · result
final act
Concluding portion of drama
- last chapterConcluding portion of text
- closing sceneFinal segment of production
- third actFinal dramatic segment
falling action · curtain call · plot resolution · loose ends · aftermath
untangling
Separating twisted strands
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- explanationStatement making something clear
clarification · elucidation · exposition · unfolding · decoding · discovery · twist · surprise · unveiling · realization
dénouementexposition
Systematic explanatory presentation
introduction · rising action · beginning · inciting incident · opening
dénouementclimax
Point of greatest intensity
rising action · complication · crescendo · escalation · crisis
dénouementcomplication
Factor that adds difficulty
entanglement · imbroglio · knot · tangle · convolution