Denouement

The word comes from  the French word dénouer, meaning "to unravel" or "to untie".

Collins dictionary defines denouement as the sequence of events at the end of a story when things conclude. Careful, it is not to be mistaken with a plot twist - denouement is what happens after everything is resolved, it does not occur in the climactic moment, nor is it necessarily the aftermath of such (but often, that is the case). Basically, it is what happens when things stop happening - it is what provides closure and satisfaction while finishing a story. There should be plot resolution as well as emotional closure, for it is when all loose ends untagle. 

A denouement can be missing. It is often the case in pieces of literature (or a movie or series) that strive for a realistic appeal or aim to confuse and provoke the audience. That doesn´t necessarily mean the story ends on a cliffhanger, it usually just lets the uncertainty of what the future holds linger. 

Another important thing to remember: epilogue and denouement are (usually) not the same. Using a vague example, if we were to have a story of an adventure that was about a group of people that became friends along the way, denouement would be the scene after their adventure ends and they all say goodbye to each other, meanwhile epilogue would be right after when they go separate ways and the "they lived happily ever after" part. There are situations in which these two can be the same thing but more often than not these two are distinguishable.

Here are some examples of denouement from various pieces of media:

• In Romeo and Juliet it is the scene where both families finally reconcile.

• In Succession it is the very last few scenes including the last shot - (there is no epilogue only denouement)

• In the seventh book of Harry Poter it is the scene  right after the battle AND the epilogue (shows emotional closure)

Sources:

“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denouement. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/denouement

Created by Geraldina Puková