Excellent closing/final lines

The last line of your story is your farewell handshake with the reader, the final echo that lingers in their mind. Crafting a compelling closing line adds resonance, ties up themes, or leaves the reader with a thought-provoking twist. Here's how to craft excellent closing or final lines, illustrated with examples from literature.

1. Reflect on your theme

An effective closing line often reflects the central theme of your story. It can summarise, contrast, or encapsulate what you've been exploring throughout the text.

Examples of closing lines that reflect on theme

• In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's closing line, "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past," perfectly encapsulates the theme of futile striving.
• J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ends with a hopeful note that connects to the broader theme of family and continuity: "All was well."

2. Provide closure or leave them thinking

Your closing line can either provide closure or leave the reader with something to ponder.

Examples of closing lines that provide closure

• In 1984, George Orwell ends with a chilling line: "He loved Big Brother."
• Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell leaves the reader with Scarlett's defiant optimism: "After all, tomorrow is another day!"

3. Echo the beginning

Creating a parallel or an echo with the opening line can provide a satisfying symmetry.

Examples of closing lines that echo the begining

• In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll's closing line mirrors Alice's awakening at the beginning.
• Finnegans Wake by James Joyce ends in a way that loops back to the beginning of the book, providing a cyclical structure.

4. Add a twist

A twist in the final line can redefine what the reader has just read.

Examples of closing lines that add a twist

• In Animal Farm, George Orwell's closing line adds a dark twist: "The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
• Agatha Christie's Murder of Roger Ackroyd ends with a shock that redefines the narrative.

5. Evoke emotion

A closing line that resonates emotionally can create a lasting impression.

Examples of closing lines that evoke emotions

• In The Road by Cormac McCarthy, the poetic and melancholy closing line leaves readers reflecting: "In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery."
• The touching end to Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, "It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."

6. Be concise

An effective closing line is often concise and to the point.

Examples of concise closing lines

• In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens ends with the famous line: "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."
• Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea concludes with a simple yet profound line: "The old man was dreaming about the lions."

The final bow

Crafting an excellent closing or final line is akin to a graceful bow at the end of a performance. With these elements in mind, you can craft a closing line that leaves readers thinking about your story long after they've turned the last page. Reflect on your theme, provide closure or provoke thought, echo the beginning, add a twist, evoke emotion, and be concise. These lines become the epitaph of your tale, ensuring that it lives on in the reader's memory. Whether a final punch, a gentle caress, or a mischievous wink, the last line is your parting gift to the reader. Make it memorable!

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