Looking for a definite word

[keif]

There's a wonderful realization that happens at the very end of a well written story, whether it be a novel, short story, play, poem, film or even lyrically driven song. It's the feeling when all the subtle constructs of the story hit you with an overall epiphany.

The best description I've been able to find is "The Realization". But I'm looking for a word less abstract. I'm looking for a word that is more specific to the feeling defined as it relates to literature itself; a "realization" can come from many things other than literature. Is there a more specific definition available? Again, it's that insight that comes to you when the constructs of a good story come washing over you in that sudden moment, usually towards or at the very end.

This has been bothering me for some time! Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[togre]

Is the word you're looking for "catharsis"?

[Emil Miller]

Dénouement

[keif]

Thanks for the replies.

Catharsis is more of a relief of tension that occurs during a story; or the feeling you get after something has been built up in a story and you finally get to release it (Correct me if I'm wrong). I've racked my brain on that one too but its not quite right.

I'm looking for something more specific than dénouement, though this feeling usually occurs in the area of dénouement, or resolution.

It's more of the viewer's realization, not the plot or character's realization, but the feeling comes FROM the plot and character resolve. Sometimes I see it as: after the resolution occurs, and before the very end, the themes come streaming down on top of you and you realize everything as a whole in one moment of clairity.

[hanzklein]

Epiphany may not be too far off. James Joyce coined the term as its presently known (before, it was known as a "sudden spiritual manifestation" (in a biblical sense)). All of his early work focuses on this concept, where the reader and character become aware of something that subtly crept up on them and it may have transferred to his later works as well.

[Patrick_Bateman]

Revelation?

[keif]

Both Epiphany and Revelation are the best I've been able to find too. Problem is neither of the two specifically relate to literary storytelling. The feeling is unique to literature, so therefore there must be a word available... right? Maybe there's something in Latin or Greek. Thanks for posting :-)

[Vautrin]

There's a wonderful realization that happens at the very end of a well written story, whether it be a novel, short story, play, poem, film or even lyrically driven song. It's the feeling when all the subtle constructs of the story hit you with an overall epiphany.

The best description I've been able to find is "The Realization". But I'm looking for a word less abstract. I'm looking for a word that is more specific to the feeling defined as it relates to literature itself; a "realization" can come from many things other than literature. Is there a more specific definition available? Again, it's that insight that comes to you when the constructs of a good story come washing over you in that sudden moment, usually towards or at the very end.

This has been bothering me for some time! Any help is appreciated. Thanks!


This may not be one word - or even a 500 dollar word like "denouement" - but how about an Aha! moment? I've heard it used many times by people coming to realize how all the pieces of a work come together beautifully and poignantly to bring about a complete understanding of the true meaning of a text.

From Dictionary.com:

Main Entry: aha moment
Part of Speech: n
Definition: a sudden understanding, recognition, or resolution; also called [ aha reaction ]

Other suggestions:

Awakening
True Understanding

[Emil Miller]

Perception

[hanzklein]

Both Epiphany and Revelation are the best I've been able to find too. Problem is neither of the two specifically relate to literary storytelling. The feeling is unique to literature, so therefore there must be a word available... right? Maybe there's something in Latin or Greek. Thanks for posting :-)
This isn't really an overarching theme in literature so no. Not many authors wait until the last moment to reveal what their book was about, and not many readers take that long to figure it out or atleast figure out the main themes so they aren't blindsided. Also, epiphany is Greek and I just explained how it related to storytelling: it was literally used for that purpose originally.

[Whifflingpin]

Tolkein coined the word "eucatastrophe" for that sudden moment at the end of a tale when everything works out right.

[mal4mac]

Is the feeling unique to literature? You might have a conversation, or a train of thoughts, that lead to a similar epiphany to that obtained through reading. In fact, didn't Joyce have his epiphanies in real life, before he put them down on paper!

[arrytus]

Anagnorisis.

other terms to consider [from Aristotle's Poetics]: Catastasis; peripeteia.

[misterreplicant]

I asked my friends "What is the realization at the end of the a novel or short story", in English class (relevance :) ) and they say it's the resolution, most definitely, the resolution, which I thought the same to begin with.