Asked by: Justin Lerner

It’s a reflective, or mirroring technique. The idea is to subtly remind the reader at the book’s close of a similar scene at the beginning of the book. It helps lend a full-circle feel to a story and can offer a satisfying ending for readers and a sense of closure.

What is a good way to end a short story?

How To Write A Great Ending For A Short Story

• Indicate character change through action. …
• Show character stasis through inaction. …
• Kill someone. …
• Welcome baby. …
• Do the twist. …
• Leave the unanswered questions unanswered. …
• Come on, get happy. …
• Be a story mad scientist.

What is mirroring in a novel?

Mirroring. Similar to a foil character, mirroring characters share several qualities meant to complement each other and to highlight those traits. You can have mirroring characters on parallel plot lines working towards a single goal, but test them in different ways.

What does the mirror symbolize in the story mirror image?

In the short story “Mirror Image” by Lena Coakley, “The eyes are the mirror of the soul” symbolizes a greater meaning than what meets the eye. Alice, the first human survivor of a brain transplant attempts to reclaim who she is in a new body.

How do you end a story example?

5 Good Story Endings Examples

• Take Them by Surprise.
• Play on Their Sentiments with an Elegiac Fade Out.
• Throw Them a Punchline.
• Leave Open Questions and Create Suspense.
• Repeat the Theme of the Opening Scene.

Why do authors use mirroring?

Mirror characters are used for a similar purpose. They tend to share several qualities and are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Common mirror characters embark on parallel plots, sometimes to achieve a single goal, which tests them and highlights their traits in different ways.

What is the mirroring technique?

Mirroring, also known as mimicking or Gauchais Reaction, is a nonverbal technique where a person copies the body language, vocal qualities, or attitude of another person. It is usually done subconsciously and can indicate interest or even attraction.

What makes a good opening for a story?

Start with action or dialogue. Ask a question or set of questions. Describe the setting so readers can imagine it. Give background information that will interest readers.

What makes a good ending?

Good endings make sense; evoke emotion like contentment, anger, sadness, or curiosity; shift the reader’s perspective; or open her mind to new ideas. They do not confuse or cast the whole story as a hoax. Good endings bring the hero—and, more importantly, the reader—to some kind of destination (even if it’s a trap).

How do you end a short story with a twist?

A great twist genuinely surprises the reader and turns their whole understanding of the story on its head. To do so convincingly takes organization and a thorough understanding of the motivations behind every choice your characters make. Elevate a secondary character with a big reveal.

How is literature like a mirror?

Literature indeed reflects the society, its good values and its ills. In its corrective function, literature mirrors the ills of the society with a view to making the society realize its mistakes and make amends. It also projects the virtues or good values in the society for people to emulate.

Why literature is compared with mirror?

The literature of any nation is the image that reflects the sincere ideas, so we can call it the mirror of life which reflects writers ‘ thought about life and the real situation of the world around.

What are examples of motifs?

Examples of Motif in Narrative Writing

• A repeated reference or visual of shattered glass (something in life is about to break)
• Recurring dishonest characters (to cue up the discovery of an unfaithful spouse)
• A character who constantly misplaces things (as the loss of someone or something significant is on the horizon)

Is foil a literary technique?

Foil is a literary device designed to illustrate or reveal information, traits, values, or motivations of one character through the comparison and contrast of another character.

Can foils be antagonists?

A character that exhibits opposite or conflicting traits to another character is called a foil. Foil characters can be antagonists, but not always. Sometimes, foils will even be other characters alongside the protagonist.

What is a paradox in literature?

The word “paradox” derives from the Greek word “paradoxons,” meaning contrary to expectation. In literature, a paradox is a literary device that contradicts itself but contains a plausible kernel of truth.

What is the opposite of a foil in literature?

An antagonist is a character who is in direct opposition to the protagonist. A foil exists simply to shine the spotlight on certain traits of another character, without necessarily creating opposition or conflict.

What is the most important character called?

Protagonist

Protagonist: The main character of the story is the protagonist.

What is a flat character in literature?

flat and round characters, characters as described by the course of their development in a work of literature. Flat characters are two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work.

Can a character be both round and dynamic?

While a round character is a character with a complex personality, a dynamic character is one that changes throughout the course of a story. Hence, a character can be both round (interesting) and dynamic (changed).

Is Harry Potter a flat character?

Another excellent example of a dynamic character is Harry Potter. We see him at the start of the story as a young boy, who is small and skinny for his age and lives in a cupboard under the stairs with his aunt and uncle, who don’t much like him.

Can a protagonist be a flat character?

A dynamic character may also be the antagonist, and a protagonist can also be, say, a flat and stock character (i.e. the one-dimensional hero). Here’s a very common mistake: while characters are often round and dynamic, that does not mean these two terms mean the same thing.