Crafting Effective Narrative Conclusions
The Impact and Purpose of Narrative Endings
Thinking about a favorite movie, TV show, or book involves reflecting on its conclusion and whether that ending offered satisfaction or left the viewer wanting more.
A successful ending should provoke deeper thought about the life being lived by the reader or audience.
The primary goal of a closing is to ensure it follows logically from the narrative and reflects on the specific information shared throughout the story.
Strategies for Concluding Nature-Based Narratives
There are multiple strategies available for choosing how to conclude a narrative centered on the natural world:
Importance of Nature: Discuss why the specific part of nature featured in the story matters to the world or the individual.
Lessons from Nature: Explicitly mention specific lessons that humans can learn from the natural world.
The Human-Nature Relationship: Explore the intricacies of how humans interact with and relate to nature.
Protective Action: Discuss specific actions that can be taken to protect the environment or specific organisms.
New Perspectives: Propose new ways in which we should consider or view the natural world.
Addressing Challenges: Focus on the specific challenges raised by the narrative and what they imply for the future.
Reader Reflection: Consider exactly what the reader should be thinking about the moment they finish the story.
Case Study: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
Elizabeth Tova Bailey utilizes an impactful conclusion in her book, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating. The narrative chronicles her experience with a debilitating, mysterious illness that left her bedridden for extended periods. During this time, she observed a snail outside her window.
The Narrative Excerpt:
"Spring turned to summer. Summer turned to fall. The snow came, and the snail and its offspring were still much in my thoughts."
"The original snail had been the best of companions. It never asked me questions I couldn't answer nor did it have expectations I couldn't fulfill."
"Naturally solitary and slow paced, it had entertained and taught me and was beautiful to watch as it glided silently along, leading me through a dark time into a world beyond that of my own species."
"The snail had been a true mentor. Its tiny existence had sustained me."
"Late one winter night, I wrote in my journal, a last look at the stars and then to sleep. Lots to do at whatever pace I can go. I must remember the snail. Always remember the snail."
Analysis of Bailey's Conclusion
The author employs the strategy of providing a lesson learned from nature.
By referencing the snail and stating she must "always remember" it, she highlights the importance of pacing.
The specific lesson involves the realization that she must go at her own pace, modeled after the slow-paced movement of the snail.
Determining the Scope and Path of a Conclusion
When deciding where a story should naturally end, the scope of the narrative provides the best guide. Different narrative paths suggest different concluding moments:
Experience with an Organism: A natural end point occurs when the specific experience with the organism has concluded.
Personal Narrative: This approach uses reflection to compare the past to the present. It follows a structure of: "Back then, this is how it was, and now this is how I see the world."
Day in the Life: If the narrative follows a single day, the conclusion is found at the end of that day for the organism.
Task-Oriented Narrative: If the story focuses on an organism attempting to accomplish a specific task, the conclusion should reveal if the organism was successful and explain the reasons why or why not.
Inspiring Reader Emotion: The narrator must decide if the final actions of the organism should leave the reader feeling comfortable with the state of the world or feeling worried and inspired to take immediate action.
Lasting Impact: Even in a short story of just a few words, the conclusion is the element that ensures the reader continues to think about the message long after they have finished reading.